Chavín de Huántar is a famous archaeological site located 250 km north of Lima, Peru and east of Cordillera Blanca at the Conchucos Valley. It is now visited by thousands of tourists and archaeologists annually and is currently a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Some Chavin relics are on display in Museo de la Nacion in Lima, Peru.
The Chavín de Huántar was actually constructed by the pre-Incan tribe, the Chavin, around 900 B.C. The Chavins survived basically on an agricultural economy, because of its strategic location near the Coast of Marañón River and the jungle. The Chavín de Huántar served as a ceremonial center, where the ancient people came together and worship.

The Chavín de Huántar holds a geographical, historical and religious significance because of its tremendous influence on the Ancient Chavin culture. It is located where the Mosna River merges with the Huanchecsa River. This allows the Chavins easy transport, but access is very limited for visitors. Consequently, it is the perfect site for crop cultivation such as maize and potatoes. The ancient Chavins also started domesticating llamas to help and assist in carrying load and crops.

Important sites to visit include the large central square, the temple, and the Castilla, which is an underground complex. Important artifacts are the Lanzon, which was a 5 meter carved rock that depicted the gods worshiped by the pre-Incan people: the condor, the serpent and the jaguar or puma.

Many tourists can visit Chavín de Huántar from Huaraz. It’s a long four hour drive on a rough, unpaved and bumpy road. The easiest and most convenient way to get there is through an organized tour. These tours usually leave at 9 in the morning and return to Huaraz at 8 pm.

Cuzco is called the ‘Archaeological capital of the Americas’, for it is filled with many cultures through the centuries. Located 3,300 meters above sea level, it is also known as the ‘Navel of the World’. Cuzco offers many beautiful sites.

Cuzco dates back to 1200 A.D. Its first Incan ruler was Manco Capac, though the city saw its vast expansion during the 15th century during the rule of the great Inca Pachacutec. However the expansion ended abruptly when the Spaniards arrived under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro, which was followed by the murder of Inca Atahaulpa in Cajamarca.

The first things you see when visiting Cuzco are the ancient Inca walls. The magnificent walls are carved granite blocks, it is perfectly without the need or aid of any mortar beds. Once you arrive in Cuzco, you are recommended to take your time and relax so you can acclimatize.

What to do while in Cuzco? Many visitors opt to go to Machu Picchu, where they can get there for four days through the Inca Trail or for four hours by train. Other highlights include the Inca Ruins of Qenko, Sacsayhuaman, Tambmachy and Pucapucara. You can take day rip to the traditional Indian market at Pisac, or stroll around the beautiful village of Ollantaytambo, or explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

You can get a ‘Tourist ticket’ while in Cuzco, which allows many tourists into historical sites around Cuzco. You can visit Santa Catalina Convent and Art Museum, Inca ruins, Museo de Arte Popular, Monumento Pachacutec, and so much more.

Lake Titicaca is located right between Bolivia and Peru in South America. It is one of the most captivating lakes in the planet, and a trip to Titicaca will leave an unforgettable memory on any visitor. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake on earth, which is more than 3,800 meters above sea level. It is 196 kilometers long, extending from western Bolivia to southeastern Peru.

Lake Titicaca was a sacred place during the Inca period. It is believed that Manco Capac, the first Inca King, was born here. The place is worth the visit especially if you are curious about the culture, way of life, and beliefs of the ancient Incans. The Uros continue to live and make their living from the lake. The Uros are dependent on the lake, where they get their source of living through agriculture and weaving. Get to know them by visiting them by the lake.

When visiting this lake, the best place to stay is in the town of Puno, in Peru. The culture and folklore here is rich, plus it is close to other tourist attractions such as the town of Cusco and of course, Peru’s Macchu Picchu. If you want to explore the Bolivian side of the lake, you can visit the enthralling town of Challapampa, home to Chinkaka, the famous labyrinth. There is also the well-known Island of the Sun or Isla del Sol, home to over 180 ruins from the Incan period.

To visit this historical site, take a plane flight to Lima and to Arequipa. Once you arrive, it is recommended to relax for a few days, or else you may suffer altitude sickness. You can take a 7-hour trip to Cuzco. There are also trains to Cuzco, although they are more expensive and more infrequent.

Nazca Lines are located in the Nazca Desert, Peru. They are giant sketches that are so large that they can only be viewed from the air. These are believed to have been made by the Nazca Indians from 200 BC to 700 CE. There are hundreds of designs, they include human body shapes, hands, trees, condors, hummingbirds, monkeys, sharks, spiders, llamas, fish, and lizards, just to name a few.

Due to the dry and stable climate, these large drawings have been preserved for centuries, even lasting to this day. The Peruvian desert of Pampa Colorada or Red Plain is filled with Nazca lines. They are normally 15 wide, not sandy, but has a dark red colored layer on top with a lighter colored soil underneath. Clearing away the upper layer creates Nazca Lines, thus revealing the lighter colored soil underneath.

It is amazing how these lines survived for centuries, thus many people have speculated with many conspiracy theories. Simply put though, the desert is made of stone, and the dry climate makes it very hard to erase the drawing.

