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M achu Picchu is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Nestled high near the peaks of the Andes Mountains in Peru, these ruins are some of the oldest and last remaining evidence of native life in Latin America. Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Although many travelers fly thousands of miles to catch a glimpse of these magnificent ruins, there are many other reasons to explore Peru. Lima is one of the largest cities to be built in a desert, aer Cairo. On top of having thousands of years of history, Lima is also home to some of the best fine dining restaurants in the world. Its booming food culture began around the 1980s in the midst of a violent civil war. From their bustling meat and produce markets to their local street food and interpretations of typical Peruvian dishes, there's plenty to indulge in for your next holiday abroad. Prior to embarking on the journey of a lifetime there are some important tips to note when visiting cities in high altitudes such as Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Ollataytambo. Once you've arrived your body needs time to acclimate to the lack of oxygen, make sure to rest on your first day and drink plenty of water. ere are a number of remedies available to avoid altitude sickness such as chewing on coca leaves or drinking coca tea. You can also buy Acetazolamide (Diamox), that can help soothe symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, etc. e best option, however, is to avoid stress, alcohol, and strenuous activity. Cusco has been inhabited for over 3,000 years and the area was the home of the Killke people until about 1,000 years before the arrival of the Incas. Aer the Incan Empire took over around the mid-13th century, Cusco became their historic capital and cities across the empire were replicated aer it. roughout the early 1500s, the Incas were involved in number of battles and civil wars. In 1533, when Spanish explorer Francisco Pizzaro arrived in Cusco, he captured and murdered Incan General Atahualpa and took over the region. Upon their arrival, the Spaniards were impressed by the stones used to build temples and small dams in the city as well as the symmetry of the streets. Qurikancha, the most elaborate Incan temple in the city, was dedicated to the sun god Inti. It was filled with solid gold replicas of life-sized lamas and corn, precious stones and tons of silver. Aer the Spanish plundered the temple, they destroyed it and used its foundations for the structure that replaced it—the Convent of St. Dominic (the tallest structure in the city today). Cusco V U E N J . C O M 128

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