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MACHU PICCHU, PERU : Machu Picchu, "Old Mountain" or "The Lost City of the Incas" is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,400 meters (7,875 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Cusco. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It was built around the year 1450, but abandoned a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Forgotten for centuries, the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. It has recently come to light that the site may have been discovered and raided several years previously, in 1867 by a German businessman, Augusto Berns.[2] It was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September of 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early 20th century. Currently, there are concerns about the impact of tourism on the site as it reached 400,000 visitors in 2003. Information in this gallery description and photo captions are chosen from http://en.wikipedia.org/; www.crystalinks.com/; http://www.rediscovermachupicchu.com/; http://www.sacredsites.com/americas/peru/machu_picchu.html; www.go2peru.com/; http://gorp.away.com/ and the book All Machu Picchu by Tierra Firme. Please note that if you use the slide capability of the website the captions of each photograph will not show in the slide show. Where in Peru is MACHU PICCHU? Photos were taken during our trip to Machu Picchu on July 4 and 5, 2008

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Machu Picchu, "Old Mountain" or "The Lost City of the Incas" is a pre- ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 10:54am PST

FOLKLORICO DANCES, LIMA, PERU : On our first night in Lima, we were given a dinner show at our hotel, Lima's El Pardo Hotel (Double Tree Inn). There are only 16 people in our Friendly Planet Group but the small hotel restaurant was full because of tourist audience from outside the hotel. We saw and enjoyed a very nice folk dance show that encompasses different areas in Peru. The pictures shown here were taken on July 1, 2008. Where in the world is LIMA, PERU?

FOLKLORICO DANCES, LIMA, PERU

On our first night in Lima, we were given a dinner show at our hotel, ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2008 1:33pm PST

LAKE TITICACA, THE ALTIPLANO AND IT'S REGION : Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It sits 3,812 m (12,507 ft) above sea level making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. By volume of water it is also the largest lake in South America. The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake lies within the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department. The lake is composed of two nearly separate sub-basins that are connected by the Strait of Tiquina which is 800 m (2,620 ft) across at the narrowest point. The larger sub-basin, Lago Grande (also called Lago Chucuito) has a mean depth of 135 m (443 ft) and a maximum depth of 284 m (932 ft). The smaller sub-basin, Lago Huiñaimarca (also called Lago Pequeño) has a mean depth of 9 m (30 ft) and a maximum depth of 40 m (131 ft).[4] The overall average depth of the lake is 107 m (351 ft). Lake Titicaca is fed by rainfall and meltwater from glaciers on the sierras that abut the Altiplano. Five major river systems feed into Lake Titicaca[6]—in order of their relative flow volumes these are: Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, and Suchez. More than 20 other smaller rivers empty into Titicaca, and the lake has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated. The Altiplano (Spanish for high plain), where the Andes are at their widest, is the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside of Tibet. Where in the world is LAKE TITICACA? Information in this description and photography captions were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Titicaca; http://www.peru-explorer.com/titicaca.htm; http://www.peru-travel.com/Lake_titicaca_information.htm; http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/topdestlaketiticaca/a/floatingislands.htm; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uros Pictures taken during our visit in July 2008.

LAKE TITICACA, THE ALTIPLANO AND IT'S REGION

Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 4:16pm PST

THE ALTIPLANO OR HIGH PLAINS OF PERU : From Cusco to Lake Titicaca we passed by the altiplano or high plains of Peru. It was a beautiful and interesting drive. Along the way we visited a public market, a tile roof factory, a charming farm house, and highway vendors. Pictures taken during our visit to Peru in July 2008. The Altiplano (Spanish for high plain), where the Andes are at their widest, is the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside of Tibet. In the case of the Andes, it is an area of inland drainage lying in the central Andes, occupying parts of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Its height averages about 3,300 meters (11,000 feet), somewhat less than that of Tibet. Unlike the Tibetan Plateau, however, the Altiplano is dominated by the massive peaks of active volcanoes to the west. The Atacama Desert, the driest area on the whole planet, lies to the southwest of the Altiplano. In contrast, to the east lies the humid Amazon rainforest. At the end of the Pleistocene epoch, the whole extent of the Altiplano was covered by a vast lake, Ballivián, the present remnants of which are Lake Titicaca, straddling the Peru/Bolivia border, and Poopó, a saline lake which extends south of Oruro, Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni, locally known as "Salar de Tunupa", as well as Salar de Coipasa are two large dry salt flats formed as well after the Altiplano paleolakes dried out.

THE ALTIPLANO OR HIGH PLAINS OF PERU

From Cusco to Lake Titicaca we passed by the altiplano or high plains ...

