Perù e Bolivia - 2

Lima stretches along the desert coast of the Pacific, capital of Peru and the gateway to every journey through the Andean nation. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the "City of Kings," it preserves a historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Spanish colonial legacy intertwines with the energy of a contemporary metropolis. The monumental heart revolves around the Plaza Mayor, framed by the Cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno and the famous carved wooden balconies overlooking the streets of the old town. A few steps away, the Convento de San Francisco holds catacombs and an ancient library, while the Casa de Aliaga recounts five unbroken centuries of history. Moving toward the ocean, the districts of Miraflores and Barranco reveal the city's modern, bohemian soul: along the Malecón, clifftop paths run high above the sea, the Parque del Amor offers Pacific sunsets, and paragliders glide over the waves. Barranco, with its pastel-coloured houses, the Puente de los Suspiros and its art studios, is the haunt of artists and musicians. Not far from the centre rises the Huaca Pucllana, an adobe pyramid of the pre-Columbian Lima culture, a testament to a past that predates the arrival of the Europeans. Today Lima is recognised as one of the gastronomic capitals of Latin America: birthplace of fresh ceviche, fish marinated in lime, the pisco sour, nikkei cuisine blending Peruvian and Japanese traditions, and acclaimed restaurants ranked among the world's best. The markets of San Isidro and the refined eateries of Miraflores reflect a passion for food that defines the country's identity. Between museums devoted to pre-Columbian gold and Moche ceramics, ocean-battered cliffs and a lively nightlife, Lima invites you to discover it slowly, amid colonial history, unforgettable flavours and the boundless horizon of the Pacific.

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco unfolds at over 3,400 metres above sea level among the mountains of the Peruvian Andes, holding within its very name — Qosqo, "the navel of the world" — the sacred role it played for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is a living palimpsest in which mighty Inca walls, perfectly fitted without mortar, form the foundations of Spanish colonial palaces and churches. Its beating heart is the Plaza de Armas, dominated by the Cathedral and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, surrounded by arcades, cafés and craft workshops. Nearby, the Qorikancha — the Temple of the Sun, once clad in sheets of gold — bears witness to the architectural genius of the Inca, upon which the conquistadors built the convent of Santo Domingo. Climbing toward the San Blas quarter, cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies and artists' studios reveal the city's most intimate soul, while the famous alley of Hatun Rumiyoc guards the legendary twelve-angled stone. On the heights above Cuzco rises the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its enormous megalithic blocks, an ideal starting point to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. From here you reach the sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, with their colourful markets and agricultural terraces carved into the mountains, and above all Machu Picchu, the mythical lost city among the clouds. Cuzco is also a sensory experience: markets such as San Pedro are fragrant with corn, Andean potatoes and tropical fruits, while local cuisine offers dishes such as cuy, alpaca and chicha de jora. Amid ancestral ceremonies, festivals like Inti Raymi and a spirituality that still pervades the streets, Cuzco welcomes the traveller into a journey out of time, where Inca history and colonial heritage coexist beneath the clear Andean sky.

The route crosses the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a region rich in archaeological sites and natural beauty. Among the most significant stops along the way are the Moray ruins, an Inca site believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory, and the Maras salt mines, where salt is still produced today using traditional methods. Another important stop along the route is Chinchero, a picturesque Andean village famous for its artisan markets and ancient Inca ruins. An ancient Inca outpost in the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo preserves its urban layout intact, with paved streets and water channels still in use. Above the village rise the terraces of the fortress and the Temple of the Sun, built from enormous blocks of pink granite. It was here, in 1536, that the Inca won one of their few victories against the Spanish conquistadors. From Ollantaytambo departs the scenic railway leading to Machu Picchu, making it an essential stop on any Andean journey. A village where the past is still alive. Also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, Aguas Calientes is the town that serves as gateway to the world's most famous Inca citadel, reachable only by train or on foot along the Urubamba valley. Set between steep, forest-clad mountainsides where the Andes begin to give way to the Amazon, it owes its name to the hot springs that have long made it a place of rest. From here begins the climb to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new seven wonders of the world, where the trail leads to the Puerta del Sol and its legendary views. Among restaurants, craft markets and the ceaseless rush of the river, Aguas Calientes is the lively threshold to an unforgettable experience.

