Highlights of Along the Andes

Quito

Quito, located at 2,850 metres in the western cordillera of the Andes, is the second highest capital city in the world and is situated in a dramatic setting in a long narrow valley beneath the imposing Pichincha Volcano and surrounded by snow capped mountains and extinct volcanoes. The city was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Incan city and has one of the best preserved historic centres in Latin America. The old part of the city is a beautiful mix of narrow, cobbled streets and colonial architecture, including the Church and Jesuit college of La Compañía with its gilded altars, walls and ceilings, and the San Francisco and Santo Domingo monasteries. The lively Plaza Grande, Plaza San Francisco and Plaza de la Independencia are well worth exploring. Elsewhere the hilltop El Panecillo (The Little Bread Loaf) has superb views over the city and surrounding mountains while in the nearby village of San Antonio lies ‘La Mitad del Mundo’ (the middle of the world), the Equatorial Line Monument where you can have a foot in each hemisphere.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: City of Quito

The mountain town of Otavalo north of Quito is famed for its colourful craft market which is an excellent place to shop for traditional souvenirs, especially textiles. The Indian villages around Otavalo are famed for their particular craft works, including Cotachi village which is well known for its leather, San Antonio famous for its woodcarvings and Peguche which is renowned for its traditional Andean music and hand-made panpipes. Otavalo is surrounded by a dramatic and beautiful mountainous landscape which is worth exploring. In particular, the Cuicocha crater lake at 3,100 metres has excellent walking trails and the chance to spot condors, the largest bird in the Andes.

The eastern part of Ecuador is covered by the western edges of the Amazon rainforest, which stretches over 4000km from here through Brazil to the Atlantic coast, the largest and most bio-diverse tropical rainforest on Earth. Staying in jungle lodges here allows you to explore the rainforest on foot or by boat and learn about the animal and bird species present here and the wide variety of plant life and their traditional medicinal uses.

Cuenca

The historic city of Cuenca is Ecuador's third largest city and has a beautiful and well preserved colonial centre. The city was founded in 1557 on the ruins of the Inca settlement of Tomebamba but little trace of this heritage remains. Cuenca's town centre is characterised by fine colonial churches, narrow, cobbled streets and whitewashed and red-tiled buildings, making for a vibrant and atmospheric city.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca

Chan Chan, located near the northern city of Trujillo, was the capital city of the disappeared Chimu Kingdom. The city reached its zenith in the 15th century when it was the largest city in pre-Hispanic America and the largest adobe citadel in the world, before it fell to the great rivals of the Chimu - the Incas. The city covers six km², divided into nine autonomous palaces which comprised squares, temples, dwellings, gardens, storehouses and funeral platforms. The city’s walls and buildings are decorated with detailed friezes. There is also evidence of industrial sectors dedicated to woodworking, weaving and precious metalworking and an irrigation system to channel water from the Moche River for use in farming.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

Huascarán National Park is located in the Cordillera Blanca Range of the Peruvian Andes, the highest tropical mountain range in the world. There are 27 peaks over 6,000 metres within the park, with Mount Huascarán at 6,768 metres being the highest. The snow-capped mountains, deep ravines, glacial lakes and variety of vegetation make it a region of spectacular beauty. Important wildlife found in the park include the Andean condor, spectacled bear, puma, mountain cat and white-tailed deer.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Huascarán National Park

Lima was founded in 1535 and was the capital and most important city of the Spanish dominions of South America until the mid-18th century. Known as the 'City of the Kings', Lima's historic centre is a superb and well preserved collection of 17th and 18th century colonial buildings in the Hispano-American Baroque style. Notable buildings include Lima Cathedral and the Convent of San Francisco, while the historic quarter of the city also boasts many excellent museums filled with priceless artefacts from Incan and other pre-Hispanic civilisations, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, Museo de La Nacion and the Gold Museum. The lively Barranco Quarter is a good spot to experience Lima at night, with many restaurants, bars and clubs with traditional Afro-Peruvian music.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Centre of Lima

Cuzco was the historic capital of the Incas, developed under its ruler Pachacutec (1438-71) into a complex urban centre with distinct religious and administrative functions. The conquering Spanish preserved its structure and layout but built a colonial city over its foundations. Today, remnants from both these historical periods make Cuzco one of the most attractive and interesting cities in Latin America, as well as a great base for exploring the nearby Inca ruins including those at Machu Picchu. The Spanish colonial town is characterised by attractive pink tiled roofs, arcaded plazas and steep winding alleyways with the cathedral and Plaza de Armas being particular highlights. Many of the buildings are constructed on tremendous Inca foundation stones, ingeniously constructed with interlocking joints and stonework. Some of the prominent Inca remains include the Koricancha Sun Temple located in the Santo Domingo Church and the wall of Hatunrumiyoc with its famous twelve-sided stone. Cuzco is also filled with markets and artisan shops for buying souvenirs and numerous museums detailing Inca history and art.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: City of Cuzco

The Inca Trail and its alternative routes are some of the best trekking destinations in the world. Perhaps nowhere else combines stunning mountain scenery with beautiful and important historic sites, with the peaks and valleys of the Andes a dramatic backdrop for a series of spectacular Inca ruins. The destination is the most impressive of all, as you stand at the Sun Gate and gaze at the stunning lost city of Machu Picchu below. First explored by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and opened for walkers in 1970, the Inca Trail today is extremely popular and, with a limited number of permits issued by the government, you may need to book up to five months in advance. To escape the crowds, the alternative Lares Trek passes through similar scenery and altitudes but is well off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds. At the end of the trail at Ollantaytambo, you can catch the train to Aquas Calientes and onto Machu Picchu.

