NAZCA: THE AGE OLD MYSTERY ON THE LINES

Just two hours from Ica, 50 square km of desert floor were covered centuries ago by vast drawings, figures of mammals, insects and deities. The Nazca Lines, discovered in 1927, are the most extraordinary legacy left by a culture that flourished in 300 BC. The lines are a series of complex designs, some up to 300 meters long which can only be seen in their true dimension from the sky, from an altitude of at least 1,500 feet.

The Nazca culture is not believed to have been capable of manned flight. But the question remains as to how they crafted the drawings, what technology they used and what purpose the lines served. Theories abound regarding these mysterious etchings, ranging from landing strips for aliens to a giant seismograph. The most probable theory is that of María Reiche, a German researcher who dedicated her life to studying the lines. Ms Reiche believed that the lines were part of a vast astronomic calendar whose figures marked different solar phases. Ms Reiche, affectionately nicknamed the Angel of the Plains by the local inhabitants, was the first to discover the ancient technique of digging into the tough and dry desert floor and covering the track with stones brought from distant sites. The component of natural plaster existing in the area helped to preserve for thousands of years the drawings: the hummingbird, the spider, the condor and the monkey, among the more than 30 figures etched into the plain.

The Nazca Plains (there are four areas in total: Palpa, Ingenio, Nazca and Socos) lie in the department of Ica, some 460 km south of Lima. Like an embroidery of the gods, the lines that decorate the desert floor have been declared a Mankind Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the ancient mystery of the figures still waits to be unraveled.

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PLEASE CHECK OUR SUGGESTED PROGRAM TO ENJOY PERU:

DAY 01- LIMA
Arrival to Lima Airport and transfer to the Leon de oro Hotel.

DAY 02- LIMA - AREQUIPA - CITY TOUR & SANTA CATALINA ( Private services )
Continental Breakfast.
After breakfast, transfer to airport to take flight to Arequipa. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. 01 night of accommodation with breakfast. In the Afternoon, half day city Tour of Arequipa.

A tour including visits to the main square, Cathedral, Compañía Church and the traditional districts of Cayma and Yanahuara. From there continue to Santa Catalina convent, the architectural monument of the city. The tour takes approximately 3 hours.

DAY 03 - COLCA CANYON 2 DAYS / 1 NIGHTS ( Shared services )
Buffet Breakfast.
In the morning, we will visit Chachani, Yura, small valley with thermal springs, see wild vicuñas in Pampa Cañahuas national reserve, Alpacas & llamas in Tocra, some birds like flamingoes, ibis, Andean gooze, ducks, Andean eagle "Kara Kara" view point of the Volcanoes and snow covered mountains in Patapampa ( 4,800 m . - 15,000 ft .). See the Ampato, Sabancaya, Walca Walca, etc. Chivay, capital of the valley. Overnight

DAY 04 - COLCA CANYON / AREQUIPA
Buffet Breakfast
After breakfast, we will start a full day trip to visit Yanque & Maca towns, churches, inca terraces, some pre inca graves. Time for lunch. Return to Arequipa.

DAY 05 - AREQUIPA – PUNO
Buffet Breakfast.
In the morning transfer to the airport to take flight to Juliaca. Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Puno, overnight.

DAY 06 – FULL DAY UROS & TAQUILE ISLANDS WITH LUNCH. ( Shared services )
Buffet Breakfast
After breakfast, we will start a boat navigation to arrive to Uros Island, in the Titikaka Lake. Later, we will visit the Taquile island. Taquile Island is famous for its craft production, particularly for its beautiful textiles. The island is narrow at about 1 Km . wide and 6 to 7 Km . long. The visit could be exhausting because of the 533 steps on the stone stairway to climb to get to the village and because of the altitude ( 13,000 ft above sea level). On Taquile there are numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as Inca terracing. Later, return to Puno, overnight the Hotel.

DAY 07– PUNO / CUZCO BY BUS, WITH LUNCH & TOURS.
Buffet Breakfast.
Transfer to the train or bus station. Ten hour train or bus ride to Puno, across the scenic high Andes landscapes. Arrival and transfer to hotel.

DAY 08– CUZCO – CYTI TOUR + NEAR BY RUINS ( Shared services )
Buffet Breakfast
Afternoon visit the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha) the most sacred buildings during the Inca culture, continuing to the nearby ruins includes visits to the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, overlooking the city of Cusco, pre-Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is a monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay: beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins.

DAY 09 – FULL DAY MACHU PICCHU WITH BOX LUNCH Vista Dome train. ( Private Local Guide )
Buffet Breakfast
Transfer from the hotel to San Pedro station. Following the northbound train towards the lower lands to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, you will arrive at the Aguas Calientes station. From there a bus will take you Hiram Brigham road arriving to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The bus ride itself only takes about half an hour and is full of breathtaking sights. The guide will thoroughly take you and your party through Machu Picchu telling the history of the area and answering any questions you may have about this spectacular wonder. A box lunch is included and after your return to Aguas Calientes, you will board the train back to Cusco.

DAY 10 – FULL DAY PISAC MARKET & OLLANTAYTAMBO RUINS WITH LUNCH. ( Shared services )
Buffet Breakfast .
A drive to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas to visit the famous handicraft Indian Market of Pisac (available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday). Lunch en route in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon, after an hour drive north, we arrive at Ollantaytambo, the only Inca city continuously inhabitant from Inca time, and visit the amazing fortress of Ollantaytambo. Sharing with another paxs with a bilingual guide. back to Cusco. Overnight at the Los Andes de America Hotel.

DAY 11 - CUZCO – LIMA
Buffet Breakfast
In the morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima

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RIPIO TURISMO - Incoming Tour Operator Argentina & Chile- Leg. 10.687 Secretaría de Turismo de la Nación Argentina.
info@ripioturismo.com.ar

Ripio Turismo Website: www.ripioturismo.com.ar
Patagonia-Cruises is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.patagonia-cruises.com.ar
Iguazu-Falls is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.iguazu-falls.com.ar
Deluxe Tours is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.deluxe-tours.com.ar

Design & General Idea: Nuevas Ideas© Consultora Turística - 1999-2009

RIPIO TURISMO - Incoming Tour Operator Argentina & Chile- Leg. 10.687 Secretaría de Turismo de la Nación Argentina.
info@ripioturismo.com.ar

Ripio Turismo Website: www.ripioturismo.com.ar
Argentina-Guide.com.ar is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.argentina-guide.com.ar

Design & General Idea: Nuevas Ideas© Consultora Turística - 1999-2005