In 2018 I backpacked through Peru alone. My trip started in Lima, the capital, and then traveled to Paracas in the Atacama Desert and the Islas Ballestas. After a few days I traveled on to Cusco, the Inca capital, with a stopover in Ica. I then stayed in the Cusco region for about two weeks and visited the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Piccu. It was a breathtaking journey, with unforgettable impressions and warm encounters.
The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) at the beach of Paracas, Peru.🏖 ☝It has a longer bill than the European oystercatcher (H. ostralegus). The American wears a brown coat, the European a black one.
The Pachacutec Monument in Cusco includes a small museum and you can enjoy the view from above. Pachacutec transformed the Kingdom of Cusco into the Inca Empire. He is probably the most popular Inca and you will find portraits throughout the country.
In the sacred valley of the Incas are these salt ponds. Traditionally, the salt mines have been available to any person of the community wishing to harvest salt. The size of the salt pond assigned to a family depends on the family's size.
The Islas Ballestas are a group of small islands. They are part of a nature reserve and home to numerous animal species. It was cool and a bit foggy, which are the best prepositions to see all the animals. For example, sea lions! When it gets hot during the day, they disappear in the ocean.
I haven't seen many animals on my way from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes. It already was dusk when I almost reached my destination. That's the time of owl butterflies! They are pretty large (65 - 200 mm). The name comes from those eye spots on their wings. Do you know the purpose of those spots?
This photo was taken on my way from the airport to my hostel in Miraflores. Steep cliffs dominate the entire coastline. The beach is only pebbles. Above the cliffs you can already see a little bit of Miraflores.
Chinchero is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, northwest of Cusco in Peru. In the church, which was built on Inca ruins, the Mass is held today in Quechua.