Named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is one of the most extraordinary and beautiful archaeological sites on earth. Its setting amidst tropical mountain forest on the slopes of the eastern Andes is unparalleled and demonstrates a wonderful interaction of man-made structures with the natural environment. Macchu Picchu was probably the greatest urban achievement of the Inca Empire, the largest civilisation in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans, and dates to the period of the rule of Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui (1438-71) and Tupac Inca Yupanqui (1472-93). The exact purpose of the city, 100km from the capital at Cusco, is unknown, but different quarters have been identified - Farmers, Industrial, Royal and Religious. However it is Machu Picchu's architecture, stonework, and integration with its environment that makes it so impressive. The ruins are best reached after a 4 day trek along the Inca Trail, when they come spectacularly into view through the Sun Gate. It's also possible to take the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and catch a bus to the site - if staying at Aguas Calientes after trekking the Inca Trail, be sure to return to Machu Picchu early next morning to experience it before the daytrippers arrive.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

The Peruvian Amazon is part of the vast area of rainforest which covers 5.5 million km² across nine countries. Flying into the small town of Puerto Maldonado in eastern Peru, a boat trip up the Tambopata River will take you to a jungle lodge from where you can explore the rainforest. Home to more than a third of the world’s plant and animal species, the Amazon is probably the most bio-diverse areas on earth. Walks along jungle trails and boat trips offer the chance to view and explore some of these, including the plants used for food and medicine. Animals that may be spotted include monkeys, boars and a myriad of bird species, as well as giant otters and black caiman on the waters. It's also possible to visit some indigenous Indian communities who live in and off the Amazon rainforest.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Manú National Park

The Nasca Lines, geoglyphs scraped on the grounds of Nasca and the pampas of Jumana, are of the great mysteries of archaeology. Created by the Nasca culture between 500 BC and AD 500, the geoglyphs cover some 450 km² in Peru's arid coastal plain and depict living creatures, plants and imaginary figures as well as geometric lines and figures several kilometres long. Their purpose remains enigmatic but they are believed to have astronomical functions. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Lines is the fact that they can only be recognised as coherent figures from the air. There are viewing platforms available near some of the Lines, but the best impression is found by taking a flight over the area. The surrounding region contains many ancient cemeteries containing hundreds of preserved mummies and tapestries which can be visited.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana

The Colca Canyon in southern Peru is one of the largest and deepest in the world, twice as deep as Arizona's Grand Canyon with depths averaging about 3,400 metres. There are several villages in and around the canyon, as well as terraced fields that date back to pre-Columbian times. The village of Chivay is a good base from which to explore Colca with excellent trails to appreciate the stunning views. The viewpoint at Cruz del Condor is one of the best lookouts, particularly in the early morning when you can spot the huge Andean condors soaring on the thermal draughts rising from the canyon.

Arequipa is southern Peru is the second largest city in the country and arguably the most beautiful. Located in a stunning setting at an altitude of 2380 metres and at the base of the perfect conical peak of the El Misti volcano (5882m), Arequipa was founded in 1540 and has a beautifully preserved historic colonial centre. Many of the buildings are constructed with sillar, a pearly white volcanic rock, giving the city its nickname La Ciudad Blanca, or the White City. Arequipa's buildings are characterised by robust walls, archways and vaults, courtyards and open spaces, and intricate Baroque decoration of its facades. Around the arcaded Plaza de Armas lies the city's cathedral, built in 1612, which is one of the finest in South America. The Santa Catalina Convent is a miniature town enclosed within a city block that was built in 1580 but closed to the outside world until the 1970s. Once housing 450 nuns and serving ladies in total seclusion, it provides a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Elsewhere, the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries has an intriguing exhibit of the ice mummies found atop some of Arequipa’s surrounding volcanoes.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa

Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake at 3815 metres and the second largest lake in South America, covering an area of 8,400 km². There are several islands on the lake home to Aymara and Quechua-speaking Indian people who have adapted to living at high altitude and on the lake and still practice many of their traditional customs. A boat trip on Lake Titicaca from the port of Puno allows you to visit several of these islands and experience the culture of the people living there, as well as appreciating the beautiful natural scenery of the lake itself, ringed by Andean peaks. The floating reed islands are home to the Uros people, their islands are made from totura, a reed-like papyrus that grows in the shallows which is also used to build their boats and homes. On Amantani Island, there are six small villages where you can stay with a local family and learn about their customs. The island's peaks of Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth) are worth climbing for sunset with some spectacular views over the lake. Taquile Island also offers the chance to explore the locals traditions of music, dance and weaving - the style of dress has changed little since colonial times and items of embroidery are available to buy from the crafts co-operative.

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia and at 3,600 metres is the highest capital city in the world. La Paz is nestled in a steep canyon on the Bolivian Altiplano, underneath the peak of Mount Illimani. La Paz was founded in the 16th century due to a nearby discovery of gold deposits and although the gold boom didn't last, its strategic location along the silver route ensured its prosperity. La Paz is characterised by spacious plazas, cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways, with its colourful markets being a major attraction. With a large indigenous population, the markets of interest include the Witches' Market selling potions and incantations made from herbs, seeds and other products, the Carnaval market selling colourful costumes and numerous shops selling ponchos, gloves and hats made from alpaca wool. Buildings of note in La Paz include the Palacio Legislatico, the San Francisco Cathedral and the Museo National del Arte.

Tiwanaku

The ruins at Tiwanaku near La Paz are Bolivia's largest archaeological site and the remains of the capital of powerful pre-Hispanic empire extending over northern Bolivia, southern Peru, northern Chile and north-western Argentina. Initially settled around 1200 BC, the empire reached its apogee between 500 and 900 AD and is distinct from other pre-Hispanic empires in the Americas. The Temple of Akapana and the Gate of the Sun are the most notable structures found at Tiwanaku.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture