In recent
years, and in my teens I have had the opportunity to visit South America
on a few occasions. My most recent trip was in the Fall of 2002 to the
country of Peru. I spent weeks in this ancient country in 2000 and a month
in 1998, traveling
the coast visiting Lima, then exploring Ancash with its active volcano and
numerous hot springs. I then traveled to the city of Cusco,
high in the Andes to visit with relatives. After Cusco, I traveled over
the Andes by four wheel drive into the Amazon jungle at Quillabamba, Peru
on the eastern slope of The Andes, in the Pongo region of Peru. I traveled
with ancestors of the Inca Indians on this journey into one of the worlds
most ancient civilizations. On the pages that follow are
photographs of the trip. Most of them will be of the Andes, the Peruvian
rainforest, and from the Urubamba Valley. A valley hidden from the
Spaniards for almost four centuries, a place that is sacred to the Inca's,
as it is known as "The Valley of the Sun". The place the Sun
itself was born at the beginning of time. It is the same Valley that one
travels through to get to Machu Picchu, an Inca city hidden until 1911
when uncovered by American explorer Hiram Walker ( or quite possibly his
wife, doing work as a mid-wife according to local legend, she was brought
to the foot of the ruins to help deliver a baby). On the following pages
you will find a photo story of a trip taken in the Fall of 2002 with my
friend George Priola as we traveled from Lima to the Paracas Wildlife
Reserve, The Nazca Lines, Cuzco, Urubamba and into the Amazon Jungle at
Puerto Maldonado.
One more footnote on Peru before we start with the Photographs. In 1532
the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in Peru with 180 horse
mounted soldiers at the Rimac River in what is now known as Lima, Peru. He
then proceeded to the Inca capitol of Cusco where he was welcomed by the
Inca King, Atahualpa. Pizarro then imprisoned the Inca King, holding Him
for one year, until a building was filled with gold and jewels from
throughout the Inca Empire, an empire that stretched from what is now
Chile to Columbia, with approx. 20 million residents. Upon receiving the
ransom, Pizarro beheaded Atahualpa and enslaved the Inca people until 1780
when Tupac Amaru a mixed blood Inca Indian revolted against the cruel
Spanish rulers of Peru. Tupac Amaru was caught, and was dragged and
quartered by four Spanish horsemen in the square at The Church of the
Compania de Jesus (Society of Jesus) in Cusco, Peru. The Revolution lives
on................
Jump to: Cuzco Page Lima Page Paracas Marine Reserve Nazca Lines Amazon Jungle
These are young school children at the school outside of Urubamba in the village of Pantacancha. We collect clothing and school supplies from U.S. residents, and transported them down to Peru. These are the youngest of the children, as the older ones were up in the mountains harvesting potato's and corn. This school, and the orphanage are in desperate need of supplies, If you wish to help, Please e-mail me or contact me at: [email protected] We try to bring clothing and educational material on every trip to Peru. Our next trip is scheduled for September 2003. If you wish to schedule a trip before then, Please contact us with the dates that are convenient for you.
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Angel Quisiyupanquin, Our driver and interpreter of Quechua, the ancient language of "The people of the Sun". Puerto Malaga is the mountain in the background, At 3,700 meters. it was quite a ride over it.... From here we followed to Urubamba River to Quillabamba. This village is Sambaray on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Angel's main job was to protect us from terrorist that prey on tourist in this area of Peru. It is not wise to be alone outside of major cities or tourist areas without a guide to assist you. As most of the Andes pass's are over 10,000 feet in altitude, oxygen tanks are available in most larger Andean city's for tourist...... A suggestion: DO NOT WALK THE INCA TRAIL WITHOUT AN OXYGEN TANK AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE!
Cuzco Page Lima Page Nazca Page Paracas Marine Reserve Amazon Jungle
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Guided Eco-Tour Information
Peru Travel, Tourism and Tours
Ideal website for those considering travel to Peru, Peru tourism and Peru tours.
Overview of people, culture
and traditions that still exist from the ancient Inca Empire. Pictures of Lima,
Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
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Salazar 345, Miraflores, Lima 18, PERU
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