One of the most famous views in the world – Machu Picchu, with Wayna Picchu in the background, Cusco, Peru
Unless you approach Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, all tourists going there MUST take the train from Cuzco or at least from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Round trip, with only 30 kilometers each way, costs an incredible 57 USD per persons from Ollantaytambo in the backpacker train. The more comfortable Vistadome costs no less than 76 USD.
Condor (Vultur gryphus), Cruz del Condor, Colca Canyon or Canyon de Colca, Cabanaconde, Peru
The best way to see condors is to leave Cabanaconde at 06:30 am, get off the Arequipa-bound bus at Cruz del Condor after a 30 minutes ride and catch the next bus that passes there at around 09:45 am. There are three reasons why leaving so early: first you can only spot condors early morning or late afternoon, second the light is better in the morning and third because the Mirador called Cruz del Condor is packed with groups of tourists as early as 08:30 or latest 09:00 am. Continue Reading →
Ica-Chincha Mummies found in the Chauchilla Cemetery … near Nazca, Peru
A sight less often visited in Nasca is the Cemetery of Chauchilla, a truly groovy place about 25 km north of Nasca right in the desert. The cemetery was used by the Ica-Chincha, a civilization that lived in this region long before it was conquered by other cultures, the last one the Inca, who also used this cemetery. Scientists estimate that there might be 2000 graves, but only about ten were fully excavated and restored. Continue Reading →
One of the most famous views in the world – Machu Picchu, with Wayna Picchu in the background, Cusco, Peru
We spent one month in Peru in September & October 2007 and discovered the famous highlights of the south of this country: Nazca (Nazca Lines & Cauchilla Cemetery), Arequipa, the Colca Canyon & Cruz del Condor, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Saqsaywaman) & of course Machu Picchu, Puno & Lake Titicaca (Sillustani, Uros Floating Islands, & the Javari Project). Continue Reading →
Young Girl (Lydia) with traditional hat, Cabanaconde, Colca Canyon, Peru
Peru is the third country we have visited in South America, after Venezuela and Brazil. These three countries on the same continent are actually three totally distinct worlds. Differences are huge! Continue Reading →
Gilles in Aguas Qualientes, near Machu Picchu, Peru
All in all, we spent on average almost exactly the same amount of money per day as in Venezuela: 33.5 Euros or 47 USD. Yes, the present exchange rate Euro-Dollar is the best thing that could happen to us! Peru is to some extend a very cheap country, especially coming from Brazil, but classic tourist activities can be at times really pricy. Continue Reading →
The Yavari, built in England in 1862, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Another highlights we headed for was the “Yavari Project”. The Yavari is an old steamship that was built in Great Britain in 1862, then was put into 2.766 boxes and shipped across the ocean to Peru. After a short train journey the boxes were carried across the Andes by mules. In Puno the ship was put together, by that time six years had passed from the producing of the boat to its maiden journey, on Christmas Eve 1870. Continue Reading →
Approaching one of the show-case islands for tourists! – Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
Lake Titicaca was the “Sacred Lake” of the Inca. There are many legends about the origin of the Inca Empire. One of these says that Viracocha, the main god or creator god, had his children, Manco Kapac & Mama Ocllo, spring from the water of the lake to found Cuzco and the Inca dynasty. A sacred rock on Isla del Sol, in the Bolivian part of Lake Titicaca, is worshipped as their birth place. Continue Reading →
Sillustani pre-Incan burial ground, on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Peru, South America
The funeral towers of Sillustani about 35 km west of Puno are, apart from the floating islands, one of the main attractions in the area. These towers date back to pre-Inca time about 1.200 AD and an estimated 95 of these “Chullpas” may have adorned the wind-swept Altiplano at that time. Continue Reading →
Woman working on the loom in La Raya, at 4.335 meters, Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
There are several possibilities to go from Cuzco to Puno, the hub on the shores of the Lake Titicaca. The one we had planed was to take one of the few trains still running in Peru. Unfortunately, the price of 130 USD for 390 km made us change our mind fairly quickly. Continue Reading →
