Journey Through Peru

Tour Peru, also known as the “Kingdom of the Sun.” Peru is a land of antique cultures where the traditional way of living of the indigenous people has survived until today. Begin your travels in Lima, which is the Peruvian capital that was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizzaro. Tours in Lima include the Government Palace, the Municipality, the Palace of the Archbishop and the Cathedral, Santo Domingo church, San Francisco monastery, and the Larco Herrera Museum. The Museum is home to more than 45,000 objects of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles and gold and silver pieces. It is also known for its exhibitions of erotic ceramics of the Mochica culture.

Following Lima, is a tour in Cusco, the “Navel of the Earth,” and its surrounding ruins. Cusco is considered to be one of the most fascinating cities in the country. A visit to Plaza de Armas, an impressive Cathedral, begins your tour. Traveling from this Cathedral you will go through little alleys that are edged with Incan walls and lead you to the temple of the sun, Koricancha. This religious site was used by the Spaniards as a basis for the construction of the Catholic church Santo Domingo. Take a visit to the spectacular ruins of Sacsayhuaman, 3km above the main city, that will give you a breathtaking view of Cusco. Tour other ruins in the area such as the sanctuary of Qenqo.

An exciting tour to the village of Pisac awaits you in Cusco. This village is known for its numerous agricultural terraces and its colorful market. The whole area has a wide range that you will stroll through, discovering new sites after each curve and having a new perspective on to the Sacred Valley. Commencing the tour of the ruins in this village you will make your way down for the market visit. This market is well known to have not lost its original charm despite the numbers of tourists. There are two sections that can be visited: one local part where people of Pisac and surrounding villages sell and buy their fruits and vegetables while bargaining prices and then there is a part where many handicraft stands with ceramics, alpaca cloths and jewelry are sold/bargained. Above the village is an impressive site that you will visit, known as Ollantaytambo, fortress thrones. This is one of the few scenes where the Spaniards lost a battle against the Incas. Travel to the different Inca Communities and antique salt mines. Chinchero community is where the remains of what was the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, as well as beautiful colonial temples built on Inca’s foundations. The biggest attraction in this community is the Sunday market. This is dedicated to the people of the valley to barter their products and it is colorful and lively which still fascinates people with its variety of handicrafts and textiles made in true pre-Columbian style. Another fascinating community you will tour is Moray. This little Andean community is famous for its embedded amphitheater that is formed by four circular terraces which seem to disappear into the interior of the puna like an artificial crater. Ending the tours of the communities will be a visit to the Salt Mines of Maras. People earn their living within these salt mines. The sale is tapped by exposing salt water that bubbles to the surface from a spring called Qoripujio in men-made wells to the sun. The view of these nearly 3,000 wells is truly spectacular. Giving you a unique experience, the local people demonstrate the ancient techniques to visitors, and even allowing you to participate along side them.

After your tours of Cusco take a train toward Aquas Calientes and be transferred to Machu Picchu, the “lost city of the Incas.” This is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the biggest treasure of Peru’s past and the empire of the Incas. The ruins leave scientists with numerous questions and riddles on how it was built and for which purpose. Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive and exciting places in the world, sublime and majestic on top of the mountain and surrounded by impenetrable rainforest. Enjoy the tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the main plaza, the royal quarters, Temple of Three Windows, the circular tower and the sacred Sun Dial and burial grounds. After your exciting tour of Machu Picchu and its surroundings, take your tour to Puno. The train to Puno departs to the southeast along the Hutanay river through green fields across remote communities gathered around colonial churches. There are several sites and locations to see on the train ride, which include: Rumicolca and its great stone doorway, the Andahuaylillas church (one of the crown jewels of colonial Cusco), the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes to La Raya, and Juliaca.

In Puno there is the Uros Islands in the Titicaca Lake. The Uros is made up of 40 small floating islands packed with totora, a type of reed. These islands are located within the Titicaca National Reserve. A tour of these islands is a major culture experience. The people live just as their ancestors did, maintaining their customs and idiosyncrasies, but specially the styles of life in a common area. The Uros are descendent of one of the most ancient people in America and are devoted mainly to hunting, fishing and taxidermy. Along with this, they have a great skill when working with the totora. After visiting the Uro Islands, journey by boat to Taquile Island. This island was part of the Inca Empire and has a number of Inca ruins. It was one of the last locations in Peru to capitulate to Spanish Domination during the Spanish conquest of Peru. Walk through the main square where there is a cooperative shop that sells woolen goods and hand-woven items. Also in the main square is the local small church. The Taquile people have maintained their traditions and culture and many locals wear traditional dress. Your tour through these parts of Puno is promised to be full of traditional culture and history.