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Experience The Highlights Of Machu Picchu And Galapagos Combined Tours

By Paulette Mason


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.

Both of these locales are meaningful to historians, but in very different ways. Located in the remote mountains of Peru, the ancient city balances precariously between verdant mountain ridges at an altitude approaching 8,000 feet, on the eastern face of the Andes. Early European conquistadors were intent on the destruction of the Inca empire, and few cities escaped oblivion, with one notable exception.

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 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.

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 creatures living on and around these volcanic islands are still remarkable. Giant Galapagos tortoises were abundant, and were killed indiscriminately for food until nearly wiped out. The islands supported an abundance of fauna found nowhere else, and this caught the attention of Darwin, who was visiting as an officially appointed naturalist. His conclusions helped shape 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 different but equally fascinating worlds can be combined into one visit. Most tours take a minimum of two weeks, which allows enough time to travel the distances between countries. Because two nations are involved, it makes sense to plan the journey with help from a travel adviser or agent. Available travel packages fit a variety of budgets, making it easy to take the vacation of a lifetime.




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