Sightseeing:Peru and Costa Rica

Monteverde

• Location: Costa Rica• A private reserve; offers access to the cloud forests• Cloud Forests: Named because the forests are almost always shrouded in

clouds• Located at the top of the spine of Costa Rica’s continental divide• Known for cloud forests, coffee plantations, monkeys, mist, & friendly

locals• Over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, tens of thousands of

insect species, and over 2,500 varieties of plants (with 420 being orchids)• There are tails and trams, canopy tours, zip-lining and museums• There is lodging available

Huacacchina

• Located in the Ica Region (about 4.5 hours south of Lima)• Very small village (population: 115)• Known for its giant sand dunes, which are used for

sandboarding and dune buggy rides• Dune Buggy/Sandboarding Tour: Cost 48.60 soles• Be sure to visit the town, which has museums that show the

history of the region• You can camp on the dunes for about 130 soles per person,

including food and gear• The village was built around a small natural lake in the desert

Huacacchina

Valle Sagrado

• Means Sacred Valley• Also known as Urubamba Valley (Andes)• Located below the ancient city of Machu Picchu, between the

towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo• You can see the high technological developments of the Inca,

in terms of agriculture• Major places to visit: Pisac, Calca, Yucay, Urubamba,

Ollantaytambo• Parque Arqueológico de Pisac (Archeological Park of Pisac): an

Inca site of refined stone, citadel, turrets, military fortresses, and astronomical observatories

Machu Picchu• Location: Peru, in the middle of a tropical, mountain forest• A new Seven Wonders of the World• One of the most recognizable tourist attractions on the planet• Created by the Incan Empire• Also known as the “Lost Cities”, discovered in 1911• The area is divided into three parts: agricultural, urban, and religious• Inca Trail: Among the most famous hiking trails in the world. Starts at

the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River and ends at the ruins of Machu Picchu (a hike that takes 3-5 days to complete!)

• Alpacas inhabit this area (similar to a llama, but smaller and with soft, warm fibers used to make fleece; there are 22 colors of alpacas!)

Machu Picchu• You may also see over 420 species of birds• Funerary Rock Hut

– Believed to be where Incan nobility were mummified– You can see the whole complex from here– You must hike up long, rigid stairs to get here

• Royal Tomb– Walk down the long stairs from the Funerary Rock Hut– Contains a cave-like area with ceremonial niches and an Inca cross

• Sacred Plaza– Surrounding the plaza are important buildings of the city– No mortar was used to hold stones in place– These buildings have survived centuries and several earthquakes

Nazca Lines

• Located in the Nazca Desert (Southern Peru)• Scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 BC

and AD 500• Geoglyphs show living creatures, stylized plants and

imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures• Believed to have had ritual astronomical functions• Shapes include: orca, mono (monkey), colibrí

(hummingbird)

Nazca Lines

• People have been puzzled by these lines since their discovery in the late 1920s

• 1994: Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site• Lines have been preserved due to dry, windless,

stable climate• Can be seen from the top of foothills, or by plane• Cost of flight: $100-$300 per person

El Circuito Mágico del Agua• Location: Lima, Peru• Opened on July 26, 2007• Cost to build: $13 million• A series of illuminated fountains (12 in all)• Cost: 4 soles• Designed by a French architect, Claude Sahut• Best to visit at night, as lights and lasers illuminate the fountains as

they dance to different music• Fuente Mágica is the largest fountain—water sprays over 80m high!• Fuente Túnel de las Sorpresas: a 35m walk through tunnel of water• Fuente de los Niños: Children’s fountain is a walk-in, automated

fountain• Fuente de la Fantasia: laser and picture show

El Circuito Mágico del Agua

Aerial Tram

• Visit Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic• Trip lasts 80 minutes, and travels 2.6km through the

treetops of the primary rainforest• You travel in an open-air rainforest tram gondola

with canvas awnings and 6 seats• Cost: $55 (adults), $27.50 (kids & students)• You can also go zip-lining• There are a number of nature trails for hiking and

walking• There is a hanging bridge that you can visit

Aerial Tram

Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú

• Located in the Central Volcanic Conservation Area of Costa Rica

• The volcano is still active although the last major eruption was between 1963 & 1965

• The park was destroyed by eruptions, and as a result is part of a reforestation project

• Crater Principal Lake: unusual greenish yellow coloring, to crimson red coloring caused by rainfall dissolving the minerals along the craters walls

• Entrance fee: $7• Last noticeable activity was in 1996• Irazú is the tallest volcano in Costa Rica

Montezuma • Located in the town of Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica• Known for its beaches, rivers, and scenic waterfalls• Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve: Costa Rica’s oldest nature

reserve• Known as a great place for a yoga retreat• There are no banks or post offices in the city• Montezuma Waterfall: highest and most beautiful

waterfall• You can also go surfing and horseback riding• There is a waterfall and canopy tour, where you can go

zip-lining

Plaza de la Cultura

• Located in San José, Costa Rica• Means Square of Culture• The Teatro Nacional dominates the southern half of the plaza• The Museo del Oro Precolombino is also in the plaza—known for

its gold• The focal point of San José• There is a monument of Juan Mora Fernandez, the first President

of Costa Rica• Several performance and celebrations are held here each year• One can often see jugglers, musicians, and marimba bands

performing in the square• Be sure to visit the Museo Numismático, where you can see pre-

Columbian currencies