The Mayans mysteriously disappeared in 900 AD and what they left behind were steep pyramid temples depicting their past. Often in remote jungle locations, most of which are yet to be explored and even excavated, they are fascinating to discover. Living among the ruins are howler monkeys, whose loud calls only add to the mystery of this hidden world.
Famous as much for its beaches as its Mayan ruins, Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula stands as a testament to the Mayan world. Colossal temples with intricate designs lay over huge areas, all of which was built without the wheel. Each of the three main sites are worth visiting; Chichen Itza – whose size and grandeur never fails to impress, Uxmal – a master class in Mayan sculpture and design, and Tulum whose steep temples are ideally located on the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean.
The most famous destination in Peru is Machu Picchu, the ‘lost city of the Incas’. As well as being one of the most dramatic archaeological sites in the world, it also offers a fascinating insight into the daily life of one of the most respected peoples of the Americas – the Incas. At the centre of this Inca world is Cuzco which in Quechua means ‘Navel of the earth’ and was the capital of the Inca Empire.
A lot of what these ancient civilisations left behind was destroyed by conquistadors or has been slowly eroded by the natural elements. Within a rapidly shrinking world, man is now also a problem and we ask that you take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints to try and preserve the past.
Manor Cottage, Papermill Lane, South Moreton, Oxfordshire, OX11 9AH
Amazing trip, five stars! Normally a trip of this magnitude in a short period of time can be daunting, but the fact that everything went so smoothly and at no time did we feel stressed or overbeared is a compliment to Latin Odyssey
Andrew B