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Peru fires the imagination like few other places. The
country is full of highlights. First of all
Cuzco, the ancient
capital of the Inca Empire, is considered the
archaeological capital of South America.
In the city of Cuzco, has like no other place, the
complexity of the hybrid culture borne of the mixture of
Spanish and Inca can be appreciated, especially in the
fusion between Inca ruins and Spanish colonial
architecture.
Nearby you will find Machu
Picchu, the famous "Lost City of the Incas",
in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an
extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the
most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its
height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if
they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock
escarpments.
The Cañón del Pato
in the north Peru is an expressive geographic feature
where the whims of the nature have been well used by
man. Due to the erosion of torrential waters of the
Santa River the granites rocks of the
Cordillera Negra
and Cordillera Blanca
( the black and white mountain ranges ) come near to
less than five meters of distance. You cross the scenic
road with its nearly 50 tunnels.
You go across a couple of scenic mountain passes in the
Peruvian Andes, passing through unspoilt Andean
villages, and gradually ascending to a mind popping
altitude of 4.882 meter. The area has very few tourists
and is fresh from its lack of exploitation.
Just before the border to Bolivia you'll cycle along the
shores of the cool sapphire-blue water of
Lake Titicaca, the
world's highest navigable lake at 3.800 meter. It is
also the original place of the unique
Floating Islands of
the Uros Indians. These ancient inhabitants of the lake,
known as the Water Tribe, have built their own islands
by periodically adding new layers of Totora reed. And
not only the islands, also their homes and boats are
made from this material.
Besides these mentioned highlights you can expect a lot
more during your ride in Peru. Along the track you'll
pass herds of llama and alpacas, hear millions of
tropical birds and meet friendly Andean people who have
hardly changed their lifestyle for centuries. |
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Rest day in Huaraz |
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Rest day in Huanuco |
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