Tourism

=Machu Picchu (Old peak)= toc

Site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. Machu Picchu is located in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.

Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary structures are the //Intihuatana// (Hitching post of the Sun), 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

Information from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

On a less historical note, due to the huge cubes of stone that make up the building (that must've been impossible to carry), some people believe that Machu Picchu was actually built by aliens.

=Sacsayhuaman (Fortress of the Incas)=



"//This fortress surpasses the contructions known as the seven wonders of the wolrd. For in the case of a long broad wall like that of Babylon, or the colossus of Rhodes, or the pyramids of Egypt, or the other monuments, one can see clearly how they were executed. They did it by summoning an immense body of workers and accumulating more and more material day by day and year by year. They overcame all difficulties by employing human effort over a long period. But it is indeed beyond the power of imagination to understand now these Indians, unacquanted with devices, engines, and implements, could have cut, dressed, raised, and lowered great rocks, more like lumps of hills than building stones, and set them so exactly in their places. For this reason, and because the Indians were so familiar with demons, the work is attributed to enchantment."//

- Garcilaso de la Vega

The site of Sacsayhuamán consists of a fortress that has layered walls. Multiple walls located behind each other, the rear ones higher than the frontal ones. The more one advances inwards, one has to climb higher, meeting more walls.

The Incas had built it on the side of a hill, taking advantage of the altitude changes.

**Sacsayhuamán has seen major battles, including the siege in which Ju án Pizarro, the smaller brother of Francisco Pizarro was fatally wounded and died the next day. **

Insert from Rediscover Machu Picchu http://www.rediscovermachupicchu.com/sacsayhuaman.htm

=El Señor de Sipan (Lord of Sipan)=



Lord of Sipan (Señor de Sipan) died around 1770 years ago. The grand lord of Moche civilization - one of Peru's most important pre-Hispanic civilizations - was a warrior, half god, half man, a noble. A lord over the lords of his time. He lived for about 40 years and was 1.67 meters (5.5 ft.) tall.

He was buried in a wooden sarcophagus - - itself a first in the Americas - with his head pointing south, his nose and ears covered with gold relics and his feet clad in silver, surrounded by a profusion of objects in cooper, spondyllus shells and semiprecious stones.

By his side were the skeletons of two young women, a llama and a dog. At his feet, the skeleton of a young warrior with a golden shield. His dead was carbon-dated to 290 AD.

This incredible archaeological discovery - considered to be the greatest ever made in the Western Hemisphere - was revealed to the world in 1987, by a small group of Peruvian archaeologists led by Dr. Walter Alva. The place is known as Waca Rajada - Split "Huaca" (Adobe mound), in Peru's north coast, department of Lambayeque, 35 km. SE of the city of Chiclayo.

Information from Unique South America Travel Experience. http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/lordofsipan.html

=Las Líneas de Nazca (Nazca Lines)=



 The Nazca Lines are located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, some 400 km south of Lima, the geoglyphs of Nazca and the pampas of Jumana cover about 450 sq. km.

The Nazca Lines, which were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500, are among archaeology's greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size and continuity.

The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometers long. They are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions.

You can see the Nazca Lines and geoglyphs in a over flight, from Nazca, Ica, Paracas / Pisco or from Lima

Information from Go2Peru.com http://www.go2peru.com/nazca_lines.htm =Los Baños del Inca (Inca Baths)=

 The “Baños del Inca” (” Inca’s Bath” or “Inca Baths”) are a set of natural hot springs located to six kilometers of the city of Cajamarca in the north Andean zone of Peru to 2667 meters above sea level. This recreational and historical complex is composed by several gardens and pools. The average temperatures of these hot mineral springs is around 70ºC (158ºF) and according to the popular belief, the thermal waters possess therapeutic properties for treatment of bone and nervous system disorders; as well as bronchial and rheumatic sufferings. The historic registers indicate that Incas were the first to use these hot springs for recreation. They named this place “Inti Puquio” that means “Sun Fountain”. Incas constructed several structures around the hot spring to enjoy the relaxed environment of the place. While Incas ruled, this place was a lordly residential zone, surrounded by beautiful trees and springs. It was a luxury spa for the Inca elite.

Information from 7wonders.org http://www.7wonders.org/wonders/america/peru/cajamarca/inca-baths.aspx

=Asia=

The Boulevard of Asia is located 100 kilometers south of Lima, Peru. Asia's beaches are the most exclusive and with a growing influx of tourists, especially in the summer months. Asia's beaches have become, without doubt, in the resort of the middle and upper classes for several years at the Boulevard in Asia has branches of Lima's most important business, like restaurants, bars, lounges, nightclubs, department stores, cinemas, hotels, hairdressers, shops, jewelry store, decor and fashion.

Information from Asiaperu http://www.asiaperu.info/en/

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=Works Cited (pictures)= http://www.newsmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/machu-picchu-orasul-pierdut-peru.jpg http://www.royalinkahotel.pe/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/sacsayhuaman.jpg http://www.lambayeque.net/fotos/d/19398-2/tumba-del-senor-de-sipan http://www.paranormalknowledge.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nazca.gif http://www.thebestbeaches.org/imgs/Asia1.jpg http://www.exploringmachupicchu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sacsayhuamanfortress.jpg