Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Lake Titicaca, view from Copacabana, Bolivia, South America
We have been traveling for 11 weeks in South America so far. We visited 3 countries and spent one or more nights in 45 different places … Especially in Venezuela & Peru the rhythm of our travel was really challenging. So we needed a little rest and therefore chose to treat us to a few days of “vacation” in the famous Hostal La Cúpula in Copacabana, Bolivia, before continuing our trip. Continue Reading →
The Yavari, built in England in 1862, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Another highlights we headed for was the “Yavari Project”. The Yavari is an old steamship that was built in Great Britain in 1862, then was put into 2.766 boxes and shipped across the ocean to Peru. After a short train journey the boxes were carried across the Andes by mules. In Puno the ship was put together, by that time six years had passed from the producing of the boat to its maiden journey, on Christmas Eve 1870. Continue Reading →
Approaching one of the show-case islands for tourists! – Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
Lake Titicaca was the “Sacred Lake” of the Inca. There are many legends about the origin of the Inca Empire. One of these says that Viracocha, the main god or creator god, had his children, Manco Kapac & Mama Ocllo, spring from the water of the lake to found Cuzco and the Inca dynasty. A sacred rock on Isla del Sol, in the Bolivian part of Lake Titicaca, is worshipped as their birth place. Continue Reading →
Sillustani pre-Incan burial ground, on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Peru, South America
The funeral towers of Sillustani about 35 km west of Puno are, apart from the floating islands, one of the main attractions in the area. These towers date back to pre-Inca time about 1.200 AD and an estimated 95 of these “Chullpas” may have adorned the wind-swept Altiplano at that time. Continue Reading →
Woman working on the loom in La Raya, at 4.335 meters, Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
There are several possibilities to go from Cuzco to Puno, the hub on the shores of the Lake Titicaca. The one we had planed was to take one of the few trains still running in Peru. Unfortunately, the price of 130 USD for 390 km made us change our mind fairly quickly. Continue Reading →
The base of the main complex was a three storey terrace built of stones weighing up to 160 tons, Saqsaywaman, the Sacred Valley, Peru
Coming back from Machu Picchu we stopped for another two more nights in Cuzco, the old Inca capital, to collect the luggage we had left behind in different places and refuel our energy by simply staying in one place. The only sight that was on our agenda was the Inca ruins at Saqsaywaman, a 40 minutes walk north of Cusco.
Ollantaybambo, the Sacred Valley, Peru
The next day, we gave in to the rare luxury of allowing a taxi driver to take us to Ollantaytambo, 20 km away for just 10 Soles (3 USD), whereas the public bus costs only 1 Soles per person. It was quite an experience since we were chauffeured by an obviously ultra-religious gentleman who made a cross sign each time we passed a church, a cross on the roadside or other religious symbols, which happened quite often. Continue Reading →
The amphitheater-like terraces of Moray may have served the Incas as a laboratory for agricultural experiments. We heard the theory that every terrace / level simulated a difference in altitude of 300 meters, enabling the Incas to test what grows best at what altitude – Near Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, Peru
Two days after our trip to Pisac, we continued our travel to Urubamba, a smooth 2 hour ride from Cuzco in a collectivo for 3,5 Soles (1 USD), where we spent a day and a night to see the famous amphitheater-like terraces in Moray and the Salinas near Maras. Continue Reading →
At the market in Pisac, Sacred Valley, near Cuzco, Peru, South America
After some considerations we decided to join the crowds and visit the famous Pisac Sunday market. Many organized tours include Pisac in their itinerary before continuing on to Machu Picchu. This small city is only an hour from Cusco and collectivos run the route constantly for 2 Soles, so we decided to do a day trip.
Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, with the Cathedral on the left and the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus on the right, Cuzco, Peru
After another 9 hour overnight bus ride from Arequipa, we arrived in Cuzco. At 06:00 am, we found out that Cuzco was far more touristy than any other place we had been so far in Peru. Often, we were the only guests in a hostel. In Cuzco, the first two places we tried were booked out, including the famous and not so cheap Loki Backpacker, with more than 145 beds! Continue Reading →