GEEO Peru Google Earth Presentation

— Stop 1 —

USA

Today I’d like to share with you a great experience I had over the summer break. I traveled to Peru through a non-profit organization called GEEO that helps educators travel abroad so that they can learn more about different cultures to share with their students. I was joined on my trip by teachers from all around the United States.

— Stop 2 —

Americas

We flew from the United States to Peru, on the continent of South America. The two continents of North and South America are together known as the Americas, or sometimes the New World (especially in the context of history). “New World” is a Eurocentric term, since the Americas were only new to the Europeans when they first arrived – but obviously the land was not new to the Native Americans who had been living here for thousands of years!

— Stop 3 —

Peru

Peru is the third largest country in South America and is roughly the size of the states of California, Texas, and Minnesota – combined! Peru is bordered by the countries Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

As you can see in the aerial view here, the half of Peru that is along the Pacific Ocean is very dry and contains the Andes Mountains – it looks brown from space. The other half of Peru is the Amazon rainforest, lush and green, which you can also see very clearly from space. What color do you think our part of the country looks like from space? Feel free to divert back to your part of the country so your students can see.

— Stop 4 —

Lima

We began our trip in the city of Lima. Lima is the capital of Peru and has a population of almost 11 million people, which is somewhere between Los Angeles and Chicago, the second and third largest cities in the United States. As you can see, Lima is a coastal city, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is also located in a coastal desert, making it one of the most populous desert cities in the world.

— Stop 5 —

Miraflores

Our hotel was located in the section of Lima called Miraflores. This is a very popular part of the city with travelers.

— Stop 6 —

Plaza de Armas

Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, and the Plaza de Armas was Lima’s main, central square.

— Stop 7 —

Government Palace of Peru

The President of Peru lives in this huge palace with its entrance on the square. The original building on this site was built on top of a native burial ground for Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The current building was built in the 1930s.

— Stop 8 —

Monasterio de San Francisco

The Monasterio de San Francisco was constructed in the 1600s. There is a massive graveyard underneath this building with the bones of thousands of people who died over the past four centuries. The monastery is also famous for its library, which contains approximately 25,000 antique texts, some dating back to the Spanish conquest.

— Stop 9 —

Cusco

We left Lima and flew to Cusco, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the New World before the Europeans arrived following Christopher Columbus’s voyage of discovery. (Note: The plural form of Inca is simply “Inca.” “Incas” and “Incan” are technically incorrect but are frequently used; Incan can sometimes be used as an adjective.) The entire Inca civilization was ruled from Cusco. Today Cusco has a population of about 430,000 people. It was the Inca capital from the 1200s until the Spanish conquered it in 1532. Cusco is often referred to as the “Navel of the World” in Quechua, the language of the Inca, because it was considered the center of the Inca Empire.

— Stop 10 —

Mountain Graffiti in Cusco

As you can see, Cusco is surrounded by mountains. When we drove into the city from the airport we could see this mountain graffiti. It is very common throughout Peru to see words and symbols carved into the mountains.

— Stop 11 —

Iglesia Santo Domingo/Qorikancha

The Spanish destroyed Cusco in 1534 and rebuilt their own city on top of the old Inca city. Here you can see an aerial view of Iglesia Santo Domingo. This church is built on the foundations of Qorikancha, the Inca’s most important temple. The temple had amazing stonework that can still partially be seen today. At one point, it was covered in an unbelievable amount of silver and gold, which is gone now because the Spanish took it.

— Stop 12 —

Plaza de Armas

Here you can see Cusco’s main square and the impressive Cusco Cathedral on the left. Started in 1559, the cathedral took almost 100 hundred years to build. It was built on the site of an Inca palace that the Spanish destroyed. The building on the right is the Iglesia la Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus). The church was almost entirely demolished by an earthquake in 1650, rebuilt, and finally finished 18 years later.

Like the cathedral, La Compañía was also built on the site of an important ancient palace, that of the Inca Huayna Cápac, said to be the most beautiful of all the Inca rulers’ palaces.

