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PUNO AND TITICACA LAKE
LakeTiticaca
Lake Titicaca in Peru is over 170 kilometers long and lies almost 4000 meters above sea level. The sun shines brightly through the thin air at this altitude and the lake appears to be a deep blue. The Titicaca area is steeped in tradition and folklore and is the center of Inca creation legends. One Inca myth tells how the god Viracocha created the sun and moon at Titicaca before fashioning humans from stone.
The Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca
The floating Islands of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca are formed from compacted beds of totora reeds. Walking on these spongy, unstable islands is a strange experience. The reeds are also used to construct huts and boats. About 25 kilometers from the shore of Lake Titicaca in Peru is beautiful Taquile Island. Taquile is also a very peaceful place undisturbed by vehicles.
The people of Taquile Island have a strong group identity and have maintained much of their cultural isolation.
AREQUIPA AND CAÑON DE QOLQA
To the north of Arequipa in Peru is the higher course of the Colca river valley whose deep canyon is renowned among rafters. The section before the canyon consists of an encased valley that runs from east to west, beginning in the cold puna and running down to warmer regions, showcasing the region's great scenic beauty and cultural attactiveness.
One of the survival skills of the ancient Colca people was the ability to store large amounts of grain for hard times. The warehouses, known as "colcas", gave name to the valley. In the "cool" caves of Pumunuta, it's possible to see circular colcas made of mud and straw with diameters of up to one meter.
Another area attraction is the fantastic Andean Condor. Because the valley is so deep, the rising winds are surprisingly strong and big condors take advantage of them to soar gracefully into the sky. Between Maca and Cabanaconde, where winds are even stronger, is the Cruz del Condor, an observation point perfect for watching the condors while they fly majestically. Our Panoramic Peru tour takes you to the Colca Canyon and Cruz del Condor, among other fantastic spots throughout the country
NAZCA LINES AND WILDLIFE OF PARACAS AND THE BALLESTAS ISLANDS
The mysterious Nazca Lines
The Nazca people left behind one of the most astonishing legacies of the old cultures of Peru - the Nazca Lines. An elevated plateau called the Nazca Pampa is covered by these mysterious markings. From the air we can wonder at a multitude of long straight lines, geometric shapes and outlines of animals and birds that have been marked into the dry, stony ground.
Most markings were made by removing the top layer of dark stones from the ground. The longest straight lines run for several kilometers while most of the animal drawings are around 100 - 200 meters across. Why these designs were made is an enduring mystery, particularly since they can only been seen properly from the air.
WILDLIFE OF PARACAS AND THE BALLESTAS ISLANDS
Despite the barren landscapes of this area of Peru, the coast of the Paracas Peninsula and the nearby Ballestas Islands are havens for marine life. The Ballestas Islands are alive with noisy colonies of sea lions and huge numbers of birds that are sustained by the food-rich waters of this stretch of the Pacific.
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