Peru in Ruins

Q. We're traveling to Peru in March and plan on spending a week or so hiking the Inca Trail and seeing Machu Picchu. Any suggestions on what to do the second week?

Rebecca Mischel, Washington

A. Peru is one big dig, with at least 40 archaeological sites. "Most of Peru is archaeological sites," says Erik Mederos, an assistant at PromPeru (866-661-PERU, http://www.peru.info/defaulteng.asp ), the North American branch of Peru's tourism office. "If you wanted to see all of them, it would easily take two months." Since you only have two weeks, Mederos recommends a few areas that will let you expand your ruins life list.

After hiking the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, explore the ancient rubble outside Cuzco, then travel north to Manu National Park, which is Peru's largest national park and part of the Amazon (check with a travel clinic about vaccinations). The 4.3-million-acre reserve, which takes at least five days to fully explore, offers naturalist-led tours (watch for jaguars and armadillos), river rafting, a cloud forest and native communities. The park also has camping and lodges, such as the Manu Wildlife Center ( http://www.manu-wildlife-center.com/ ), reachable only by canoe.

To cover more ground, drive from Lima to Ica, less than 200 miles south. On the way, visit Cahuachi's ceremonial center, the Incan ruins of Tambo Colorado, the wine-growing region of the Pisco Valley and the Nazca Lines, natural mazes shaped like animals and plants that can be hiked.

As an alternative to Arequipa, Mederos suggests Trujillo. The city and its environs offers the Chan Chan ruins, the Temple of the Sun and Moon and surfing beaches. Pure-white sand, islands and capes also dot the northern coastline of Tumbes and Piura.

If you crave urban life, Mederos says you'll need only three days to visit Lima's museums, cathedrals and huacas (adobe pyramids), which then leaves time for shopping in Miraflores, dining and dancing in Barranco, or simply kicking back in the Plaza de Armas.

Is there a resort within 2 1/2 hours or so of D.C. with activities that would be of interest to a group with children, teens, adults and seniors?

Marsha Fratkin, Silver Spring

For a destination that crosses the generational divide, look for resorts that can weather all four seasons. Among the choices:

* Bryce Resort (800-821-1444, http://www.bryceresort.com/ ), about two hours by car from D.C. in the Shenandoah Valley, has skiing (snow or grass), mountain tubing, golf (mini to 18 holes), lake activities, etc. The surrounding area has antiques stores, caverns, museums, a deer farm and a potato chip factory. Book through private rental companies; the Sky Chalet Mountain Top Lodge (877-867-8439, http://www.skychalet.com/ ), for one, has doubles from $69 a night and group rates from $144 (two bedrooms, two baths, living area).

* Wintergreen Resort (800-926-3723, http://www.wintergreenresort.com/ ), about three hours from D.C. in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers tennis, skiing and snowboarding, a bungee trampoline, six pools (in and out), a performing arts center and more. The resort has various packages, such as the Wintergreen Your Way, which includes lodging (studio to four-bedroom condo), golf or spa treatments, one group fitness session, tennis and access to the Aquatics and Fitness Center; from $156 per person per night based on eight guests.

* Wisp Resort (301-387-4911, http://www.skiwisp.com/ ), 180 miles from D.C. in Deep Creek Lake, Md., has the usual mountain distractions, plus Outdoor Adventures (paintball, skate park, guided ATV tours, etc.), a spa and sleigh rides. The place offers a slew of packages, such as stay midweek and ski free (from $59 per person double).

Other options include Blue Knob (800-458-3403, http://www.blueknob.com/ ) and Seven Springs Mountain Resort (800-452-2223, http://www.7springs.com/ ), both in Pennsylvania.

Is there a list of nonstop international flights from Dulles, BWI and Reagan National?

David Sloan, Washington

The quickest way to research nonstop flights is via the airports' Web sites. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority posts an online guidebook of all flights from/to Dulles and Reagan National. You can find it at http://www.metwashairports.com/ , under MWAA, then Air Service. From there, click on Printable Flight Guide. The listing is updated monthly and is divided into domestic and international travel. For a less onerous search, click on Flight Schedules on the left side, which runs down all of the cities. You can also find nonstop flights under Flight Schedules; type in the departure city or airport and the flight schedules for a certain day will pop up.

BWI requires a little less work. Its Web site ( http://www.bwiairport.com/ ) lists all nonstop flights under Airlines & Schedules. You can also find a more comprehensive downloadable list under Flight Schedules, which includes every flight, with or without connections.

Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071). Include name and home town.