Updated: Sep 05, 2008 6:52pm PST

HOTEL CASA ANDINA - PRIVATE COLLECTIONS : Casa Andina is a Peruvian hotel chain offering visitors an original way to know Peru and to experience the spirit of the Andean world.Their hotels offer warmth and hospitality. It's Private Collection hotels have special gastronomic dishes of "Novoandina cuisine". I was charmed by their hotels where we stayed in Peru. These photos were taken on July 2008, in Casa Andina - Private Collection in Cusco, Peru. Where in the world is CUZCO, PERU?

HOTEL CASA ANDINA - PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Casa Andina is a Peruvian hotel chain offering visitors an original wa ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 8:10am PST

CUSCO, THE HEART OF THE SACRED VALLEY : Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley (Sacred Valley) of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cusco Province. The city has a population of 348,935, triple the figure of 20 years ago. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco, its altitude is around 3,300 m (10,800 ft). Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the Quechua name ("Qosqo") was transliterated into Spanish as "Cusco", which is how it appears on maps from the 17th and 18th centuries. On maps from the 19th century (as early as 1810) and through the mid-20th century (until at least 1976), the name appears as "Cuzco". Today, in official Peruvian cartography the name has returned to the original transliteration: Cusco, with an S rather than a Z. The Z version of the name is still used in some official circumstances, such as the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, but the S version is official usage in English. Where in the world is CUSCO, PERU? Information above and on the photo captions were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco Pictures taken during our visit in July 2008.

CUSCO, THE HEART OF THE SACRED VALLEY

Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu) ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 8:18am PST

MUSEO KORICANCHA, PERU : The combined sacred sites of Koricancha (also spelled Coriconcha, Qoricancha or Qorickancha) and Santo Domingo in Cusco vividly illustrate ancient Andean culture's collision with Western Europe. The temple of one culture sits atop and encloses the other. The extraordinarily crafted Temple of the Sun (Templo del Sol) at Koricancha was the most sumptuous temple in the Inca Empire. Some 4,000 priests and their attendants once lived within its confines. Koricancha also served as the main astronomical observatory for the Incas. Dedicated to worship of the sun, the most important deity in the Inca's naturalistic pantheon, the temple complex was a glittering palace straight out of El Dorado legend: Koricancha means "courtyard of gold" in Quechua. In addition to hundreds of gold panels lining its walls, there were life-size gold figures, solid-gold altars, and a huge golden sun disc. The sun disc reflected the sun and bathed the temple in light. During the summer solstice, the sun still shines directly into a niche where only the Inca chieftain was permitted to sit. Other temples and shrines also existed for the worship of lesser natural gods: the moon, Venus, thunder, lightning, and rainbows. Terraces that face the Temple of the Sun were once filled with life-size gold and silver statues of plants and animals. Much of Koricancha's wealth was removed to pay ransom for the captive Inca Atahualpa at the time of the Spanish conquest, but the blood money was paid in vain. After the Spaniards looted the temple and emptied it of gold, the exquisite polished stone walls were used as the foundations of the Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo, forming perhaps Cusco's most jarring imperial-colonial architectural juxtaposition. Information above and on captions of photos were taken from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/peru/cusco-koricancha.htm Photos taken when we visited Peru in July 2008. Where in Peru is CORICONCHA MUSEUM?

MUSEO KORICANCHA, PERU

The combined sacred sites of Koricancha (also spelled Coriconcha, Qori ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 12:13pm PST

OLLANTAYTAMBO, SACRED VALLEY, PERU : The Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo (Temple of Ollantaytambo) consist of some spectacular terracing up the steep hillside, and at the top of this a temple site! At the foot of the terraces are various other temples and a well-preserved (or restored?) Inca fountain. Despite the fairly large number of tourists, I found the atmosphere here very peaceful, perhaps because of the stream running through the site and a number of small pools. On the hillside opposite the ruins you can spot Inca granaries carved out of the rock. Information above and on photo captions are taken from the book, "Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas", from http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/South_America/Peru/Departamento_de_Cusco/Cusco-1609235/Things_To_Do-Cusco-Ollantaytambo-BR-1.html, http://www.cuscoperu.com/cusco/travel-peru/0234-ollantaytambo-cusco-peru.html, http://www.cusco-peru.org/cusco-surroundings-cusco-ollantaytambo.shtml http://gosouthamerica.about.com/library/blPerupixOllantaytambo1.htm, http://www.planetware.com/peru/ollantaytambo-per-cs-svo.htm Where is the TEMPLE OF OLLANTAYTAMBO? Pictures taken during our visit in July 2008.

