In 1939, an American scientist studying irrigation systems in Peru was flying a light plane along the arid coastline near the village of Nazca when he made a startling realization.  The lines carved into the earth over a fifty mile distance were not the remains of ancient waterways, as he had assumed, but enormous artworks.  When seen from the air, the lines formed precise geometric shapes that numbered in the hundreds, as well as seventy figures, which included a monkey, whale, a hummingbird, a shark, spiders and plants.  But why would the ancient Nazca people, who thrived in Peru from 200 BC to 500 AD, have created illustrations that could only be seen from far above the earth?

It’s a puzzle that has kept archaeologists – and science fiction writers – speculating ever since.  The most notorious suggestion came in 1968 from pop-scientist Erich von Däniken, who declared in his odd-ball bestseller Chariots of the Gods that the lines were space ship landing pads made by extraterrestrial beings, using their superior technology.  At the time, scientists declared the idea absurd and proved that the lines could have been created using simple tools and surveying equipment available to the Indians.  But the motive is still unexplained.

Do the lines indicate points on the horizon where celestial bodies rise and fall?
Are the figures artistic reflections of constellations, or part of the Nazca astrological system?

Today, the enormous artworks are off-limits to foot traffic in order to protect the engravings in the delicate soil, but hundreds of travelers a day get a chance to speculate about the ancient gallery for themselves, on a 45-minute aircraft flight.

Continuing our post from yesterday, here are 7 more Peru must-see sights to make your vacation to Cuzco more memorable.

Huayna Picchu
When visiting the Machu Picchu ruins, don’t let the climb to this scenic outcrop deter you—it’s not nearly as steep as it appears.

Inka Museum
Cuesta del Almirante 153 - Raised on Inca foundations by Admiral Aldrete Maldonado in the early 17th century, this home has a magnificent baroque doorway emblazoned with the admiral’s coat-of arms, a large arched patio, and salons with coffered ceilings. It exhibits keros (carved ceremonial goblets), weavings, mummies, and silver and gold figurines, as well as Inca weapons, tools, and ceramics.

Museum of Popular Art
Founded in 1937, this museum houses a fascinating collection of masks and other carved items as well as a large and interesting display of dolls.

Quinta Eulalia
Cuzco’s version of the sidewalk café is the quinta, an open-air restaurant with affordable Peruvian fare. Quinta Eulalia is Cuzco’s oldest quinta, offering a little history with a lot of food.

Restaurante Illary
Restaurante Illary offers a fine dining experience in the Hotel Monasterio. Savor the alpaca tenderloin in the sacred setting of this former monastery.

Seminario Ceramic Studio - Urubamba
Pablo Seminario has been dedicated to the discovery of the techniques and designs from ancient Peruvian cultures. He presents a new art expression, providing continuity to these cultural inheritances.

Tambomachay
Cuzco may be the gateway to Machu Picchu, but there are smaller ruins you shouldn’t miss. Water still flows over a system of complicated canals at this amazing site, also known as the Inca Baths.

We hope that these Cuzco, Peru must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our South America travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway.

When traveling to Cuzco here are some of the must-see sights of Peru:

Andahuaylillas
A pretty town 35 km (1 hour) south of Cusco along the paved highway to Puno. Its unique Church, San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, is the biggest attraction for visitors.

Artesanias Mendivil
There are many handicraft shops in Cuzco. This one is known internationally for its saint figurines with elongated necks.

Awanacancha
Visit the place where South American camelidae are bred. Learn about the llamas’, alpacas’, and vicunas’ superb fibers, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use.

Barrio de San Blas
If you can make the steep walk from the Plaza de Armas to this charming neighborhood, you won’t regret it. Panoramic views of the city can be seen outside the artists’ workshops that line the streets of this picturesque area.

Café Ayllu
This bustling coffee shop is famous for its ponche de leche, a beverage made with milk and a shot of pisco, and its lenguas, a flaky pastry with a crème filling.

Carlos Chaquiras
Handmade silver jewelry is an excellent purchase in Cuzco. If you want to know the name behind your special find, purchase a piece from this local craftsman.

Check back on Friday for Part #2 of our Cuzco, Peru not-to-be-missed sights. Start planning your South America vacation today!

It now seems straight out of Indiana Jones.  In the summer of 1911, a dashing American explorer named Hiram Bingham led a Yale University expedition through the jungles near Cuzco to discover an unknown ruin perched on a spectacular Andean crag – the “lost city of the Incas.”

