Travel to South America

Potosí

Potosí is a city in Bolivia, located at  3967 meters above sea level considered to be the highest city in the world. There is a sayin in Spanish "Vale un Potosí" (worth a Potosí) that means it worths a fortune, because the city was founded as a mining town back in 1546 and soon it started to produce incredible wealth,  becoming one of the largest cities in the Americas. This city is even mentioned in the novel "Don Quixote" with a reference to its wealth and riches.

Oruro

Oruro is a city in Bolivia, and famous for its carnival. It has been a major mining centre and a railway hub, but now is just a nice getaway from the stress of the capital. The Carnaval de Oruro is considered one of the great folkloric events in South America, due to its masked "devil-dances". This Carnival is conducted over three days and nights, with fifty groups parading through the city, over a route of 4km, and the groups represent several indigenous dance forms, accompanied by various bands.

Lake Titicaca

The Lake Titicaca is between Bolivia and Peru, and it is considered the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world, at 3821 meters above sea level. It is the largest lake in South America, and has 41 islands, like Isla del Sol, Isla Amantani, Isla Taquile, which maintained it's culture for several thousand years, and the floating Uros Islands. Isla del Sol is one of the largest islands of the lake and has several important Inca ruins.

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands is a small archipelago that belongs to Ecuador, located in the western Pacific Ocean. This islands are remote and isolated, 620 miles off the continent, and consist of 13 main islands and 6 smaller islands. It is known worldwide for its unique wildlife, one of the inspirations for Charles Darwin while writing his Theory of Natural Selection. It is a World Heritage Site and National Park, with strict controls to protect the natural habitats. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling are the main activities, and also you can do some hiking, visit the Giant Tortoise breeding center, visit the Charles Darwin Research Center, and take boat tours from one island to the other.

Isla Margarita

Situated in the Caribbean, Isla Margarita is the biggest island of the Nueva Esparta State, and its capital is La Asuncion, which is located in a river valley that has the same name. It is formed by 2 peninsulas, and with its very dry and sunny climate, the main industry is tourism, besides construction and fishing. A peaceful place with lots of beaches, you can find great locations for water sports like windsurfing at Playa Parguito and Playa El Yaque.

Maracaibo

Maracaibo is the second-largest city in Venezuela, after the national capital Caracas, and it is the capital of the Zulia state. It is also known as the "The Beloved Land of the Sun", and it was was founded in 1529 on the western side of Lake Maracaibo which is the dominant feature of the oil-rich Maracaibo Basin. Favored by prevailing winds and a protected harbor, the city is located on the shores of the lake the narrows eventually lead to the Gulf of Venezuela.

El Yaque Beach

One of the seven best locations in the world with perfect conditions for windsurfing, Playa El Yaque is located in the southern side of Isla Margarita. The water usually has a temperature between 21º and 27º Celsius, and the winds blows from 15 to 30 knots most of the year. Also, the shallow waters extend from the shore to the south of the beach for several hundred meters, allowing a safe sport practise.

Paracas

At km. 261 of the Panamericana Sur Highway, we find the Paracas Reserve. It is a refugee for sea-wolves, Humboldt penguins, sea-cats, pelicans, dolphins and a large variety of native and migratory birds. Is not only a nature paradise, but an archaeological center, where the ruins of the pre Inca culture, Paracas, are found. This culture dates from 700 AC to 400 AC, and it was a great town of knitters. At Paracas, we can find great touristic points, like the Cathedral, the Chandelier and Ballestas Islands.
The Chandelier is an impressive geoglyph, that can only be observed from the air or the sea, and is also know as Three Crosses. Like the Nazca Lines, there is no information about it´s origins, why it was created or by whom!

Cerro Blanco

It is considered the highest dune of the world, and for the Nazca culture, it was a sacred hill where they made the offerings to the protective "Apus" (The Spirits of the Mountains), and to the different elements of Nature.

The natives talk about a mysterious energy which just have been discovered at the top of this dune, in a not revealed place, and this energy would have been a focus of attention for the NASA investigations.

To climb up to the Cerro Blanco (White Hill), makes you experience not only a marvelous landscape, with a great view of the valley and the mountain chain surrounding it, but accordingly to the testimonies of the people that have been there already, it allows you to experiment a very strong sensation of spiritual inner peace and completeness.
At the very base of Cerro Blanco, the Shaman performs the Ceremony of offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). It is a ceremony with highly spiritual and traditional content, which you definitely should not miss.