OLLANTAYTAMBO, SACRED VALLEY, PERU

The Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo (Temple of Ollantaytambo) consist of s ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 6:43am PST

PISCAC OR PISAC PUBLIC MARKET, PERU : Pisac has evolved into one of the biggest, certainly the most famous, artesanía markets in all of South America. It begins every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9 a.m. when the first tour buses arrive from Cusco and winds down around 5 p.m. when the last tourists leave. The town’s main square is filled wall-to-wall on these days with stalls selling the full range of Peruvian artesanía: carved gourds (mates burilados), ceramics, felt hats, alpaca sweaters and mittens, musical instruments, paintings, antiques, a huge variety of trinkets, and, most of all, weavings and jewelry. Even if you are not buying, the café balconies overlooking the market offer superb people-watching: hundreds of camera-toting tourists, from every conceivable country on earth, haggle with Quechuan-speaking merchants, all to the beat of drum-and-juggling sessions put on by a scraggly band of local hippies. Quality tends to be in the low to middle range—the good stuff is found in the homes of the artesanos themselves or in upscale city galleries—but prices are very reasonable, especially when buying in quantity. Though touristy beyond belief, the Pisac market has a remarkably deeper side that is rooted in its colonial past and has proven resilient to mass tourism. On Sundays only, campesinos from surrounding villages set up a barter market, or mercado de treque, which is an ancient Peruvian custom and an interesting example of the informal economies upon which highlanders depend. Quechuan-speaking Indians sit behind huge piles of potatoes, carrots, herbs, and other vegetables in one corner of the square. They sell these products to buy essentials (salt, sugar, kerosene, matches, medicines) but also trade to acquire other foods, such as oranges from the Quillabamba Valley. It exists side-by-side to the Pisac market but ends by 3 p.m. so that villagers can walk home before dark. Pisac ruins is located at the top of the mountainside featuring a small Inca village with temples, looks pretty similar to Machu Picchu, a bit smaller but it has impressive agricultural terraces and a strategic position overlooking Urubamba river. The name Pisac or Piscac comes from the Quechua voice "pisaq", which means partridge (a gallinacean type that abounds in this area). Photos taken during our visit in July 2008. Information above taken from http://www.moon.com/planner/peru/mustsee/pisac_market.html, and http://imageevent.com/betosantillan/pisac

PISCAC OR PISAC PUBLIC MARKET, PERU

Pisac has evolved into one of the biggest, certainly the most famous, ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 12:53pm PST

SAQSAYWAMAN, PERU : One of the most imposing architectonic complexes inherited from the Inkan Society is precisely Saqsaywaman, which because of several of its qualities is considered as one of the best monuments that mankind built on the earth's surface. When the Spanish conquerors arrived first to these lands; they could not explain themselves how Peruvian "Indians" (ignorant, wild, without any ability of logical reasoning, one more animal species according to conquerors) could have built such a greatness. Their religious fanaticism led them to believe that all that was simply work of demons or malign spirits. Still today, many people believe in the inability of ancient Quechuas to create such a wonder, so they suggest that they were made by beings of some other worlds, extraterrestrial beings with superior technology that made all that possible. However, our history and archaeology demonstrate that those objects of admiration are an undeniable work of the Inkas, Quechuas, Andean people or however pre-Hispanic inhabitants of this corner of the world would be named. The Saqsaywaman archaeological complex has an area of 3,000 hectares and is located North of Cusco and is controlled by the National Cultural Institute. Located 2km from the city. Together with the city of Cusco, this monumental complex is considered the first of the new seven wonders of the world. This huge construction was planned and built by Andean Man. The Incas called it the House of the Sun and the Spaniards called it a fortress because of its zig-zag shape and the 1536 revolution. The construction, which is made up of three platforms one on top of the other, was one of the most important religious complexes of its time. Information taken from http://www.cusco.info and from http://www.qosqo.com/qosqo/saqsaywa.htm, http://www.perucontact.com/en/sugerencia/saqsaywaman.php, http://www.delange.org/Sacsayhuaman/Sacsayhuaman.htm Photos taken during our visit in July 2008.

SAQSAYWAMAN, PERU

One of the most imposing architectonic complexes inherited from the In ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 11:10am PST

TRAIN RIDE TO MACHU PICCHU, PERU : Our journey to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu was taken via PeruRail's Vista Dome trains. Our journey begun from Ollaytantambo, before a brief stop at the village of Poroy. Our train then descended from the highest point of the journey into the Sacred Valley and the foothills of the Andes. Before reaching Machu Picchu, the train traveled along the Urubamba River, with awe-inspiring views of the dramatic canyon. Information above and captions on the photos were taken from http://www.orient-express.com/web/tper/journeys/4_53409.jsp, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Peru, http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/destinations/machupicchu/aguascalientes.html Pictures taken during our visit in July 2008.

