After visiting Chile and Bolivia on a trip to South America, I ended by visiting Peru. Of course no visit to Peru would be complete without seeing Machu Picchu, the famous Inca city hidden in the mountains that the Spanish Conquistadors never found.
Because of the main Incan sites Peru is a popular destination for travellers and some parts are now a little commercial but it was still a great place to wind up my South America trip.
Reed Boats
As well as being used to create the islands, the reeds are used to build the houses and traditional boats.
Rowing
The people living on the floating islands also have more regular boats, although you'll notice the woman is rowing the boat facing forward rather than the more normal seated with your back to the direction of travel.
Chullpas of Sullastani
Sillustani is a pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno in Peru. The tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, are the remains of the Colla people, Aymara who were conquered by the Inca in the 15th century. The structures housed the remains of complete family groups, although they were probably limited to nobility.
Girl & Baby Vicuna
Market at the High Pass
Abra la Raya is the high pass (4,338m) and the point between the valley that drains into Lake Titicaca to the South and Cusco in the North.
Llama
A slightly tame Llama in the courtyard of an artisan market we stopped at.
Vicuña
The Vicuña is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to share a wild ancestor with domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their fibre. Vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 3 years and has to be caught from the wild. When knitted together, the product of the vicuña's fur is very soft and warm.
Dressed Cross
Mountain Path
We stayed one night in Yucay and the next morning was free. a couple of us decided to take a stroll up into the mountains to see an old mill and some rock paintings. We ended up far higher than we planned.
Into the Mountains
We stayed one night in Yucay and the next morning was free. a couple of us decided to take a stroll up into the mountains to see an old mill and some rock paintings. We ended up far higher than we planned.
Old Door
Rock Paintings
These ancient rock paintings show human figures with cameloids (llama, alpaca). Although you can't tell from this photo the drawing are high up on a cliff and quite how someone got there to draw these I don't know.
Inca Ruins
Ollantaytambo is the main starting point for the trains to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. Above the newer village are the ruins of an Incan settlement.
Peru Rail
The train to Aguas Calientes is the only way (other than walking) to get to Machu Picchu. The journey through the mountains takes about one and a half hours.
Inca Trail
The bridge across the river and path up the hillside are the beginning of the Inca Trail, the four day, three night walk to Machu Picchu.
Manchu Picchu
The classic view of Machu Picchu just as the sun crests the mountain off to the right.
Sun Temple
The Sun Temple within the Machu Pucchu complex.
The Hitching Post of the Sun
The Hitching Post of the Sun, or Intihuatana stone, is arranged to point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky.
Terraced
Built on the top of a mountain, the Machu Picchu site spill down the sides of the hill in terraces.
Gateway to the City
One of the main entrances to the city.
