Machu Picchu
2023 Vaya Photo Contest Winners
Vaya travelers are known for being genuinely curious and respectful, for delving into the destinations they visit with open hearts and open minds. This approach is reflected in their photographs – images brimming with warm human connection, responsible wildlife encounters, and breathtaking landscapes. That’s what makes judging Vaya’s annual photo contest so much fun. After… Read Full Post
Hiking Machu Picchu: Huayna Picchu and Huchuy Picchu
Located high in the Andes Mountains, overlooking the Urubamba River and surrounded by steep mountains, Machu Picchu is a testament to the architectural achievements of the Inca. It is recognized as one of the most important cultural sites in the world and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as one of… Read Full Post
2022 Vaya Photo Contest Winners
Nothing delights us more than receiving photos captured by our travelers throughout the year. Whether it’s up close encounters with wildlife, sunsets over remote and little visited corners of our natural world, or new friends made while traveling, your images transport us—and we look forward to seeing each and every one! To all of you… Read Full Post
Top 4 Hikes Starting at Machu Picchu
Many travelers to Machu Picchu love hiking but perhaps do not have the time (or the desire anymore to tent camp) to do the Inca Trail while visiting Peru. Hiking lovers, fear not! Here are four incredible hikes that you can do right from the Machu Picchu citadel that will surely bolster your experience of… Read Full Post
Machu Picchu Travel Tips
Visiting Machu Picchu will almost certainly be the highlight of your Peruvian adventure. With real bucket-list destinations it pays to do your homework before you go, so that you can make the experience everything you imagined it to be. Follow these Machu Picchu travel tips to get the most out of your visit. Three ways… Read Full Post
A brief history of Cusco
Cusco is so much more than the gateway to Machu Picchu. It’s probably the most important historical city in South America, and its architecture includes Killke, Inca and Spanish constructions. Before the Incas Located in a valley, at an altitude of about 11 000 ft, Cusco is surrounded by mountains in the truest sense of… Read Full Post
Zen Birding in South America – Macaws in Peru
While preparing for a recent trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador, one of the most bird species-rich areas of the world, with over 450 species of birds, I stumbled across a book by David M. White and Susan M. Guyette entitled Zen Birding which reminded me of my experiences with macaws in Peru. … Read Full Post
Hiking Machu Picchu Mountain
Most photos of Machu Picchu include the rhino horn-shaped peak of Huayna Picchu, making this peak almost as iconic as the archeological zone itself. Maybe this is why many visitors to Machu Picchu eagerly queue every morning to be one of the 400 people who are permitted to ascend the 8,920 ft. peak per day. … Read Full Post
Hiking and Biking in Peru: Video Highlights
On a recent trip to Peru I followed our Peru Highlights Active: Hike & Bike Peru’s Top Spots itinerary, and brought my HD video camera along. The result is this less than 2 minute piece of work, set to some Peruvian guitar and charango music. Clips include: hiking near the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley,… Read Full Post
Afro-Peruvian Music: Another Side Of Peru
One of the great benefits of living and traveling in South America has been the chance to learn more about its incredibly varied music and dance traditions. On one warm summer evening in Lima, Peru, I attended a party hosted by a vacationing Peruvian family. Laughter and lively conversation emanated throughout the house, but it… Read Full Post