— Stop 13 —

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is the site of an Inca fortress built with incredibly large stones overlooking the city. The fortress was used to defend Cusco (unsuccessfully) from the Spanish invaders. The stones used in Saqsaywaman are among the largest used in any building in pre-Hispanic America, some weighing up to 200 tons. How the Inca moved these massive stones remains a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists.

— Stop 14 —

Ccaccaccollo

We returned to Cusco again toward the end of the trip, but first, we continued on to Ccaccaccollo, an amazing community of a few hundred people nestled in the Andes. Here we were able to see local weaving and dyeing techniques used to create garments and souvenirs, and learn about life in a small village. The women of Ccaccaccollo are renowned for their traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down through generations and are crucial to preserving their cultural heritage. (Please note that many of the men who work on the trekking support team come from this village.)

— Stop 15 —

Ccaccaccollo Main Square

Here you can see the village’s main square. This is a center for socializing, commerce, religious life, and governance. The village’s school is only for primary students; older students must take a bus to larger towns to attend secondary school.

— Stop 16 —

Pisac

We entered the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a lower-elevation area that’s warmer than surrounding regions. The Inca valued it for its excellent agricultural climate. These are the ancient ruins of Pisac—massive terraces the Inca built to grow food.

We also visited the rural village of Cuyo Chico (bottom right), where families created a small business based on traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Using local clay, they mold bowls, plates, and decorations. We learned about the ceramics process and the traditional adobe brick-making used for valley houses.

— Stop 17 —

Huchuy Qosqo

Next, we visited Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of about 65 families in the Sacred Valley, and ate lunch at a community restaurant. The farm-to-table program helps boost the local economy. Huchuy Qosqo means “Little Cusco” in Quechua. It served as a royal estate for the Inca ruler in the 15th century.

— Stop 18 —

Ollantaytambo

We then followed the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba River until we reached the town of Ollantaytambo, another small community where we stayed the night. Ollantaytambo is famous for its Inca ruins much like Pisac. It is also unique because it is one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish in battle.

— Stop 19 —

Ollantaytambo Ruins

The Inca liked to make their cities and buildings look like animals. Ollantaytambo is supposed to look like a llama, which I think you can see pretty well from this view. The head is on the top left of the terracing and the tail at the top right of the terracing.

The ruins also feature a series of agricultural terraces, storehouses, and a ceremonial center that showcase the Inca’s architectural ingenuity and their ability to adapt to the rugged Andean terrain.

— Stop 20 —

Ollantaytambo to Inca Trail

We stayed in Ollantaytambo for one night before beginning our hike on the Inca Trail early the next morning. The Inca Trail is a hiking trail that was used by the Inca to get to the ancient site of Machu Picchu. This same path is now used by travelers for an amazing 25-mile, 3-and-a-half-day trek through the Andes.

The Inca Trail is part of a vast network of roads and trails, known as the Qhapaq Ñan (pronunciation), which spanned over 24,000 miles across the Inca Empire, connecting various regions from modern-day Colombia to Chile.

— Stop 21 —

Inca Trail – Day 1

The first day was relatively easy as we began walking on a path overlooking the river. We hiked with a crew of local porters, a cook, and a guide for the duration of the hike. The porters helped carry much of the gear for the hike (tents, sleeping bags, food, cooking supplies, and clothes), so we only had to carry a daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, etc.

— Stop 22 —

Inca Trail – Day 1, cont.

We slowly started uphill, stretching out our legs for what was to come.

— Stop 23 —

Patallacta

We were able to take a rest at an overlook of the Patallacta archaeological site. These ruins were once a small village and farm that acted as a rest stop for Inca traveling on this same trail centuries ago. Patallacta means “High Town” in Quechua.

— Stop 24 —

Wayllabamba Campsite

We kept moving uphill toward our first campsite, Wayllabamba. We hiked nearly 7 miles on the first day. At the camp, we were greeted by our hard-working porters and cooks. Every day, they prepared wonderful meals for us and set up and took down the tents.