Adventurers had been searching for the site for centuries, although nobody had been sure of its existence.  News of the romantic find spread around the world, and Bingham would go on to become a US Senator.  But the 1911 “discovery” was actually less heroic than it sounds: Bingham had actually been led there by a local farmer named Melchor Arteaga, whom he had met while camping on the Urubamba River.

Far from being “lost,” the Peruvian peasants of the area had always known about the site, and gave it its name, Machu Picchu, which means Ancient Peak.  Still, to modern archaeologists, Machu Picchu raises more questions than it answers.  About 1000 people once lived there, in around 200 structures – but why was the spectacular citadel built?

Bingham himself threw out wild theories: At first, he thought he had found the last refuge of the Incas who held out against the Spanish, Vilcabamba.  (In fact, he had already come across the real ruins of Vilcabamba, which lay 60 miles to the west, and he had found them unimpressive).  He then decided that Machu Picchu was the last holdout of Cuzco’s sacred Virgins of the Sun, who had fled the marauding conquistadors – and for want of another theory, this has certainly held the popular imagination.

A century later, archaeologists are still arguing about the city’s true purpose.  Most agree that it was an religious center for the Incas.  Beyond that, speculation reigns.  Was it part of a province wiped out in a rebellion? Or a royal estate supplying Cuzco with coca leaves?  One thing hasn’t changed since 1911: Everyone’s first glimpse of the city poised high above the jungle-covered ravines is one of the most majestic images in South America.

All over the Andes, Spanish colonial buildings are supported by the foundations of Inca masonry, relics of the bloody conquest that shaped Peru’s fate.  It remains one of the most astonishing acts of bravura in military history.

On September 24, 1532, a haphazard group of conquistadors – a mere 106 foot-soldiers and 62 cavalrymen – landed on the Pacific coast, at the edge of the powerful Inca empire, led by an illiterate pig farmer named Francisco Pizarro.  Their timing could not have been better.  The sprawling empire had recently been weakened by civil war and a smallpox epidemic transmitted by the first European explorers, and the new arrivals boasted metal armor, gunpowder and horses, all unseen in South America.

In the faraway capital of Cuzco, the Inca ruler, Atahualpa, assumed that the mysterious new arrivals were possibly of divine origin.  Not realizing how bloodthirsty and ruthless the Spaniard could be, he agreed to meet Pizarro in Cajamarca surrounded by thousands of guards.  But within minutes of the encounter, the conquistadors seized the Inca king in a surprise attack, using blasts of gunpowder and cavalry to terrify the vastly superior Inca forces.  The Spaniards then threw Atahualpa into a cell with a chain around his neck.

During his imprisonment, the Inca observed that the Spanish were obsessed with gold.  (He assumed they must eat it).   So he offered to fill his cell – about 90 cubic yards – with the precious metal as a ransom.  Pizarro eagerly agreed.  But no sooner had the room been filled than the greedy conquistadors double-crossed the Inca.  He was put on trial and executed by strangulation.  Pizarro then marched on capital Cuzco – called by Incas “the navel of the world” – where they looted such wonders as the Temple of the Sun and melted its fabulous gold artifacts into ingots.  The greatest empire South America had ever seen was defeated, although its culture, language and traditions would survive in its people – the living foundations of Peru.

We leave behind the cosmopolitan cities of Beijing & Hong Kong, as well as the magnificent Great Wall of China, as we travel to Peru, the third largest country in South America.

During our series over the next three weeks you will explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and take in the sights of Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake. You’ll also have the chance to take in the nightlife of Lima as we visit a local disco or try your hand at bartering for an alpaca sweater.

So sit back and enjoy a pisco sour or an Inca Kola as we begin our South American vacation.

If reading about the exotic beauty of South America has you captivated, you may enjoy serving up a delicious meal inspired by this region.  Try this scrumptious Peruvian appetizer recipe and bring the culinary diversity of South American into your home.

Peruvian Ceviche de Pescado

Ingredients
* 2 pounds of white fish (Mahi Mahi is an excellent choice)
* 1 cup of lime juice
* 1 clove of crushed garlic
* 2 red peppers, diced
* 2 finely diced jalapeno peppers (to your preference)
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 large onion, finely chopped
* 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
* Bunch of finely chopped cilantro
* 2 lettuce leaves per plate
* 12 to 16 corn on the cobs cut into 2 inch pieces cooked as usual
* 3 or 4 sweet potatoes, boiled and peeled
* 6 to 8 lemons cut in half and placed in center of table

Preparation
Wash and de-bone fish and cut in 1/2 inch chunks. Season with lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Let it marinade for 1 hour (the lemon juice actually “cooks” the raw fish). Add onion, jalapeno and red pepper, celery and cilantro. Marinade for 1 more hour. Serve on a bed of lettuce and add two pieces of corn on the cob and a portion of the sweet potatoes. A Peruvian favorite!

