Your Ica Peru vacation is located about 300 kilometers from Lima. Ica city was founded in 1563 by Luis Jerónimo de Cabrera and the area was host to several ancient cultures, including Paracas, Wari, Nasca and Ica, dating back some 10,000 years.Spanish occupation left behind beautiful colonial architecture, with the Cathedral of Ica being the most impressive. Ica is where the famous pisco brandy was spawned, being made from white-grapes and is...more
Chan Chan city is located near Trujillo on the north coast of Peru. It was the capital of the Chimú kingdom from AD 850 until 1470 when the Incas, lead by Tupac Inca Yupanqui, conquered them. According to legend, Tacaynamo (also called Chimu Capac) was the founder of Chan Chan who came from the sea by canoe. Chan Chan is the largest adobe city in the world, covering about 12 square miles, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Chan Chan city was...more
The Nazca Lines Mystery involves the most outstanding group of geoglyphs in the world that show huge outlines of over 70 animals, insects and human creatures, with hundreds of lines and geometric patterns etched into the surface of the desert. Located between the towns of Nazca and Palpa, the Nazca Lines cover a plateau across 53 miles. Some of the figures measure 900 feet across. This extraordinary legacy was created by the Nazca culture from about 200 BC to 700 AD. The Nazca Lines can only be seen from high above, and were consequentially discovered from an airplane in flight in 1927. The Lines are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular attractions in Peru.The Nazca desert maintains a temperature around 25°C (77°F) year round, making it one of the driest deserts on Earth. Its lack of wind has helped keep its lines of hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, lizards sharks and other figures uncovered to the present day. Nazca CultureSouth of the Nazca Lines archaeologists are uncovering the ancient city of Cahuachi which hold clues the the Nazca Lines mystery. This was a major ceremonial center of the Nazca culture with several large adobe pyramids, some of which...more
An ancient structure called Kuelap may have inspired the beginning of the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The novel tells us that Indiana Jones was looking for the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors in the Andes of Northern Peru. The Chachapoyans, which means "People of the Clouds," did exist and have left behind scores of ruins; most notably...more
In 1911 Hiram Bingham of Yale University rediscovered ancient Machu Picchu buried under four centuries of lush vegetation. Machu Picchu is located at almost 8,000 feet high in the Andes mountains outside of Cuzco, Peru and just above the town Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu is full of mystery as no one knows exactly how it was built or why. Scholars...more
Exploring Choquequirao takes about a two day's hike from the town of Cachora outside of Cuzco city. Choquequirao, or "cradle of gold" in the Inca language Quechua, is located almost 1750 meters above the raging Apurimac River. Much bigger than Machu Picchu, covering 1810 hectares, the site is thought to have been built by the son of Machu Picchu's creator.Choquequirao was probably built during the reign of the Inca king Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. Led by Manco Inca Yupanqui, the Incas most likely used the site as a refuge when the city of Cuzco was under siege in 1535. The city was first mentioned in 1710 by Spanish explorer Juan Arias Diaz and again in 1768 by Cosme Bueno, but it was forgotten afterwards. In 1834 Eugene de Santiges rediscovered the site. In 1837 Leonce Agrand mapped the area. Hiram Bingham visited Choquequirao in 1909, about 2 years before he came upon Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is more famous than Choquequirao, largely because of Choquequirao's former inaccessibility. Before a bridge was built over the Apurimac river a few years ago, it would take tremendous effort through mountainous terrain over about two months to finally reach the ancient city. With the bridge,...more
Baksheesh is the local term in Egypt for "Tipping" or "service"Tipping in Egypt may drain your pockets if you don't know how. As a foreigner to this enchanting land with seemingly endless instances wherein you are in need and was properly addressed,...more
It has been a well known fact that when you visit any place else in the world, may it be at your own locality, shopping is never out of the to-do list. You shop and it is out of the question why you do so. So, think about it, if you shop in your own...more
Life in the modern and urban areas is becoming busier day after day. We find it hard to give ourselves a break together with our love ones. So for once in a blue moon, during holidays, an all inclusive family treat is big bang to escape the busy...more
Way back in the 70's, holiday package normally cover meals and drinks. These holidays are all inclusive. On the early 80's, I spent my life working in Spain for a couple of years. When I returned to United Kingdom, I arrange my own travel, hotel...more
Egypt is a land rich in history and culture, with a vast area of geographical attractions that makes the country more intriguing to tourists all over the world. These attraction where known since the ancient times, since the time when slavery was...more
Egypt, a country famous for its ancient history and fascinating culture, is indeed a very wonderful place to visit. Known for its intriguing archaeological riches, friendly hospitable customs and artistic traditions, who would not want to visit the...more