TRAIN RIDE TO MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Our journey to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu was taken via PeruRai ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 1:07pm PST

LIMA, THE CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY IN PERU : Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, on a coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It forms a contiguous urban area with the seaport of Callao. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or "The City of Kings." It became the most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and, after the Peruvian War of Independence, was made the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area. During the early 16th century, the location of what is now the city of Lima was inhabited by several amerindian groups under the domination of the Inca Empire. In 1532, a group of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca ruler and took over his empire. Pizarro initially chose the city of Jauja as his capital but found a better site in the valley of the Rímac River. There he founded his new capital on January 18, 1535 as Ciudad de los Reyes. The city gained prestige as it was designated capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru and site of a Real Audiencia in 1543. The Western Hemisphere's first university, San Marcos University was established in 1551 and its first printing press in 1584. It also became an important religious center, a Roman Catholic diocese was established in 1541 and converted to an archdiocese five years later. The city flourished during the 17th century as the center of an extensive trade network which extended as far as Europe and the Philippines.[3] However, it also suffered considerable damage from two earthquakes in 1630 and 1687. A constant danger to the city's commerce was the presence of pirates and privateers in the Pacific Ocean. To protect the city against them, Viceroy Melchor de Navarra y Rocafull built a wall around it between 1684 and 1687. In the 18th century, Lima had to be rebuilt after being almost completely destroyed by an earthquake on October 28, 1746. This natural disaster led to the appearance of an intense devotion for the Lord of the Miracles, which has endured until today. Information above on Lima and on photo captions were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima, http://www.sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?t=7119, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Lima, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Mayor_of_Lima Pictures taken during our visit in July 2008.

LIMA, THE CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY IN PERU

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the val ...

Updated: Sep 05, 2008 6:54pm PST

HISTORIC IGLESIA DE SAN FRANCISCO, MONASTERY, MUSEUM AND CATACOMBS, LIMA : The Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) is the most visited church in Lima, and with good reason. Built in 1674, the attractive yellow church is considered the best example of the "Lima Baroque" style of architecture. The handsome carved portal would later influence those on other churches, including the Iglesia de la Merced. The central nave is known for its beautiful ceilings painted in a style called mudejar (a blend of Moorish and Spanish designs). On a tour, you can peruse the adjoining monastery's immense collection of antique texts, some dating back to the 17th century. The best part of a tour is a visit to the vast catacombs. The city's first cemetery, these underground tunnels contains the bones of some 75,000 people. In many places the bones have been stacked in eerie geometric patterns. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photographs in the catacomb areas. Information above and on captions were taken from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/peru/lima-iglesia-de-san-francisco.htm, http://www.planetware.com/lima/san-francisco-monastery-and-church-per-li-lisf.htm Photos taken during our visit in July 2008.

HISTORIC IGLESIA DE SAN FRANCISCO, MONASTERY, MUSEUM AND CATACOMBS, LIMA

The Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) is the most vis ...

Updated: Sep 03, 2008 7:21pm PST

LIMA CATHEDRAL : Lima Cathedral is an immense baroque cathedral originally built in 1564. In addition to its fine baroque art, it is best known for being designed by Francisco Pizarro (Pizarro conquered the Incas and founded the city of Lima) and this cathedral contains his tomb. But perhaps the highlight of a visit to the cathedral is the colorfully mosaiced chapel containing the tomb of Francisco Pizarro (1475-1541), Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Inca Empire and founder of the city of Lima. There is also a small museum of religious art and artifacts. Lima Cathedral is known for its beautiful interior, known for the intricate carving work of the wooden seats of the choir, the heavily ornamented 'Inmaculada' chapel of baroque style and an ivory Christ, donated as a gift from King Charles V. There is also the Museum of Religious Art and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, holding the remains of the conqueror of Peru. If you're lover of art and architecture, then Lima Cathedral is a must see attraction on tours to Lima, Peru. Where in Lima is THE LIMA CATHEDRAL>? Information above and on captions of photographs were taken from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/peru/lima-cathedral.htm, http://www.travour.com/travel-to-peru/top-attractions-of-peru/lima-cathedral.html These photos were taken during our visit in July 2008.

LIMA CATHEDRAL

Lima Cathedral is an immense baroque cathedral originally built in 156 ...

Updated: Sep 04, 2008 7:59am PST

PHOTOS IN PERU OF MY FRIENDLY PLANET GROUP : This is a compilation of photos I took where members of our "friendly Planet" group were included. You may copy or print it from this site. You may copy by utilizing the "right-mouse-click" on the photo.

PHOTOS IN PERU OF MY FRIENDLY PLANET GROUP

This is a compilation of photos I took where members of our "friendly ...

Updated: Sep 04, 2008 10:09am PST

All photographs on this site © by Andre'Salvador