Time To Travel

TIME TO

It is time to start thinking about traveling again. Why not go somewhere historic and fun. Learn about Incan civilization at Machu Picchu in Peru or Mayan civilization in Mexico.

MACHU PICCHU

PERU

Machu Picchu, or the lost city as it is often referred to, is a bucketlist type of destination. As a world heritage site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the world, it is often considered to be the most spectacular urban creation of the Incan civilization.

It was built as a sacred site around 1430 by the 9th Incan king without the use of mortar. The stonework for the buildings is so well put together that there are no gaps in the joins. Instead, stones were cut to fit together. The stones can weigh as much as 50 tons and were transported without wheels. Rather, they were pushed up the hill by hundreds of men.

Visit the semi-circular Temple of the Sun which is built around an enormous boulder. See the Temple of the Moon and its

ceremonial shrine built into a cave with niches that most likely held mummies. There is also a museum which explains how and why Machu Picchu was built. Located 8000 feet above sea level and deep in the tropical forest, it offers amazing architecture, incredible scenery and an abundance of unusual flora and fauna.

There are 2 ways to arrive at Machu Picchu. One can travel by train from either Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Cusco is the easiest and the voyage takes 3.5 hours along the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley. There is a hotel on site with a restaurant as well as luxury hotels in Cusco. Cusco is filled with historic sites from Incan and colonial times as well as restaurants, shopping and people watching.

Along the Yucatan Peninsula, there are many historic sites built by the ancient Mayan people. One of the most popular is Tulum which is a well-preserved 13th century walled city situated on tall cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It is easily accessed from Cancun. Visit El Castillo, the temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the

YUCATAN PENINSULA

MEXICO

Descending God or explore the underground caverns of LabnaHa Eco Park and consider snorkeling in the caves of Cenote Dos Ojos.

A day trip from Tulum takes you to the city of Chichen Itza, another of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It is one of the largest and best preserved architectural sites in the world. There are many ancient Mayan structures including the famous El Castillo pyramid which dominates the center of the site. It is 98 feet tall. There is also an ancient sports arena, the Osario Pyramid and the Temple of the Warriors. The city was built over centuries going back as far as 600 ad and grew until the 1600’s when it was conquered by the Spanish.

Along with the historic sites on the Yucatan Peninsula, there are wonderful places to stay - Cancun for a city feel and Playa del Carmen for a small-town vibe and there is no shortage of allinclusive beach resorts.