Galapagos Islands News

The Galapagos Islands are a world-renowned natural wonder. Every year, thousands of people come to Galapagos to experience the stunning beauty and pristine environments impossible to find elsewhere. As wonderful as the Galapagos Islands are, don’t forget that they’re only a very tiny part of South America and that there is much more to see and do! It’s easy to extend your Galapagos trip to include other unforgettable sights. Once you’re done in Galapagos, why not extend to Peru, home of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the ancient Inca city of Cuzco?

Peru’s greatest attraction is without a doubt the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Built in the remote Peruvian cloud forest as a sort of royal vacation home for the Inca family sometime around 1470, the city was lost when the Spanish invaded in 1532. For centuries, the rainforest reclaimed the city and only a few locals knew of the moss-covered buildings high up in the misty mountains. In 1911, Machu Picchu was once again discovered by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, said to be the inspiration for film icon Indiana Jones.

Machu Picchu is located on a mountaintop in a lush green valley, and the excavated buildings tell the fascinating story of an advanced society. Machu Picchu is breathtakingly beautiful and it is no surprise that in 2007 it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World by an online poll: more than 100 million votes were cast. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to Peru to visit Machu Picchu. The small town of Aguas Calientes, located at the base of Machu Picchu’s mountain home, has first-class lodging options and good restaurants.

There is much more to Peru than just Machu Picchu! The capital city of Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro, the ruthless conquistador who personally took down the mighty Inca Empire. Today, Lima is a modern, cosmopolitan city known for excellent food, fascinating museums and good shopping. It is home to colonial-era architecture including cathedrals, convents and the Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city.

High in the Peruvian Andes, Cuzco was the richest city in the Americas in 1532 when the Spanish first arrived. From Cuzco, mighty Inca Emperors commanded armies of 100,000 soldiers and oversaw a flourishing society with advanced agriculture, irrigation, science, mathematics and astronomy. The Inca also had impressive architecture: they were the best stonemasons the world has ever known.

Modern Cuzco has not lost this timeless air of mystery: Inca stonework is still everywhere and there are great museums and markets in the city. Cuzco is also a home base for visiting not only nearby Machu Picchu but also Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Incas, home to more ruins such as Sachsaywaman and small, charming indigenous communities such as Pisac which feature renowned local handicraft markets. Cuzco has a variety of lording and dining options, including the five-star el Monasterio Hotel (Conde Nast’s Best Hotel in South America in 2008), in which guests sleep in a 400 year old converted seminary school and monastery.

Lake Titicaca is more than just a trivia question (it’s the highest navigable lake in the world) it’s also beautiful and home to fascinating cultures that have survived there for centuries. From the city of Puno, which sits on the lake, visitors can go see a community of the Uros people, who live on special islands. Why are the islands special? They’re man-made, hand-woven out of local reeds! They’re quite safe and stable. Then visitors often go to the Island of Taquile to have lunch and visit another local native community. As an added bonus, the best way to get to Puno in the first place is via a 12-hour train ride from Cuzco. The train is comfortable and modern and passes through some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the world!

Columbus Travel works with only the most reputable Peruvian tour and hotel operators to assure that your trip extension is first-class all the way. Several multi-day packages are available with any combination of visits to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Lima and Cuzco. Don’t let your South American adventure end in the Galapagos Islands: see your Columbus Travel representative and learn more about Peru, land of the Inca!