Cusco, Peru was the center of the Inca Empire. The Spanish destroyed much of the city in the 16th century. The churches seen here in the Plaza de Armas were partially built with stone from the rubble of demolished Inca structures. Insult to injury. This is also the launching pad for Machu Picchu. Needless to say, it is overrun with tourists.... read more

El Tatio Geyser Field is in the Andes Mountain range and quite a treck to get to. We woke up at 3am to catch a 4am van. They told us to dress warm, but that did not prepare us. It was miserably cold compounded by altitude adjustment. It was well worth it as the sun began to come up and we could see 80 geysers shooting upward causing the landscape to look unreal. The pictures do not do it justice. ... read more

The Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is an example of nature completely going crazy. A part of the Atacama desert that has colors and textures you cannot find anywhere else. We watched the sunset from a peak of one of the mountains.... read more

La Serena, Chile... read more

Córdoba... read more