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Lake Titicaca : Lake Titicaca - 3855m above sea level. We visit Amantani, Taquille and Uros Islands.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca - 3855m above sea level. We visit Amantani, Taquille an ...

Updated: Jun 03, 2006 6:18am PST

Sacred Valley : We explored the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Saw the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

Sacred Valley

We explored the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Saw the ruins of Sacsayhu ...

Updated: Jun 02, 2006 4:23am PST

Pachacamac : The finest ruins within easy reach of Lima, Pachacámac, in the Lurín valley, was inhabited by several pre-Columbian cultures before the Incas. The extensive site, a sacred city and holy place of pilgrimage, includes plazas, adobe-brick palaces, and pyramidal temples, some of which have been rebuilt by the Peruvian government. It makes for an interesting visit, especially if you're not planning on heading north to the archaeological sites near Chiclayo and Trujillo. The principal ceremonial center of the Peruvian coast, the earliest constructions date to the first century, although the site reached its apex during the Huari (or Wari) culture (10th c.). Pilgrims came to pay homage to the feared oracle and creator-god, Pachacámac, who was believed to be responsible for earthquakes and matters of state such as war. The Incas conquered the site in the 15th century, and it was one of the most important shrines in the Americas during their rule, although its ceremonial importance began to wane soon afterward. However, two of the most important structures on-site, the Temple of the Sun and the Accllahuasi (or Mamacuña) palace (where "chosen maidens" served the Inca), both date to the Inca occupation. Hernán Pizarro and his gold-hungry troops arrived in 1533 but were disappointed to find a paucity of riches. On the premises is a small museum of pre-Columbian artifacts, including textiles and the dual-personage carved wooden idol of Pachacámac, god of fire and son of the sun god.

Pachacamac

The finest ruins within easy reach of Lima, Pachacámac, in the Lurín ...

Updated: Jun 01, 2006 5:16am PST

Nazca : Population - 30,000, altitude 619m. The altitude of Nazca puts it just above the level of any fog that may drift in from the sea. The sun blazes away by day all year round and the nights are crisp. Overlooking the town is the Cerro Blanco (2780m) sand dune; the highest in the world. The Nazcans had a highly developed civilisation that reached it's peak about 800 A.D. Nazca was partly destroyed by the 1996 earthquake. The area is dotted with over 100 cemetaries. The mummies with their cloth and tapestries are perfectly preserved thanks to the very warm climate. The irrigation dates from the pre-Inca times. The underground channels take water from two rivers, the Nazca and the Ingenio. These are seasonal rivers depending mainly on rain fall on the high Andes, so water had to be stored underground to avoid evaporation due to the desert heat. Without irrigation, Nazca would turn into a desert again. The main crops are corn, peanuts, broad beans and cotton. Nazca Lines - best appreciated from the air, the lines are a cut into the stony desert. They are thought to be etched by 3 differnt groups: the Paracas people 900-200 b.c., Nazca people 200b.c. - 600 a.d. and the settlers from Ayacucho about 630A.d. Chauchilla Cemetary - Most of the mummies are over 1000 years old. The place has been looted by grave robbers hence the human bones we can see littering the ground. The Nazcans mummified their dead, rubbing bodies with oils and herbs in the hope of reincarnation. A well-preserved body was a ticket to the next life. The bodies had to face East, to the rising sun, and had to be in the foetal position. They achieved this by breaking the ligaments of both arms and knees.

Nazca

Population - 30,000, altitude 619m. The altitude of Nazca puts it j ...

Updated: May 31, 2006 4:53am PST

Machu Picchu : Invisible from the Urubamba Valley below, Machu Picchu lay dormant for more than 4 centuries, nestled nearly 2,400m (8,000 ft.) above sea level under thick jungle and known only to a handful of Amerindian peasants. The Incas hid Machu Picchu so high in the clouds that it escaped destruction by the empire-raiding Spaniards, who never found it. It is no longer lost, of course -- you can zip there by high-speed train or trek there along a 2- or 4-day trail -- but Machu Picchu retains its perhaps unequaled aura of mystery and magic. No longer overgrown with brush, as it was when it was rediscovered in 1911 by the Yale archaeologist and historian Hiram Bingham with the aid of a local farmer who knew of its existence, from below it is still totally hidden from view. The majestic setting the Incas chose for it remains unchanged: The ruins are nestled in almost brooding Andes mountains and are frequently swathed in mist.

Machu Picchu

Invisible from the Urubamba Valley below, Machu Picchu lay dormant for ...

Updated: May 07, 2006 6:51am PST

Lima : Lima once ranked as the richest and most important city in the Americas and was considered to be the most beautiful colonial settlement in the region. Founded in 1535 by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish Crown's "City of Kings" quickly became the center of power and trade for the entire American viceregency that stretched from Quito to Santiago. Lima was home to some of the Americas' finest baroque and Renaissance churches, palaces, and mansions, as well as the continent's first university, founded in 1551. For 2 centuries, the capital also served as the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition. When Spain created a rival viceregency in Río de la Plata, which subsequently grew rich from silver mines, Lima quickly fell into decline. An earthquake decimated the city in 1746, leaving more than 4,000 dead and few buildings standing. Today the capital of Peru is a sprawling, chaotic, and mostly unlovely metropolis, and many visitors dart through it as fast as possible -- if not bypass it altogether. Peru's blistering poverty is more apparent here than perhaps anywhere else: Depressing shantytowns called pueblos jóvenes lacerate the outer rings of the city. The despair of a large segment of the capital's largely migrant and mestizo population contrasts uncomfortably with the ritzy apartment and office buildings in the residential suburbs. And as if that weren't enough, for most of the year, an unrelenting gray cloud called the garúa hangs heavily overhead, obscuring the coastline and dulling the city's appearance. Although it virtually never rains in Lima, the sun comes out only from December to April; the rest of the time, Lima makes London look like Lisbon. Lima has calmed down a bit since the chaotic 1980s and 1990s, when the city was the scene of carjackings, kidnappings, embassy takeovers, and strong-arm political maneuvers. But the city still feels schizophrenic; outer suburbs such as Barranco are relatively gentle oases, worlds apart from the congestion and grime of the rest of the city.