— Stop 25 —

Inca Trail – Day 2

The next morning, we continued uphill on one of the biggest physical challenges of our trip. We kept climbing higher and higher…

— Stop 26 —

Inca Trail – Day 2, cont.

Trees can’t grow at very high altitudes, and as you can see, we eventually climbed above the tree line. Altitude sickness, or “soroche,” can affect hikers due to the high elevation. It’s important to acclimate properly and stay hydrated.

We could see the mountain pass above us, called Warmi Wañusqa, or “Dead Woman’s Pass.”

— Stop 27 —

Dead Woman’s Pass

Dead Woman’s Pass is not a treacherous path, and it gets its name from the mountain formation that looks like a woman lying on her back, with the pass crossing over her belly. It felt great to get to the top of the pass, which at the time was very foggy because it was covered in a cloud. We were standing at 13,650 feet above sea level, and the air was very thin.

— Stop 28 —

Pacaymayo Campsite

From Dead Woman’s Pass, we hiked downhill for a long time to reach our second campsite. We were all exhausted after hiking 7.5 miles that day.

— Stop 29 —

Inca Trail – Day 3 (Runkuraqay Ruins)

The next morning, we headed out bright and early, knowing we had another long day ahead. The trail immediately started uphill again.

Along the way, we stopped at Runkuraqay, another ruined Inca site that was a rest stop on the trail for the Inca. It was probably used by messengers who would run the trail to deliver messages and news between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

— Stop 30 —

Second Pass

The view from the top of the second pass was amazing.

— Stop 31 —

Sayacmarca

We descended again and visited another Inca site, Sayacmarca, which was a fortress, temple, and small town for the Inca. Sayacmarca means “Inaccessible Town” in Quechua, named for its strategic location on a steep mountainside, making it a formidable defensive site.

— Stop 32 —

Phuyupatamarca

We continued along the trail through a beautiful forest and up to the next pass where we ate lunch. Just below the mount pass. We visited another Inca ruin, Phuyupatamarca, which was a town, temple, and observatory for the Inca. Phuyupatamarca means “Town in the Clouds” in Quechua. The site is known for its advanced irrigation system and stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

— Stop 33 —

Wiñay Wayna Campsite

From there, we hiked down a steep hill for a few hours. In total, we hiked 10 miles for 9 hours that day. At the campsite, we were able to shower for the first time on the trail.

— Stop 34 —

Inca Trail – Day 4

The next morning, we woke up well before sunrise and started the last of the hike in the dark of night. We hiked along the side of a mountain until we reached a spot called Inti Punku, which means Sun Gate. The gate was dedicated to the Inca sun god, Inti, and the rising sun would shine through the Sun Gate each year on the summer solstice.

— Stop 35 —

Inti Punku

Inti Punku was an important checkpoint for those entering Machu Picchu. It offers one of the most iconic views of the ancient city, especially at sunrise. It is also the first place where hikers can see Machu Picchu, and on a clear day, many people wait there early in the morning to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu.

— Stop 36 —

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Inca town that was built around the year 1460 but abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. While the local Peruvians knew that the ruins of the city were still there, the world found out about Machu Picchu’s existence in 1911 from an American historian named Hiram Bingham. Since its rediscovery, Machu Picchu has become a very popular destination for travelers.

— Stop 37 —

Machu Picchu views 2 and 3

Nobody is certain about what Machu Picchu was used for, but it is believed to have been a royal estate or a religious site. Some archeologists think it was a prison, some a university, some an observatory, and others think it was a regional capital. Either way, it was a pretty big settlement and is situated in an amazing location.

— Stop 38 —

Machu Picchu Up Close

(Explore the site in this “street view”)

— Stop 39 —

Aguas Calientes

After exploring Machu Picchu, we took a bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes where we ate lunch and caught a train that took us back toward Cusco.

