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 city remained unknown to the outside world until the early 20th century, when a professor from Yale University inadvertently rediscovered it while searching for another legendary Inca city called Vilcabamba, the last capital prior to the Spanish defeat. What he found astounded the archaeological world. The stunningly beautiful location was covered by vegetation, but underneath was a city.
Because it was also unknown to the conquistadors, the terraces and most structures survived mostly intact. Walls were constructed of quarried granite, and built without mortar. There are buildings considered temples, as well as steep hillside terraces used to grow crops. After nearly five hundred years, the legendary site is visited by thousands of people each year, and the views are unparalleled and breathtaking.
It is impossible to ignore the contrast between this high-Andes spiritual center, and the remote chain of islands that are administered by Ecuador. While the city in the clouds is thought to have been a center of spirituality, the Galapagos Islands provided inspiration for ideas igniting a firestorm in some Western religious groups, continuing to this day. Once discovered by Europeans, the archipelago became a favored provisioning stop for whaling ships.
The unusual creatures inhabiting the volcanic island chain are remarkable. Trusting giant Galapagos tortoises were easily slaughtered by whaling ship crews for their meat, which was ideal for provisioning. Other island fauna exists nowhere else on Earth, a fact which alerted Charles Darwin, who was there in an official capacity as an appointed naturalist. His explanation of evolution has shaped modern 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 city remained unknown to the outside world until the early 20th century, when a professor from Yale University inadvertently rediscovered it while searching for another legendary Inca city called Vilcabamba, the last capital prior to the Spanish defeat. What he found astounded the archaeological world. The stunningly beautiful location was covered by vegetation, but underneath was a city.
Because it was also unknown to the conquistadors, the terraces and most structures survived mostly intact. Walls were constructed of quarried granite, and built without mortar. There are buildings considered temples, as well as steep hillside terraces used to grow crops. After nearly five hundred years, the legendary site is visited by thousands of people each year, and the views are unparalleled and breathtaking.
It is impossible to ignore the contrast between this high-Andes spiritual center, and the remote chain of islands that are administered by Ecuador. While the city in the clouds is thought to have been a center of spirituality, the Galapagos Islands provided inspiration for ideas igniting a firestorm in some Western religious groups, continuing to this day. Once discovered by Europeans, the archipelago became a favored provisioning stop for whaling ships.
The unusual creatures inhabiting the volcanic island chain are remarkable. Trusting giant Galapagos tortoises were easily slaughtered by whaling ship crews for their meat, which was ideal for provisioning. Other island fauna exists nowhere else on Earth, a fact which alerted Charles Darwin, who was there in an official capacity as an appointed naturalist. His explanation of evolution has shaped modern 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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Explore the beauty of South America by booking your Machu Picchu and Galapagos combined tours with us. To visit our online travel page, go to http://www.idealsouthamerica.com today!
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