Got an extra half-day in Cusco? Spending an additional night in Lima? Packed with archaeology, history and great scenery, the choices for day trips in these cities can be overwhelming. We've highlighted some Tropical Nature Travel favorites for making the most of your extra day.
Lima
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Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro (he termed it the City of Kings), Lima is the second-oldest capital in South America. Tour this city of contrasts, from its imposing baroque churches and colonial structure to the charming, modern neighborhood of Miraflores with its bustling shops and wide boulevards. Visit the Cathedral in the Plaza de las Armas, which contains the tomb of the city's founder, and the baroque church of San Francisco and its catacombs. See the modern neighborhoods of San Isidro, El Olivar Park, Miraflores and get spectacular views over the Pacific from the Parque del Amor. |
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This private museum houses a collection of over 50,000 pre-Columbian artifacts. With exhibitions of mummies, ceramics and metals from all over Peru and dating back to 7,000 BC, visitors appreciate the range and sophistication of Peruvian cultures before European conquest. The museum also has the largest collection of Peruvian erotic ceramics in the world, dating back to 500 BC–making them the oldest known erotic representations.
Located 20 miles south of Lima in the Lurin Valley, this pre-Columbia ruined city was in operation from approximately 200 BC until Pizarro's conquest in 1532. A major Huari site from 600 to 800 AD, the site fell into Inca hands in later years and was used as an administrative and ceremonial center as well as a religious shrine. Spanish conquistadors seized the city's gold and silver, but the site itself remains largely intact.
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This small, picturesque fishing village is located about 45 minutes south of Lima. The quiet, calm bay offers excellent views of seabirds such as Peruvian Pelican, Inca Tern, Guanay Cormorant, Elegant Tern, Peruvian Booby, Black Oystercatcher, Seaside Cinclodes, and a number of gulls. On a short boat trip from the village it is also usually possible to see the globally endangered Humboldt Penguin, Southern Sea Lions, and one of South America's rarest sea mammals - the playful Marine Otter.
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The best birding near Lima! This Reserve Zone on the coast was established to protect native Peruvian flora and fauna. See coastal waterfowl and migratory shorebirds at the reserve's lagoons, and from the nearby beach watch for Humboldt Current species, like the Guanay Cormorant, Peruvian Pelican and many others.
Cusco
Visit Lake Huacarpay, just 30 minutes from Cusco, for some excellent Andean birding. Wetland birds that can be seen include Andean Teal, Cinnamon Teal and Andean Duck. The reeds hold secretive species like the Many-Colored Rush Tyrant, and seasonal waders include White-backed and Black-necked Stilts. Also look out for the endemic Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty-fronted Canastero and Streak-fronted Thornbird. The scrub-like vegetation close to the lake is also often an excellent location to see the Giant Hummingbird.
Walk the streets of Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. Visit fine examples of both Incan and Spanish colonial architecture at Koricancha, the Incan Temple of the Sun, and at the main Cathedral in the central plaza. Imposing Incan stone walls rise on either side of narrow, cobbled streets, a reminder of the living history of this colorful Andean town.
Explore key Cusco sites by bus, including Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, and the Spanish colonial Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas. Drive into the hills above Cusco to visit important Incan ruins, including the Sacsayhuaman fortress, whose giant boulders are placed to resemble a jaguar with an open mouth. Visit the amphitheater of Qenko and its underground stone altar that still receives offerings from local people, and enjoy the fountains at the water shrine of Tambo Machay, which have flowed since Incan times.
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Visit the colorful market in Pisac, famous for its multi-colored beads, and browse the displays of jewelry, sweaters, and other local crafts. The sprawling Incan temple complex at Ollantaytambo towers over the small town from the surrounding mountains. You'll explore the ruins and get spectacular views across the town and the valley beyond. |
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Visit the mountain town of Moray and the Maras salt pans. Moray, with it's circular terracing, is thought to have been an Incan agricultural research station where wild plants and vegetables were modified for consumption. The terraced Maras salt pans, where salty water evaporates and leaves its minerals behind, have been worked continuously since Incan times.
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