— Stop 40 —

Inca Trail Overview

Here is an overview of the Inca Trail from start to finish. As you can see, we really hiked a long way and were exhausted by the end of the trek.

Share your experiences: What was it like trekking the Inca Trail and exploring Machu Picchu?

— Stop 1 —

USA

Today I’d like to share with you a great experience I had over the summer break. I traveled to Peru through a non-profit organization called GEEO that helps educators travel abroad so that they can learn more about different cultures to share with their students. I was joined on my trip by teachers from all around the United States.

— Stop 2 —

Americas

We flew from the United States to Peru, on the continent of South America. The two continents of North and South America are together known as the Americas, or sometimes the New World (especially in the context of history). “New World” is a Eurocentric term, since the Americas were only new to the Europeans when they first arrived – but obviously the land was not new to the Native Americans who had been living here for thousands of years!

— Stop 3 —

Peru

Peru is the third largest country in South America and is roughly the size of the states of California, Texas, and Minnesota – combined! Peru is bordered by the countries Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

As you can see in the aerial view here, the half of Peru that is along the Pacific Ocean is very dry and contains the Andes Mountains – it looks brown from space. The other half is the Amazon rainforest, lush and green, which you can also see very clearly from space. What color do you think our part of the country looks like from space? Feel free to divert back to your part of the country so your students can see.

— Stop 4 —

Lima

We began our trip in the city of Lima. Lima is the capital of Peru and has a population of almost 11 million people, which is somewhere between Los Angeles and Chicago, the second and third largest cities in the United States. As you can see, Lima is a coastal city, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is also located in a coastal desert, making it one of the most populous desert cities in the world.

— Stop 5 —

Miraflores

Our hotel was located in the section of Lima called Miraflores. This is a very popular part of the city with travelers.

— Stop 6 —

Plaza de Armas

Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, and the Plaza de Armas was Lima’s main, central square.

— Stop 7 —

Government Palace of Peru

The President of Peru lives in this huge palace with its entrance on the square. The original building on this site was built on top of a native burial ground for Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The current building was built in the 1930s.

— Stop 8 —

Monasterio de San Francisco

The Monasterio de San Francisco was constructed in the 1600s. There is a massive graveyard underneath this building with the bones of thousands of people who died over the past four centuries. The monastery is also famous for its library, which contains approximately 25,000 antique texts, some dating back to the Spanish conquest.

— Stop 9 —

Cusco

We left Lima and flew to Cusco, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the New World before the Europeans arrived following Christopher Columbus’s voyage of discovery. (Note: The plural form of Inca is simply “Inca.” “Incas” and “Incan” are technically incorrect but are frequently used; Incan can sometimes be used as an adjective.) The entire Inca civilization was ruled from Cusco. Today Cusco has a population of about 430,000 people. It was the Inca capital from the 1200s until the Spanish conquered it in 1532. Cusco is often referred to as the “Navel of the World” in Quechua, the language of the Inca, because it was considered the center of the Inca Empire.

— Stop 10 —

Mountain Graffiti in Cusco

As you can see, Cusco is surrounded by mountains. When we drove into the city from the airport we could see this mountain graffiti. It is very common throughout Peru to see words and symbols carved into the mountains.

— Stop 11 —

Iglesia Santo Domingo/Qorikancha

The Spanish destroyed Cusco in 1534 and rebuilt their own city on top of the old Inca city. Here you can see an aerial view of Iglesia Santo Domingo. This church is built on the foundations of Qorikancha, the Inca’s most important temple. The temple had amazing stonework that can still partially be seen today. At one point, it was covered in an unbelievable amount of silver and gold, which is gone now because the Spanish took it.

— Stop 12 —

Plaza de Armas

Here you can see Cusco’s main square and the impressive Cusco Cathedral on the left. Started in 1559, the cathedral took almost 100 hundred years to build. It was built on the site of an Inca palace that the Spanish destroyed. The building on the right is the Iglesia la Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus). The church was almost entirely demolished by an earthquake in 1650, rebuilt, and finally finished 18 years later.

