Peru and Bolivia 1

Founded in 1535, in the days of the Conquest Lima used to be one of the wealthiest, mightiest cities in in South America. Its historic centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site) still boasts the beautiful Plaza Mayor, with the old palaces of politic and religious life. The soul of the city, however, has drifted to the modern towns of Miraflores and San Isidro, and to the lively sea town of Barranco.

Arequipa, rising between the imposing volcanoes El Misti (5,821 m) and Ampato (6,288), is Peru’s second city, and a major business and cultural centre. It owes its long-standing fame to its stunning, high-rise location (2,335 m a.s.l.), to its mild weather, and to its beautiful colonial buildings made of lava stone. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The road to Puno runs across a wild, beautiful landscape, with the occasional lake, village, and small herd of grazing llamas and alpacas. There will be a few photo stops, including the Lagunillas pass (4,410 m) to see the pink flamingos in the lagoon. Puno, rising on the border with Bolivia at a height of 3,810 m, overlooks Lake Titicaca. Though not exceptionally interesting in itself, the town makes for the perfect base to visit the rest of the region.

the streets of the colonial city centre still preserve the neat grid pattern laid out by the city founders in accordance with Spanish laws. At its centre stands the Plaza Murillo, home to both the Palacio Presidential, the parliament building and the Catedral Metropolitana. The few colonial buildings still surviving are concentrated on and around the Plaza Murillo and nearby calle Jaén. The city’s most unusual market is the "Mercado de Hechicería", or Witches’ Market, amid lively tourist stores selling locally handcrafted items. The merchandise is herbal and folk remedies, plus a few more unorthodox ingredients intended to placate the various spirits of the Aymará world. After the market we visit the Iglesia de San Francisco, founded in 1548 The baroque facade is decorated with carvings of natural themes such as chirimoyas (custard apples), pine cones and tropical birds.

the Valle de la Luna, or Valley of the Moon, presents a dramatic lunar landscape of wind-eroded hills surrounding a crust-like valley floor, once the bottom of a lake. An immense sand dune sweeps across the valley, easy enough to climb and a great place to sit and survey the scenery, which is at its best at sunset, when it’s transformed into a spellbinding palette of golds and reds, but you’ll have to share this view with a multitude of fellow visitors. on the bleak southern Altiplano 212 km southwest of Potosí, the town of Uyuni, 3.668 m asl, is the convenient (and nothing else) jumping-off point for touring the remote and beautiful scenery of the surrounding region.

Rising at an height of 3,400 m, Cuczo, once the capital of the Inca empire, was rebuilt by the Spaniards on the vestiges of its ancient palaces, using the remains of the Inca temples and edifices. Today, Cuzco is a lively, fascinating town. Even in the busy summer months, when the Sacred Valley literally swarms with tourists, it preserves its charm.

Aguas Calientes, auch bekannt als Machu Picchu Pueblo, ist eine kleine Stadt am Fuße der berühmten Ruinen von Machu Picchu im Herzen der peruanischen Anden. Sie ist der wichtigste Ausgangspunkt für alle, die die archäologische Stätte von Machu Picchu besuchen möchten. Die Stadt ist von üppigem Tropenwald umgeben und wird vom Fluss Urubamba durchflossen. Sie ist bekannt für ihre natürlichen heißen Quellen, daher auch ihr Name Aguas Calientes", was auf Spanisch heißes Wasser" bedeutet. Aguas Calientes ist eine lebendige und pulsierende Stadt mit einer Vielzahl von Restaurants, Cafés, Kunsthandwerksläden und lokalen Märkten, die eine Vielzahl von traditionellen Produkten und Souvenirs anbieten.