It is now possible to enjoy two of the most fascinating and exciting locales in the Southern Hemisphere in a single tour. Travelers eager to visit these historically significant locations will visit both natural and archaeological sites over a period of two weeks or more. Machu Picchu and Galapagos combined tours reveal the mysteries surrounding the native Inca people who built this city in the sky, and observe the same creatures Charles Darwin saw.
Although both locales are significant, they are not alike. Located in the mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is balanced atop a precarious space between two ridges of the Andes, at nearly 8,000 feet high. When the Europeans methodically destroyed the Inca empire, few cities survived intact. Most were destroyed forever, but this city escaped because of its high-altitude isolation.
The site lay hidden beneath a thick layer of greenery until a century ago, when it was uncovered by a Yale University faculty member looking the legendary lost Inca city called Vilcabamba, a regional capital before Spanish incursion. The enormity of this discovery rocked the world of archaeology. When the vegetation was cleared away, the incredibly beautiful setting revealed a remarkable city.
Because of its remote location, Spanish conquistadors were not aware it existed, and today most buildings and hillside terraces remain. All are carefully made from granite stones interlaced expertly without mortar. Some are thought to be temples, but the entire site was spiritually important. Nearly five hundred years later, thousands of people are drawn to the unparalleled and breathtaking natural beauty.
The contrast between this Peruvian lost city and the Galapagos Islands belonging to Ecuador cannot be ignored. The stone city in the clouds is thought to have been a religious or spiritual site, but the Galapagos Islands inspired naturalist Charles Darwin to write a book that is shook traditional Western religious assumptions. The islands were stumbled upon by Europeans during the early 16th century, and later became a haven for pirates and whalers.
The flora and fauna living here have characteristics that exist nowhere else on the planet. Giant Galapagos tortoises were once bountiful, but after being indiscriminately slaughtered for their meat, they are nearly gone. When Charles Darwin visited in an official capacity as naturalist, he was astounded by the physical adaptations that most creatures had undergone, and his conclusions shaped modern biological science.
Many creatures here show no fear of human beings, allowing visitors to see them close up. Although this is an incredibly rich and important ecosystem, it has enjoyed protection for many years, and has escaped common exploitation. Visitors to the thirteen islands can witness sea-going iguanas, birds with special adaptations not found elsewhere, and even tropical penguins swimming next to cinder-cone volcanoes.
These two worlds can be combined in several tour packages. Most trips take two weeks or longer, to allow enough time for travel between the two disparate locales. Because there is more than one country involved, most people work directly with their travel agent or adviser when making plans. Available packages can be found that fit nearly any budget, making the trip of a lifetime affordable for most adventurous travelers.
Although both locales are significant, they are not alike. Located in the mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is balanced atop a precarious space between two ridges of the Andes, at nearly 8,000 feet high. When the Europeans methodically destroyed the Inca empire, few cities survived intact. Most were destroyed forever, but this city escaped because of its high-altitude isolation.
The site lay hidden beneath a thick layer of greenery until a century ago, when it was uncovered by a Yale University faculty member looking the legendary lost Inca city called Vilcabamba, a regional capital before Spanish incursion. The enormity of this discovery rocked the world of archaeology. When the vegetation was cleared away, the incredibly beautiful setting revealed a remarkable city.
Because of its remote location, Spanish conquistadors were not aware it existed, and today most buildings and hillside terraces remain. All are carefully made from granite stones interlaced expertly without mortar. Some are thought to be temples, but the entire site was spiritually important. Nearly five hundred years later, thousands of people are drawn to the unparalleled and breathtaking natural beauty.
The contrast between this Peruvian lost city and the Galapagos Islands belonging to Ecuador cannot be ignored. The stone city in the clouds is thought to have been a religious or spiritual site, but the Galapagos Islands inspired naturalist Charles Darwin to write a book that is shook traditional Western religious assumptions. The islands were stumbled upon by Europeans during the early 16th century, and later became a haven for pirates and whalers.
The flora and fauna living here have characteristics that exist nowhere else on the planet. Giant Galapagos tortoises were once bountiful, but after being indiscriminately slaughtered for their meat, they are nearly gone. When Charles Darwin visited in an official capacity as naturalist, he was astounded by the physical adaptations that most creatures had undergone, and his conclusions shaped modern biological science.
Many creatures here show no fear of human beings, allowing visitors to see them close up. Although this is an incredibly rich and important ecosystem, it has enjoyed protection for many years, and has escaped common exploitation. Visitors to the thirteen islands can witness sea-going iguanas, birds with special adaptations not found elsewhere, and even tropical penguins swimming next to cinder-cone volcanoes.
These two worlds can be combined in several tour packages. Most trips take two weeks or longer, to allow enough time for travel between the two disparate locales. Because there is more than one country involved, most people work directly with their travel agent or adviser when making plans. Available packages can be found that fit nearly any budget, making the trip of a lifetime affordable for most adventurous travelers.
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