Source: http://www.peru-travel-adventures.com/peru-recipes-food.html

For more recipes from South & Central America, visit www.colorfulsouthamerica.com/taste/

When traveling in Peru, many will try to sell you what you believe to be 100% alpaca, but you can rest assured that the sweaters, scarves, and blankets at Alpaca’s Best are the real deal.

Rafael Larco Herrera Museum

The world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian art is housed in this museum. Marvel at the 45,000 pieces of ceramics, textiles, and jewelry from the Moche Dynasty.

Casa Hacienda Moreyra

The setting here is as delightful as the Peruvian cuisine. Dine in a 350-year-old colonial mansion adorned with paintings on loan from the Institute of Culture.

T’anta

For a bite on the run, this gourmet market is the place. Grab a salad or sandwich to go—or, if you have the time, linger over a passion fruit tart in the café.

Canta Rana

Peru is famous for its ceviche, a seafood dish marinated in citrus juices and served with roasted corn and onions. Canta Rana serves some of the best in Lima.

Killari

For handicrafts made in Peru, this shop in Miraflores offers a unique collection of weavings, ceramics, and silver.

La Posada del Mirador

Peru’s most famous cocktail is the Pisco Sour, made from pisco, a regional grape brandy. You can enjoy one on the garden patio of this watering hole in the Barranco neighborhood. Occupying an old house overlooking the ocean, the setting is as great as the drink.

Barrio Chino

This neighborhood in Lima is home to South America’s largest Chinese community. Visit any number of neighborhood chifas for Chinese cuisine with a Peruvian twist.

Caballero de Fina Estampa

You can’t visit Lima without seeing at least one peña, a show at a criollo music club with inspiring vocal and dance performances. This criollo club, named after a famous Peruvian song, offers a terrific show.

Miraflores Jogging Path

It’s difficult to maintain your exercise routine on vacation. It’s even more difficult in a traffic-heavy city like Lima. The biking and jogging paths along the malecón in Miraflores offer a great way to get some exercise and see the city at the same time.

Country Club Lima Hotel

Experience the grandeur of this 1927 hacienda-style hotel. Enjoy afternoon tea under the light of elegant chandeliers as a pianist provides enjoyable background music.

Museo de la Nacion (National Museum)

The most important aspects in the development of ancient Peru are exhibited in this museum’s impressive halls. Exhibits include replicas of archaeological sites, engravings and dioramas, and an extensive collection of ancient items.

Pachacamac Pilgrimage Center

Built around 700 AD as a temple for the worship of sun god Pachacamac, it housed an oracle believed to be one of the main pilgrimage centers in pre-Columbian Peru and on a par with Cusco. Pilgrims flocked here to worship Pachacamac, the “creator of the world and its creatures.” The site includes palaces, plazas, and temples that have been painstakingly restored, and the on-site museum has a collection of local relics.

Barranco

Every major city has its bohemian district of artists and musicians—for Lima, this district is Barranco, which is also a fashionable beach resort. Originally a playground and place to spend the summer for Lima’s old aristocracy, the district is a cluster of houses, shops, and restaurants in and around a ravine near a cliff overlooking the beach. In Barranco, it is relatively easy to find a place to sip a coffee or a beer while enjoying a fine view over the ocean.

Islas Palomino

Enjoy an excursion to the islands of Callao, where you will encounter the yachts, warships, and merchant ships at anchor in Callao Bay, and will then sail into the open sea among sunken and stranded ships. Pass the Isle of San Lorenzo, with its long history going back to pre-Columbian times. Along the way you’ll see fishing boats at work and colonies of sea birds and Humboldt penguins. Stop at Palomino Island, where you can swim among seals and sea lions, before the scenic voyage back through impressively shaped islets and rocks.

Hacienda Mamacona

Not more than 25 km south of Peru’s capital city of Lima is a little-known hacienda where you can experience nature on the coast, ancestral customs, links with the Inca past, and the incomparable Peruvian paso horse (Tuesdays only).