Perched at around 2,400 metres among the Andean peaks, Machu Picchu is the most famous lost city of the Inca, brought back to light in 1911 and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overlooking the valley of the Urubamba river, it reveals stone terraces, temples and palaces of remarkable precision, including the Intihuatana, the enigmatic solar clock. Those seeking breathtaking views can climb the peak of Huayna Picchu or reach the site on foot along the legendary Inca Trail. A timeless thrill in the heart of the Andes.

You cross the Andes Cordillera amidst magnificent landscapes, with stops in the village of Pucarà, famous for its colorful ceramics, in the town of Raqchi with the imposing walls of the Inca temple built to appease the wrath of the god Viracocha, and in Andahuaylillas with a 17th-century church, a magnificent example of provincial colonial art. The highest point is the La Raya pass (4,335 m). The duration of the journey is 7-8 hours. Puno stretches along the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and is regarded as Peru's folklore capital. From its waters rise the famous Uros Islands, built entirely from totora reed that the inhabitants weave into their homes and boats, while further out lie the islands of Taquile and Amantani, where ancient traditions endure. The textile art of Taquile is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. A meeting point of Quechua and Aymara cultures, Puno is at its best in February, when the festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria fills the streets with music, dance and vivid costumes. Amid vast waters and high-altitude skies, it is a place where Andean culture is still lived authentically.

A sheet of water shared by Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, at around 3,800 metres. On its waters float the Uros islands, built from totora reeds, while Taquile and Amantani preserve age-old traditions of weaving and hospitality. Puno is the gateway to this world, where Quechua and Aymara cultures keep their language and rituals alive. A landscape of light and silence suspended between sky and high plateau.

The overland transfer from Puno to La Paz offers a journey through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Andes, crossing mountainous regions and the border between Peru and Bolivia. Along the way, there are several significant stops such as Copacabana, an important religious sanctuary, and Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca archaeological site located near Lake Titicaca. La Paz astonishes at first glance, spread across a vast bowl at over 3,600 metres and ringed by densely built slopes that climb toward the altiplano, watched over by the snow-capped peak of Illimani. Seat of the Bolivian government and the highest of the world's major capitals, it thrives on lively contrasts: downtown towers stand beside indigenous markets where Aymara women in bowler hats and full skirts sell herbs, textiles and produce. The Mercado de las Brujas (witches' market) displays charms and traditional remedies, while the cobbled colonial lane of Calle Jaén gathers small museums and cafés. The Mi Teleférico cable-car network links the neighbourhoods, gliding above the city with sweeping views up to El Alto. Just outside, the Valle de la Luna amazes with its eroded clay spires. Between street food, steaming salteñas and an authentic Andean energy, La Paz proves an intense destination, an ideal gateway to the wonders of the highlands.

Uyuni is the gateway to the planet's largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni, a blinding white expanse stretching over ten thousand square kilometres at nearly 3,700 metres above sea level. In the rainy season a film of water turns the surface into a perfect mirror that reflects the sky, creating the illusion of walking among the clouds; in the dry season the famous hexagonal polygons of salt crust emerge. From the town, four-wheel drives set out for Isla Incahuasi, studded with giant cacti, and the nearby Cementerio de Trenes, where rusting old locomotives recall the region's mining past. An ideal starting point for tours toward the coloured lagoons of the southwest, Uyuni offers surreal, unforgettable landscapes.

Colchani is a small village set on the eastern edge of the Salar de Uyuni, a traditional centre for processing the salt harvested from the great white expanse. Here families gather, dry and package the salt using methods passed down through generations, and numerous stalls sell handicrafts and objects carved from salt blocks. The village is the most common entry point to the salar and is home to a few hotels built entirely from salt bricks. From here four-wheel drives head out into the blinding immensity of the desert. Plain and authentic, Colchani offers a close-up look at life on the margins of the great salt lake.