The Highlands
From the glistening snow-capped mountains and glaciers of the Ancash region to the great plateau of the altiplano that borders the cobalt blue waters of Lake Titicaca and Bolivia, the highlands of Peru are the scene of countless tourist attractions ranging from impressive archaeological sites, thermal waters, charming colonial churches, awesome stone forests, multicolored cascades, and all the imaginable landscapes that nature has generously granted to very few places in Earth.
From the glistening snow-capped mountains and glaciers of the Ancash region to the great plateau of the altiplano that borders the cobalt blue waters of Lake Titicaca and Bolivia, the highlands of Peru are the scene of countless tourist attractions ranging from impressive archaeological sites, thermal waters, charming colonial churches, awesome stone forests, multicolored cascades, and all the imaginable landscapes that nature has generously granted to very few places in Earth.
See the stark yet beautiful contrast between the Inka and the 17th Century Spanish colonial architecture in Cusco. Delight on the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley... Take the rail to Machu Picchu and explore the breathtaking stone citadel...A challenging hike to admire one of the most beautiful and colorful mountain sights of Peru.
CUSCO,
SACRED VALLEY,
MACHU PICCHU & THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
In Andean mythology, Lake Titicaca is considered to be the origin of the Incas. One of the most ancient popular legends tells that Manco Capac, son of the god Inti (the Sun) along with his sister Mama Ocllo emerged from the waters of the Sacred Lake to civilize and organize the tribes that were settled on the shores of the Titikaka. They were commanded by Inti to journey into the Andean mountains...
LAKE TITIKAKA AND PUNO
The Pre-Inka Chachapoya society flourished from 900 AD to 1400 AD. Their stronghold was the citadel of Kuelap nestled on a mountaintop above the Utcubamba River Valley in northern Peru, where the Andean eastern slopes meet the rainforest. The Chachapoya were known as the "Warriors of the Clouds". Tall and pale-colored, they were ethnically distinctive from other peoples of ancient Peru...