Lima

Lima once ranked as the richest and most important city in the America ...

Updated: Apr 29, 2006 11:52pm PST

Inca Trail : The Inca Trail is the original route to the breathtaking mountain-top Inca city of Machu Picchu. Pread over 4 days, the 44km trail through the Andeas crosses three stunning high passes and encounters many archaeological sites. The trail can be demanding at times. The trek is led by a local guide and supported by a team of porters and cooks and you are free to walk at your own pace (to an extent).

Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is the original route to the breathtaking mountain-top ...

Updated: Apr 28, 2006 3:21am PST

Cuzco : Population - 140,000 - 400,000, altitude 3,326m. Cuzco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the continent's oldest continually inhabited city. Massive Inca built stone walls line most it's central strees and some of the foundations of colonial and modern buildings. According to legend, Manco Capac founded the city in the 12th century. The Spanish reached Cuzco in 1533. Two major earthquakes in 1650 and 1850 bought colonial and modern buildings tumbling down, yet most of the Inca walls were completely unaffected.

Cuzco

Population - 140,000 - 400,000, altitude 3,326m. Cuzco is the archa ...

Updated: Apr 27, 2006 6:04am PST

Colca Canyon : Cruz Del Condor -- Cruz del Cóndor, or Condor Cross, about 50km (31 miles) west of Chivay, is nothing more than a lookout point on one side of Colca Canyon. However, it is fast growing in fame around the world for its spectacular inhabitants, graceful Andean condors. At a spot 1,200m (3,940 ft.) above the canyon river, crowds gather every morning, zoom lenses poised, to witness a stunning wildlife spectacle. Beginning around 9am, the condors -- the largest birds in the world, with awesome wingspans of 3.5m (11 1/2 ft.) -- suddenly begin to appear, circling far below in the gorge and gradually gaining altitude with each pass, until they literally soar silently above the heads of awestruck admirers. Condors are such immense and heavy creatures that they cannot simply lift off from the ground; instead, they take flight from cliff perches. Each morning, from around 9 to 10am or later, condors both young and mature glide and climb theatrically before heading out along the river in search of prey.

Colca Canyon

Cruz Del Condor -- Cruz del Cóndor, or Condor Cross, about 50km (31 m ...

Updated: Apr 26, 2006 6:09am PST

Amazon Jungle : We stay 30ks up the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado. We have a guided tour of Monkey Island. We see monkeys such as the maquisapa, black and white Martins, Little lions, Friars, Achunis, Ronsocos etc. The second day we do a 4 hour walk in gum boots to get to the Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake). Along the way we see a snake, a few tralanculas and some bird life.

Amazon Jungle

We stay 30ks up the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado. We hav ...

Updated: Apr 25, 2006 5:33am PST

Ballestas Islands : The Ballestas Islands, considered the "Peruvian Galápagos," are home to an amazing roster of protected species, including huge colonies of sea lions, endangered turtles and Humboldt penguins, red boobies, pelicans, turkey vultures, and red-footed cormorants. The islands are so covered with migratory and resident sea birds that they are known for their production of guano, or bird droppings. The Ballestas are part of the Paracas National Reserve, which is two-thirds ocean.

Ballestas Islands

The Ballestas Islands, considered the "Peruvian Galápagos," are home ...

Updated: Apr 23, 2006 5:57am PST

Arequipa : Population - 1 million, altitude 2,380m. Arequipa stands in a valley at the base of El-Misti volcano, a snow capped perfect cone 5822m. The city has fine Spanish buildings and many old churches. Built of sillar, a pearly white volcanic maerial almost exclusively used in the construction of Arequipa. The city was re-founded on 15th August, 1540, by an emissary of Pizarro, but it had previously been occupied by Aymara Indians and the Incas. It is the main commercial centre for the South, and it's people resent the general tendency to believe that everything is run from Lima. Much of the city was damaged in the earthquake that took place near to Arequipa in 2001, including the cathedral with the left hand steeple falling down.

Arequipa

Population - 1 million, altitude 2,380m. Arequipa stands in a valle ...

Updated: Apr 22, 2006 10:21pm PST

Aguas Calientes : Renamed Machu Picchu Pueblo by the Peruvian government -- one can only guess so as not to confuse tourists -- Aguas Calientes is quite literally the end of the line, a gringo outpost of mochileros (backpackers) outfitted in the latest alpaca and indigenous weave fashions designed to tempt them. Hats, gloves, sweaters -- they are walking (if unshaved) advertisements for Peruvian artisanship. Making it Peru's own Kathmandu, the trekkers hang out for a few days after their great journey to Machu Picchu, sharing beers and tales, and scoring a final woven hat or scarf to wear as a trophy back home. We spent a whole day there and wandered up to the local waterfall and the Botanical Gardens and Machu Picchu museum.

Aguas Calientes

Renamed Machu Picchu Pueblo by the Peruvian government -- one can only ...

Updated: Apr 22, 2006 4:10am PST

Best of Peru 2006 : March/April 2006 - This is the best of the 700+ photos we took on our 3 week tour of Peru. Lima, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, Amazon, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon, Nazca Lines etc.

Best of Peru 2006

March/April 2006 - This is the best of the 700+ photos we took on our ...

Updated: Apr 21, 2006 10:24pm PST