Like the cathedral, La Compañía was also built on the site of an important ancient palace, that of the Inca Huayna Cápac, said to be the most beautiful of all the Inca rulers’ palaces.

— Stop 13 —

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is the site of an Inca fortress built with incredibly large stones overlooking the city. The fortress was used to defend Cusco (unsuccessfully) from the Spanish invaders. The stones used in Saqsaywaman are among the largest used in any building in pre-Hispanic America, some weighing up to 200 tons. How the Inca moved these massive stones remains a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists.

— Stop 14 —

Ccaccaccollo

We returned to Cusco again toward the end of the trip, but first, we continued on to Ccaccaccollo, an amazing community of a few hundred people nestled in the Andes. Here we were able to see local weaving and dyeing techniques used to create garments and souvenirs, and learn about life in a small village. The women of Ccaccaccollo are renowned for their traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down through generations and are crucial to preserving their cultural heritage. (Please note that many of the men who work on the trekking support team come from this village.)

— Stop 15 —

Ccaccaccollo Main Square

Here you can see the village’s main square. This is a center for socializing, commerce, religious life, and governance. The village’s school is only for primary students; older students must take a bus to larger towns to attend secondary school.

— Stop 16 —

Pisac

We then entered into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is an area that is lower in elevation and therefore warmer than other nearby areas, and it was therefore highly valued by the Inca for its great climate for agriculture. These are the ancient ruins of Pisac, massive terraces that were built by the Inca to grow food.

We also visited the rural village of Cuyo Chico, seen in the bottom right, where a group of families joined together to create a small business based on their traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Using clay from their surroundings, they mold bowls, plates, and all kinds of decorations. We learned about the ceramics process as well as the traditional adobe brick-making that is used for constructing houses throughout the valley.

— Stop 17 —

Huchuy Qosqo

Next, we visited Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of about 65 families in the Sacred Valley, and ate lunch at a community restaurant. The farm-to-table program helps boost the local economy. Huchuy Qosqo means “Little Cusco” in Quechua. It served as a royal estate for the Inca ruler in the 15th century.

— Stop 18 —

Ollantaytambo

We then followed the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba River until we reached the town of Ollantaytambo, another small community where we stayed the night. Ollantaytambo is famous for its Inca ruins much like Pisac. It is also unique because it is one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish in battle.

— Stop 19 —

Ollantaytambo Ruins

The Inca designed their cities and buildings to look like animals. Ollantaytambo resembles a llama—the head is on the top left of the terracing and the tail at the top right.

The ruins also feature agricultural terraces, storehouses, and a ceremonial center that demonstrate the Inca’s adaptation to rugged Andean terrain.

We stayed in Ollantaytambo one night before beginning a multi-day hike. Some of our group hiked the Inca Trail, an ancient path that was part of the Qhapaq Ñan (pronunciation)—a vast network of roads and trails spanning over 24,000 miles across the Inca Empire, from Colombia to Chile.

— Stop 20 —

Lares

I hiked the Lares trek, which follows original Inca paths still used by locals. It’s less traveled than the Inca Trail but winds through picturesque terrain in the Sacred Valley.

We drove to Lares, a town in the Andean highlands. From there, we hiked through the valley of Cuncani, passing terraced fields where farmers grow potatoes and other high-altitude crops. The trek to our first campsite was a gentle ascent, allowing us to acclimatize while enjoying views of mountain peaks and valleys.

We hiked with local porters, a cook, and a guide. Porters carried tents, sleeping bags, food, cooking supplies, and clothes. We only carried daypacks with water, rain gear, snacks, and daily essentials.

— Stop 21 —

Trailhead

There are many natural hot springs near Lares, and this one is near the trailhead where we began our hike. Our first day of hiking took us through this valley. We hiked about five and a half miles in total on a gradual ascent.

— Stop 22 —

Cuncani

Our first campsite was run by a community in the valley called Cuncani. The community uses the proceeds from the campsite to benefit their health, education, nutrition, and infrastructure improvements to water and electricity.