The primary means of transportation to get the Nazca is only by bus. From Lima, Ica Cusco, and Pisco, there are plenty of buses to take you to Nazca. Once you get to Nazca, how can you see the lines? The best way to see them is by air. You can take a small plane that can carry five passengers. The tour lasts about 30 to 35 minutes, and they fly over the most renowned Nazca lines. It is recommended to fly and see the lines between 8 to 10 am and 3 to 5 pm, where the air is usually clear and haze free. Prepare yourself though, these small plane rides can get bumpy and nauseating, especially if you’re prone to airsickness.

The Amazon Rainforest, which is also known as the Amazon Jungle, is located in South America and covers the Amazon River basin. The Amazon River is considered to be the largest river as far as discharge is concerned. Most of the forest is in Brazil (60%), Peru (13%) and some other countries like Venezuela, Colombia, French Guiana, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, and Suriname. Amazon Rainforest is the largest and biggest rainforest in the world and makes about half of the planet’s rainforest space. According to historians, the Amazon Jungle was created millions of years ago when the Amazon River changed its flowing direction from the West to East direction.

Amazon Rainforest or Amazonia is also considered a mysterious and powerful place containing a huge variety of animal species which comprise of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Many medical and pharmaceutical agencies are running projects in the jungle for gaining plant knowledge and doing drug research.

In today’s world, the environmentalists are deeply concerned due to deforestation, destruction and the loss of bio-diversity in the Amazon Jungles. Due to new and developing human settlements, the issue of deforestation has increased many folds. Before the year 1960, access to Amazon interiors was restricted, but due to farming practices in the later years, there has been a lot of damage to the Forests. Also, due to pollution and carbon emissions, the growth pattern in the trees and plants has drastically changed, which is unacceptable.

Machu Picchu is the pre Columbian, Inca empire site that is located almost 8,000 feet above the sea level. The site is located on a mountain ridge above the valley of Urubamba in Peru. The city is also called the “lost city of Incas”. When tourists make a list of the best world tour destination, Machu Picchu is the site that undoubtedly gets the maximum number of votes.

It is said that the journey to this spot is a dream journey, which one must never miss. It is a journey to the top archeological site on the planet earth. Data says that the Machu Picchu Tourism is one of the proudest industries in the country. Whatever your expectation out of the place would be, you will really be more than delighted to see the picturesque beauty of the place and the intoxicating power that it will have on you.

Machu Picchu was built in 146 AD, however, it was left by the Inca rulers 100 years later. Legendary stories suggest that the place was neglected for quite some time. In the year 1911, Hiram Bingham, who was an American historian, got the world’s attention to it and then there was no looking back. Recent discoveries also show that the site was dug many years ago by a German businessman. The site became a part of the UNESCO, world heritage site in 1983. The site as built in typical Inca style with dry stone polished walls and it most famous buildings are ‘ the temple of sun’ and ‘ the room of three windows’.

Traveling to Machu Picchu
The site is located 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco and sits between two mountains. From Cusco, you can take a train to Aguas Calientes and then take a bus up to the actual site. If you are of the more adventurous type, you may want to take a one-way bus trip up to Machu Picchu and then walk down to Aguas Calientes on your way back.

Pictures & Photos

Late Afternoon at Machu Picchu
Photo by: 00dann

Dawn at Machu Picchu
Photo by: wili_hybrid

Caracara Takes Flight at Machu Picchu
Photo by: wili_hybrid

Sunrise Over Machu Picchu
Photo by: 00dann

Natural Foggy View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: FranUlloa

Caracara Chilling at Machu Picchu
Photo by: wili_hybrid

Direct View at Machu Picchu
Photo by: foxtwo

View of the Residental Section of Machu Picchu
Photo by: wikipedia

Happy Llama
Photo by: windwater

One Foggy Morning at Machu Picchu
Photo by: Lee Coursey

Temple of the Sun at the Site
Photo by: wikipedia

Llamas Near The Great Machu Picchu
Photo by: FranUlloa

A Foggy View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: dagpeak

Sacred Square at Machu Picchu
Photo by: wikicommons

Colibri at Machu Picchu
Photo by: Ivan Mlinaric

Incredible Panorama View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: wikicommons

Machu Picchu Panorama View
Photo by: wikicommons

Panorama View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: wikicommons

Long Panorama View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: CmdrGravy

Photo of Machu Picchu Taken in 1911

Clear Simple Classic View of the Area
Photo by: closelyobserved.com

Steps are Very Steep at Machu Picchu
Photo by: closelyobserved.com

Closer Look at the Steps of Machu Picchu
Photo by: 33moai

Intiwatana
Photo by: wikicommons

Square View of Machu Picchu
Photo by: wili_hybrid

Huayna Picchu View
Photo by: wikicommons

Sky View of Machu Picchu From Huayna Picchu
Photo by: wikicommons

Up Close Shot of a Wall at Machu Picchu
Photo by: quinet

Up Close Shot of the Masonry at Machu Picchu
Photo by: wikicommons

Temple of Condor
Photo by: wikicommons