Tourist Atractions in Peru

Cruising around in Peru there are some things you just have to see... Machu Pichu is one of the most impressive acheological sites in the world.

You go there to soak up the atmosphere and the surroundings I say, not just to look at a bunch of old stones - go climb MOUNT Machu Pichu!!

The floating islands of Lake Titikaca (3800m). They are made of roots and reeds that need to be constantly replaced.

They travel around and between islands on these cool reed boats that take like 3 months to build and then last for about a year before they disintegrate.

The Colca Canyon. Aparently the second deepest canyon in the world at just over 3000m! But how do you measure it? Obviously from the top of the highest mountain to the bottom. We did a walk down to the bottom of the canyon from a town and only had to drop down 1200m. Still it is an amazing place and the canyon is big enough.

The Nazca Lines. Got a good deal, did the 30min flight. These lines were made 100's of years ago before planes existed, and are one of the worlds great misteries as to why and how they were made - when there true form can only be seen and apreciated from the air (they are massive). The above foto is of a spider.

Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

Torres del Paine national park is the most popular national park in South America made famous by its trekking, its severe weather - and of course its granit towers (torres).

A popular thing to do is the 3-5 day "W circuit", which starts at either end of the above panorama, goes around the mountains into the middle valley and then finishes at the opposite end.

We took 7 days because we went to all the viewpoints, and spent a day of walking to the road because we didnt want to pay for a ferry boat.

We also spent an exta day waiting around waiting for the snow to stop falling and we could see the national parks biggest atraction - the towers!

It was autumn when we went. That meant slightly colder weather, less tourists, and trees with beautiful autumn colours.


The Grey Glacier which comes from the Patagonian Icefield, that also feeds the Perito Moreno Glacier a couple of hundred kilometers north in Argentina (where i guided this summer).

Ice Antics on the PM Glacier

Here is a small sample of some stuff that i have been getting up to after work...

Everyone thinks i am crazy, but i go swimming in the lake (well, ive done it twice anyway).

Here is Emanuel a good friend of mine here. That day i found out that it was possible to jump between small floating icebergs (as long as you go fast) to arrive and stand on bigger ones. Hence i thought up a new mission and made the "rema-tempano" (iceberg-rower) - basically a big paddle.

Now although it may look like i am cruising around the lake leaving small icebergs in my wake, be reminded that icebergs have almost 7/8 of their mass below water (a little more with me on it!). For an iceberg to just hold my weight, it must be roughly 600kg. The one above probably weighs in at 1000kg. Trying to move a ton of ice though the water with a little paddle is almost useless. The berg was much more affected by the current and wind, and lets just say that getting back to shore again had its complications!
Ok, here as an activity that is more shared by the majority here at the base - Ice climbing. The above wall is super overhung.

This big block of ice sticking out over a crevasse was great fun. Thats me in the background.
And it didnt snap off.

A bit of fun climbing down a crevasse.