Travel to the mysterious sky city of Machu Picchu
Located in the south of Peru, Machu Picchu is surrounded by the Andes mountains. Registered as a World Heritage Site in 1983 as the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, this huge ruin is a symbol of South America. Built on a ridge at an altitude of about 2,430m, this sky city continues to fascinate travelers from all over the world with its overwhelming scale and beauty.
Scenery of "Andenes (terraced fields)"
Machu Picchu was built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, but was abandoned in the 16th century when the Inca Empire was conquered by Spain. The ruins, which had been lying dormant for about 400 years in the mountains until they were discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, still retain the culture and construction techniques left by the Inca Empire. If you walk around the vast ruins, you will find 200 different ruins, large and small, scattered around, including the sundial "Intihuatana" made of megaliths, the stone building "Temple of the Sun" with its beautiful curves, and the "Andenes (terraced fields)" built neatly on the slope. You can also get a panoramic view of the sky city built on the cliff, including the "watchhouse" located in the southern part of the ruins and the mountain "Wayna Picchu" towering at an altitude of about 2,693 meters at the back of the ruins.
Since the Inca Empire did not have a written language, there are still many mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu. For example, there are various speculations about the purpose of building this city in the sky, such as the "fortress theory," the "royal villa theory," and the "religious facility theory," but the truth is still shrouded in mystery. The beautiful nature depicted by the Andes mountains and the ruins of a city filled with mysterious beauty... Here you can experience the spectacular views and excitement that can only be experienced at Machu Picchu.
By the way, the starting point of the trip to Machu Picchu is the city of Cusco, located at an altitude of about 3,400m. This city, which once flourished as the capital of the Inca Empire, is also registered as a World Heritage Site as the "City of Cusco", so please take your time to enjoy its charms.
The Uyuni Salt Flats, one of the most spectacular sights in South America
Enjoying a trip to South America is a rare opportunity that doesn't come often in a lifetime. Why not take the chance to go a little further than Machu Picchu and see the spectacular views you've always dreamed of?
For example, the Uyuni Salt Flats, which can be accessed by air from Cusco, the starting point of Machu Picchu, is one of the destinations that will make your South American trip even more memorable. Located in the central-western part of Bolivia, the Uyuni Salt Flats spread out at an altitude of about 3,700m. This place, where the land covered with salt crystals stretches for about 100km from north to south and about 250km from east to west, is a place where you can enjoy breathtaking views. In particular, if you visit during the rainy season from late December to March, rainwater accumulates on the pure white ground, creating a unique landscape that reflects the sky like a mirror. You can enjoy a dazzling spectacle, from the bright sunlight during the day, to the crimson-colored sky at dusk, and the star-filled night.
The Uyuni Salt Flats are located at an altitude of about 3,700m, so you need to take precautions against altitude sickness. However, if you have traveled to Machu Picchu at an altitude of about 2,400m or Cusco at an altitude of about 3,400m, it is relatively easy to acclimatize to the altitude, which is another advantage of the route around Machu Picchu and the Uyuni Salt Flats. We recommend taking a leisurely trip over a schedule of about 10 to 14 days in total.
Iguazu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls
If you want to enjoy a trip to South America that goes beyond Machu Picchu, we also recommend visiting Iguazu Falls, which straddles both Argentina and Brazil. You can access Iguazu Falls by plane from Cusco, the starting point of Machu Picchu, via Lima.
The appeal of Iguazu Falls, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1986, is its scale. Located downstream on the Iguazu side, Iguazu Falls is one of the world's largest waterfalls, with approximately 200 to 300 waterfalls of various sizes flowing down over a width of about 4 km, with 65,000 tons of water falling per second. It is counted as one of the three largest waterfalls in the world, along with Niagara Falls in North America and Victoria Falls in Africa. The largest of the many waterfalls, Devil's Throat, has a drop of over 80 meters! If you visit the site, you will be overwhelmed by the thunderous roar of the waterfall and the mist that fills the entire field of vision. On the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, there are walking trails with a view of Devil's Throat right in front of you, and boat tours at the base of the falls. On the Brazilian side, you can enjoy the view from an observation deck overlooking the large and small waterfalls and Devil's Throat.
See Machu Picchu, the gigantic city built by the Inca Empire on the ridge of the Andes, and experience the scale of South American nature at the thunderous Iguazu Falls... Why not try a trip to South America that is full of variety?
Comment
In addition to the Uyuni Salt Flats and Iguazu Falls introduced here, there are many other South American destinations you'll want to visit in addition to Machu Picchu. For example, in Peru alone, there are many World Heritage sites worth visiting, such as the Nazca Lines and Palpa Lines and the Historic Centre of Lima. There are also many places where you can encounter dynamic landscapes unique to South America, such as Lençóis in Brazil and Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, Argentina. Travel around these wonderful destinations scattered across South America and make memories that will last a lifetime!
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
