Destinations Visited
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Lima, PeruFounded in 1535 by the Spanish 'Conquistador' Pizarro, Lima is the capital of Peru. The city replaced Cuzco as capital and soon became the richest settlement of Spain in the New World. Today Lima is a metropolis of over eight and a half million inhabitants. In the centre you can find various interesting sights, like the museum of Anthropology, the Gold museum, the catacombs of the San Francisco Church and the Plaza de Armas. |
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Cuzco, PeruThe "Home of Gods," as the Incas referred to it, became the capital of one of the largest pre-Colombian empires: Tiwantinsuyo. Its name in Quechua, Qosqo, means "navel of the world" because Cuzco served as a hub for a vast network of roads interconnecting virtually the whole of South America. Inca society was a surprising example of social and political organization for its vast knowledge of architectural engineering, medicine and agriculture. On March 23rd, 1534, Francisco Pizarro founded a Spanish city on top of what was already this established Inca metropolis. |
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Sacred Valley, PeruAn hours drive from Cuzco in just about any direction you will find picturesque communities, impressive terraces and many important archaeological sites. Dominated by the imposing peaks of the Vilcanota mountain range, the Sacred Valley has been the source of agricultural products for the city of Cuzco since Inca times. Its geography and mild climate make it ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts to practice rafting, mountain biking and trekking, amongst others. |
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Machu Picchu, PeruThe citadel of Machu Picchu is by far the most important tourist attraction in the Sacred Valley. Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, this stronghold, overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River is considered one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world. It served as a place of worship, a site for stargazing and a private hacienda of the family of the Inca Pachacútec. |
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Puno, PeruThe region of Puno played a very important role in pre-Inca and Inca times. According to the legend, Manco Capac, the first Inca, and his wife Mama Ocllo emerged from Lake Titicaca instructed by their father, the Sun, to establish the Tahuantinsuyo Empire. Punos main attraction is Lake Titicaca: Situated at 3,809 meters above sea level (12,379 ft), Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, with a length of 120 miles (194 kilometers) and an average width of 40 miles (65 kilometers). Its depth exceeds 81 feet (25 meters) in places, and its colors range from deep blue to pale green. An extraordinary variety of wildlife makes its home by the lake, including flamingos, ducks, trout and local fish such as the suche and carachi. The totora reed, which grows all over the lake serves both as food (for people and animals), and building materials (for homes and rafts). |
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Lake Titicaca, PeruThe school day dreamed sacred lake of the Incas is known for its sapphire blue color and the highly civilizations developed on its shores. It is the highest navigable lake in the world (12,580ft / 3,825m) It covers almost 10,000 square kilometers and became the most important complement and a new gate to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. On its islands, the natives conserve the original cultures and several modern expeditions across the oceans, inspired and used the techniques of the local reed boats builders. A few years ago Jaque Costeau made an expedition to the lake and found giants frogs. In the year 2000 an international scientific expedition has discovered a possible city under its waters. Anyhow nobody can explain or prove if the lake level was different in the past. |
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La Paz, BoliviaPedro de la Gasca, to whom the Spanish king had entrusted rule over the former Inca lands, commanded Captain Alonso de Mendoza to found a new city commemorating the end of the civil wars in Peru. Then the city of La Paz was founded on October 20th, 1548 under the name of La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (The City of Our Lady of Peace). The city was first established in what today is Laja, on the Tiahuanaco road. Shortly after its founding, La Paz was moved to its present location, in the valley of the Chuquiago Marka. Today La Paz is a vibrant city, growing and expanding in all directions. La Paz has a population of more than a million inhabitants. La Paz is the official government site. La Paz has different climate environments according to each zone's altitude. While the center of town is at 3,650 meters above sea level, the zone of Aranjuez is at 3,300 m. El Alto (where the international airport is located) is at 4,082 m. The average temperature in winter is 15C (59F) and 22C (72F) in summer. In the summer, rain falls on most afternoons, In the winter, days are slightly cooler, but the sky is mostly clear and sunny. |
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Rio de Janeiro, BrazilWhen one thinks of Rio de Janeiro, the images that instantly spring to mind are of beautiful beaches with gorgeous suntanned bodies, carnival and soccer (Brazilian football), to list but a few. These are all an integral part of Rio's exuberant culture and help to make this state one of the most exciting and interesting places to visit in Brazil. Rio has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is blessed with stunning natural aspects and a year-round pleasant climate. Uniquely situated on a narrow strip of land between the green mountains and the deep blue sea it is surrounded by granite based mountains, coves and white sand beaches. The most famous landmark is the Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf), which has wonderful views of the city, the bay, and the Corcovado (the statue of Christ). |
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Iguassu Falls, BrazilThe Iguassu Falls must be the most spectacular sight in the whole of South America, lying on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. They are over 3km wide (1.86 miles) and 80m (263 feet) high and are located inside one of the largest national parks in South America. At the heart of this immense body of water lies the Devils Throat, where 14 separate falls join forces, pounding down the 90meter (296 feet) cliffs in a deafening crescendo of sound and spray. You are surrounded by the roaring water, the mist and white foam that are boiling up all around, the green of the jungle, uprooted trees and a 180-degree rainbow. It is an overwhelming sensation. Due to the biodiverse climate, wildlife in this area is incredibly rich and you will see hundreds of different species of the most beautiful butterflies, South American coatis and an abundance of exotic birds. Close to the falls is the Itaipu Dam, the worlds largest power station, which you will visit. An impressive 8km (5 mile) long the power station produces about 75 billion KW a year, enough electricity to power the whole of Southern Brazil and much of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. |
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Day-by-day Itinerary
