South America - Peru Inka Sacred Valley, sites visited

Others - Visited

CUZCO

CUZCO - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

KORICANCHA

KORICANCHA - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

SACSAHUAMAN

SACSAHUAMAN - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

VITCOS / YURAK RUMI

YURAK RUMI - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

Q'ENQO

Q'ENQO - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

PUKA PUKARA

PUKA PURAKA - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

TAMBOMACHAY

TAMBOMACHAY - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

CHINCHERO

CHINCHERO - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

OLLANTAYTAMBO

OLLANTAYTAMBO - Inka Sacred Valley
Peru, Jun 2010.

Others - Not Visited

CHOQUEQUIRAO

PISAC

MORAY

TIPON

PIKILLAQTA

HUCHUY CUZCO

ISLA DEL SOL

South America - Peru Inka Trail, the 13 Inka sites

Site 01.  PISKAKUCHU (SALAPUNKU)
***I saw it, across Rio Urubamba at the far side, not much left to capture in a photo.
Site 02.  Q'ANABAMBA

Q'ANABAMBA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 03.  WILLKARAKAY 

***I saw it, too far even with a zoom lens of 300mm. 

Site 04.  Q'ENTIMARKA (PATALLAQTA) or LLAQTAPATA

Q'ENTIMARKA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 05.  PATAWASI

PATAWASI - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 06.  RUNKURAQAY

RUNKURAQAY - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 07.  SAYAQMARKA - one of the most important sites and many of the ceremonial rituals are found in this site.

SAYAQMARKA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 08.  QONCHAMARCA

QONCHAMARCA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 09.  PHUYUPATAMARKA

PHUYUPATAMARKA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 10.  YUNKAPATA (INTIPATA)

YUNKAPATA / INTIPATA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 11.  WINAYWAYNA - my favourite site as it is so beautiful at both sunrise or sunset.

WINAYWAYNA - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 12.  INTIPUNKU (SUNGATE)

INTIPINKU - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

Site 13.  MACHU PICCHU

MACHU PICCHU - Inka Trail
Peru, Jun 2010.

South America - the 6 un-Missable Missiones

For it is the dream of 28 years, I crafted my South America journey around Ushuaia. However, the more I research on the continent, I realized that there are a lot more to the continent than many others. I compiled a list, I had to forgo some of the wonders because of time and money limitation and here are my 6 un-Missable Missiones.

Ushuaia in Argentina, Apr 2010.

I know about the national parks of Los Glaciares where Perito Moreno Glacier is, of Torres del Paine where Los Torres are, and of El Chalten where Mt.Fitzroy is.  But, they are all either part of the Southern or Northern Patagonia Ice Field, the third largest ice sheet in the world. 

Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, Apr 2010.

I always somehow feel that I am more the Robinson Crusoe type of traveller, so I wonder about that little MOST remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, furthest away from all civilizations, having it's own sacred statues of Moai.  I can not miss Easter Island.

Easter Island in Chile, May 2010.

Even I been to Niagara Fall for numerous times in my six years in Canada, I read about how  Eleanor Roosevelt described the poor Niagara when she saw the Iquazu Falls, which is 27 times the size of Niagara.

Iquazu Falls in Brazil, May 2010.

I have read about it.  However, I have not realized how famous and awesome it is. As it is on the way in the journey from Chile to Peru, after Atacama Desert and before La Paz, I dropped by the Largest Salt Flat in the world.  Little that I know, the Salar de Uyuni  is mesmerizing!

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, May 2010.

Of course, I have always been fascinated by Machu Picchu and no one could miss it in a trip to South America. Reading so much about the sacred trail of Inka, trekking it is a MUST.

Machu Picchu in Peru, Jun 2010.

There are other wonders I really would like to go but it just have to wait for another time.  The 1st on the forgo list is the Galapagos Islands in which I am intended to come back for Ecuador in another time.  The 2nd is Falkland.  It is just too far, only flight from Santiago, expensive and not many options for accommodations.  The 3rd is the Chileo in Chile. Just like any other trips, there were just not enough time for reasearch so I missed this one out.

The good news is, I know I would come back for a 2nd journey before the 1st one even started.