Living on the altiplano – the Andean plateau – are the South American camelids. Llamas and Alpacas found themselves domesticated by humans and have lived this way for as much as 6000 years. Guanacos and Vicuñas on the other hand still exist in the wild and are heavily protected by law. They are all somehow able to thrive on the tough vegetation and harsh extremes in temperatures that we find at these altitudes.
April 21, 2008 | Culture & History
Pachacutec was the Inca emperor who turned Cuzco from a city state to an empire that spanned from Ecuador to Chile. At one end of the Av. El Sol is a gigantic statue of him that you can visit and climb.
November 3, 2006 | Culture & History, Cusco Guide, Opinion
We left Arequipa in the early morning to head to Chivay, a town in the mountainous north of the department of Arequipa and one that is close to the Colca Canyon.
The journey was made interesting by the regular sightings of Vicuñas, Alpacas and Llamas.
October 24, 2006 | Arequipa Guide