We head to two authentic countries where the locals have preserved the culture of pre-Columbian America.
We arrive in Lima, check into a hotel in the Miraflores area. We are located in the very epicenter of the stormy metropolitan life. Lima is home to a third of Peru's population - 9 million people! After a short rest we will take a walk in the Miraflores district, where modern hotels stand side by side with luxurious restaurants. And suddenly we stumble upon an island of history - the pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, which the ancient Incas built here more than two thousand years ago! Archaeologists continue to dig it brick by brick from oblivion...
In the morning we will walk through the historic center, admiring the grandiose Cathedral, the mayor's office and the Archbishop's Palace. Next, we will discover the unusual colorful houses of the bohemian Barranco district. And here we will also learn the basics of salsa - the most popular local dance! This day will end with magical views. Imagine sunset and the endless expanses of the Pacific Ocean...
Today we will see one of the biggest mysteries in the world - the giant Nazca drawings. To do this, early in the morning we will take a bus to Ica (8 hours on the way). Next, we take a small plane and fly over the huge drawings dug in straight lines on the desert land. Incredibly, the ancient inhabitants of these places dug them out more than two thousand years ago! And these are not just lines - we can clearly see the figures of a monkey, a whale, a spider and other creatures. There are hundreds of images!
Scientists are still debating the purpose of these drawings. Hypotheses are the most diverse - from religious and astronomical to the appearance of space aliens here. Which one seems the most plausible to you?
In the morning we will take a motor boat to the Ballestas Islands. We will travel between the rocks, watching fur seals and lions, pelicans, Humboldt penguins and other birds.
Next, let`s walk through the most beautiful places of the Paracas National Park. Here, sheer yellow rocks cut into a transparent ocean, and the sand resembles a palette of several mixed colors ...
Back from the sea we find ourselves in the endless sands of the Atacama Desert. In about one hour we will reach the Huacachina oasis and walk along the dunes. Those who wish can go down from the top on the sandboards. Also a magical sunset in the desert awaits us. The sun will color the billions of grains of sand around us in blood-red colors... What an evening to remember!
This trip is of easy physical grade. It includes short trips, one overnight bus ride and one long 8-hour ride. We will also take three domestic flights, go boating and walk a lot in cities and in nature. We will be visiting places at an altitude of about 5000 meters above sea level and people prone to altitude sickness may feel discomfort. Accommodation in rooms for two in tourist class hotels and guesthouses.