— Stop 23 —

Urubamba Mountain Range

Our second day of hiking was the most intense. We spent over ten hours hiking over ten miles that day! It started with a very steep climb, because we were crossing over the Urubamba mountain range. Most of the names of the individual mountains come from the indigenous Quechua and Aymara languages. Here you can see three of the four highest peaks in the mountain range:

• Sahuasiray – 19,088 ft
• Chicón – 18,143 ft
• Sirihuani – 17,713 ft

We hiked all the way up to 15,748 ft when crossing over the mountains and had some great views of the snow-capped Chicón Mountain. At the highpoint, we celebrated by making a traditional offering of coca leaves to the Andean gods, a centuries-old practice.

Coca leaves hold profound significance in Peruvian and Inca history. For centuries, the indigenous peoples of the Andes, including the Inca civilization, revered coca as a sacred plant. It was believed to possess spiritual qualities, connecting them to their gods and ancestors. Coca leaves were often chewed during religious ceremonies and rituals as a means to communicate with the supernatural world and receive divine guidance. The leaves also contain alkaloids that act as stimulants, providing energy and alleviating symptoms of altitude sickness.

— Stop 24 —

Lares Trek – Day 3

On our third day of hiking, we finished the descent. (Share your experiences: What did you see? Do you have photos or videos to share?)

After about three or four hours, we enjoy lunch and then met back up with those from our group who did not hike, and then we took a train to a town called Aguas Calientes.

— Stop 25 —

Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, is a small town that serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu. Does anyone know what Aguas Calientes means? It is Spanish for “hot waters,” because it has natural hot springs nearby. The thermal baths have been popular for centuries and are a way for tourists to relax after a day of hiking or exploring Machu Picchu.

We spent the night in Aguas Calientes, and then the next morning, we took a bus up a steep winding road to Machu Picchu.

— Stop 26 —

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Inca town that was built around the year 1460 but abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. While the local Peruvians knew that the ruins of the city were still there, the world found out about Machu Picchu’s existence in 1911 from an American historian named Hiram Bingham. Since its rediscovery, Machu Picchu has become a very popular destination for travelers.

— Stop 27 —

Machu Picchu views 2 and 3

Nobody is certain about what Machu Picchu was used for, but it is believed to have been a royal estate or a religious site. Some archeologists think it was a prison, some a university, some an observatory, and others think it was a regional capital. Either way, it was a pretty big settlement and is situated in an amazing location. (The third view of Machu Picchu is a “street view” that you can click through to explore the site virtually.)

Share your experiences: What was it like hiking the Lares trek and exploring Macchu Picchu? What did you learn? What stood out for you?

— Stop 1 —

USA

Today I’d like to share with you a great experience I had over the summer break. I traveled to Peru through a non-profit organization called GEEO that helps educators travel abroad so that they can learn more about different cultures to share with their students. I was joined on my trip by teachers from all around the United States.

— Stop 2 —

Americas

We flew from the United States to Peru, on the continent of South America. The two continents of North and South America are together known as the Americas, or sometimes the New World (especially in the context of history). “New World” is a Eurocentric term, since the Americas were only new to the Europeans when they first arrived – but obviously the land was not new to the Native Americans who had been living here for thousands of years!

— Stop 3 —

Peru

Peru is the third largest country in South America and is roughly the size of the states of California, Texas, and Minnesota – combined! Peru is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

In this aerial view you see the half of Peru that is along the Pacific Ocean is very dry and contains the Andes Mountains – it looks brown from space. The other half is the Amazon rainforest, lush and green, which you can also see very clearly from space. What color do you think our part of the country looks like from space? Feel free to divert back to your part of the country so your students can see.

— Stop 4 —

Lima

We began our trip in the city of Lima, the capital of Peru. It has a population of almost 11 million people, which is somewhere between Los Angeles and Chicago, the second and third-largest cities in the United States. As you can see, Lima is a coastal city, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is also located in a coastal desert, making it one of the most populous desert cities in the world.

— Stop 5 —

Miraflores

Our hotel was located in the section of Lima called Miraflores. This is a very popular part of the city with travelers.

— Stop 6 —

Plaza de Armas

Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, and the Plaza de Armas was Lima’s main, central square.

— Stop 7 —

Government Palace of Peru

The President of Peru lives in this huge palace with its entrance on the square. The original building on this site was built on top of a native burial ground for Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The current building was built in the 1930s.

— Stop 8 —

Monasterio de San Francisco

The Monasterio de San Francisco was constructed in the 1600s. There is a massive graveyard underneath this building with the bones of thousands of people who died over the past four centuries. The monastery is also famous for its library, which contains approximately 25,000 antique texts, some dating back to the Spanish conquest.

— Stop 9 —

Cusco

We left Lima and flew to Cusco, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the New World before the Europeans arrived following Christopher Columbus’s voyage of discovery. (Note: The plural form of Inca is simply “Inca.” “Incas” and “Incan” are technically incorrect but are frequently used; Incan can sometimes be used as an adjective.) The entire Inca civilization was ruled from Cusco. Today Cusco has a population of about 430,000 people. It was the Inca capital from the 1200s until the Spanish conquered it in 1532. Cusco is often referred to as the “Navel of the World” in Quechua, the language of the Inca, because it was considered the center of the Inca Empire.

— Stop 10 —

Mountain Graffiti in Cusco

Cusco is surrounded by mountains. When we drove into the city from the airport we could see this mountain graffiti. It’s common throughout Peru to see words and symbols carved into the mountains.

— Stop 11 —

Iglesia Santo Domingo/Qorikancha

The Spanish destroyed Cusco in 1534 and rebuilt their own city on top of the old Inca city. Here you can see an aerial view of Iglesia Santo Domingo. This church is built on the foundations of Qorikancha, the Inca’s most important temple. The temple had amazing stonework that can still partially be seen today. At one point, it was covered in an unbelievable amount of silver and gold, which is gone now because the Spanish took it.

— Stop 12 —

Plaza de Armas

Here you can see Cusco’s main square and the impressive Cusco Cathedral on the left. Started in 1559, the cathedral took almost 100 hundred years to build. It was built on the site of an Inca palace that the Spanish destroyed. The building on the right is the Iglesia la Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus). The church was almost entirely demolished by an earthquake in 1650, rebuilt, and finally finished 18 years later.

Like the cathedral, La Compañía was also built on the site of an important ancient palace, that of the Inca Huayna Cápac, said to be the most beautiful of all the Inca rulers’ palaces.

— Stop 13 —

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is the site of an Inca fortress built with massive stones overlooking the city. The fortress was used to defend Cusco (unsuccessfully) from Spanish invaders. The stones used in Saqsaywaman are among the largest used in any building in pre-Hispanic America, some weighing up to 200 tons, and how the Inca moved the stones is hotly debated by historians and archaeologists.

— Stop 14 —

Ccaccaccollo

We returned to Cusco again toward the end of the trip, but first, we continued on to Ccaccaccollo, an amazing community of a few hundred people nestled in the Andes. Here we were able to see local weaving and dyeing techniques used to create garments and souvenirs, and learn about life in a small village. The women of Ccaccaccollo are renowned for their traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down through generations and are crucial to preserving their cultural heritage. (Please note that many of the men who work on the trekking support team come from this village.)

— Stop 15 —

Ccaccaccollo Main Square

Here you can see the village’s main square. This is a center for socializing, commerce, religious life, and governance. The village’s school is only for primary students; older students must take a bus to larger towns to attend secondary school.

— Stop 16 —

Pisac

We entered the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a lower-elevation area that’s warmer than surrounding regions. The Inca valued it for its excellent agricultural climate. These are the ancient ruins of Pisac—massive terraces the Inca built to grow food.

We also visited the rural village of Cuyo Chico (bottom right), where families created a small business based on traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Using local clay, they mold bowls, plates, and decorations. We learned about the ceramics process and the traditional adobe brick-making used for valley houses.

— Stop 17 —

Huchuy Qosqo

Next, we visited Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of about 65 families in the Sacred Valley, and ate lunch at a community restaurant. The farm-to-table program helps boost the local economy. Huchuy Qosqo means “Little Cusco” in Quechua. It served as a royal estate for the Inca ruler in the 15th century.

— Stop 18 —

Ollantaytambo

We then followed the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba River until we reached the town of Ollantaytambo, another small community where we stayed the night. Ollantaytambo is famous for its Inca ruins much like Pisac. It is also unique because it is one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish in battle.

— Stop 19 —

Ollantaytambo Ruins

The Inca liked to make their cities and buildings look like animals. Ollantaytambo is supposed to look like a llama, which I think you can see pretty well from this view. The head is on the top left of the terracing and the tail at the top right of the terracing.

The ruins also feature a series of agricultural terraces, storehouses, and a ceremonial center that showcase the Inca’s architectural ingenuity and their ability to adapt to the rugged Andean terrain.

— Stop 20 —

Maras Salt Ponds

The next day, some of us went trekking in the Andes while others returned to Cusco for a few more days. On the way back to Cusco, the non-hikers stopped in Maras to see two amazing Inca sites. Here you can see the Maras Salt Ponds. Since pre-Inca times, salt has been obtained in Maras by evaporating salty water from a local subterranean stream in terraced ponds. There are more than 6,000 salt ponds in Maras carved by the Inca, and they are still in use by local families. The process of salt harvesting has been passed down through generations and remains largely unchanged. The natural salt contains a variety of minerals, giving it a unique flavor and color.

— Stop 21 —

Moray

Near Maras are the unusual Inca ruins known as Moray. They consist of a sophisticated irrigation system and enormous terraced circular depressions, the largest nearly 100 feet deep. The purpose of these depressions is unknown, but their depth, design, and orientation to wind and sun creates a temperature difference of 27° F between top and bottom. This may have served as an agricultural laboratory where the Inca tested how different climates affected crops. The site shows the Incas understood microclimates and how to manipulate conditions for better agricultural production.

— Stop 22 —

Chinchero Ruins

We also visited the ruins of Chinchero, which was once an important royal estate of the Inca ruler, who had his royal throne carved directly into the rock—you can still see it today.

Chinchero is also known as “The Land of the Rainbow” or “The Birthplace of the Rainbow,” because during the rainy season (between January and March), the particular climate, altitude, and mountain surroundings create ideal conditions for stunning, frequent rainbows to appear over the valley.

The Inca were not the first people to settle Chinchero. The site was originally home to the Ayamarca people, a pre-Inca group who lived in the Cusco region and actually resisted Inca expansion for some time. Eventually, the Inca overcame them and incorporated their lands into the empire.

The terraces at Chinchero are still used for farming today! That means these agricultural platforms have been in continuous use for over 500 years.

— Stop 23 —

Aguas Calientes

After a couple more nights in Cusco, we took a bus back to Ollantaytambo where we met up with some of the trekkers from our group, and then we took a train to Aguas Calientes. We spent the night in Aguas Calientes, and then the next morning, we took a bus up a steep winding road to Machu Picchu.

— Stop 24 —

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Inca town that was built around the year 1460 but abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. While the local Peruvians knew that the ruins of the city were still there, the world found out about Machu Picchu’s existence in 1911 from an American historian named Hiram Bingham. Since its rediscovery, Machu Picchu has become a very popular destination for travelers.

— Stop 25 —

Machu Picchu views 2 and 3

Nobody is certain about what Machu Picchu was used for, but it is believed to have been a royal estate or a religious site. Some archeologists think it was a prison, some a university, some an observatory, and others think it was a regional capital. Either way, it was a pretty big settlement and is situated in an amazing location.