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Adventure Astronomy: Inca Experiences
   
Astronomical tradition in the Andes -
An archaeoastronomical voyage through Peru and Bolivia
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Eclipse City invites you to the magical world of the Andes to discover the thousands of years old astronomical traditions of the pre-Inca and Inca cultures. Get the latest information on scientific findings and the true history of the ancient metropolis from an internationally recognized archaeoastronomical expert. Come along and discover with Eclipse City Chankillo, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Copacabana, Sun Island and Tiwanacu.
If you still want more you can chose among our unforgettable extensions to the Nazca Lines or today's astronomical highlights of Chile...
Shortcuts:
In the “Tawantinsuyu”, The Four United Provinces of the Inca Empire, the sky with its stars were of all-embracing relevancy. In a religious meaning the stars were gods, amongst which Inti, the god of the sun, was centre of the Inca’s heliolatry.
Economically the Incas lived from agriculture, inheriting the techniques of the various pre-Inca cultures that were living in those regions before. Astronomical knowledge and the continuous observation of the sky were of outstanding importance for the harvest and consequently of the survival of the people.
Also cultural life was mainly influenced by the interaction of the sky and its influences on earth. The most important celebration in the whole Inca Empire was the Inti Raymi, the celebration of the sun, at the day of the winter solstice. It marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes. This ceremony did not only indicate the mythical origin of the Incas, but was held to thank for the harvest of the old and ensure a good cropping season in the New Year.
But already before the Incas all-day-life of the various tribes of the Andes have been defined by the observation and understanding of the sky. Over the Andes region observatories can be found that were dated before the Inca Empire. All of them were of astronomical and religious importance: Chankillo i.e. has been dated back far before the Incas, between 350 BC – 100 BC, and has been built by an unknown culture. Only in 2007 this solar observatory made it into the international media for being the oldest observatory in the Americas.
Also the Tiwanacu culture, recognized as one of the most important precursors to the Inca Empire, has left an archaeological site that is a must for visiting.
Eclipse City is inviting you to join this archaeoastronomical tour through Peru and Bolivia and celebrate either the winter- or summer solstice at the astonishing Chankillo Observatory. We will start in Peru's capital Lima and first go up north to Chankillo, a place that has hardly been developed touristically. Of course also internationally well-known places like Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Sun Island are on our list. But our archaeoastronomical focus will also lead us to most interesting sites like Copacabana, Tiwanacu and Puma Punku that are not on everybody's
list.
As our Inca-Tours are accompanied by an archaeoastronomical expert, you can be sure to get the most up-tu-date information and that Eclipse City will make the most out of your stay!
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We offer the following dates for our Inca Experiences :
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- Inca Experience 1: 19th June - 2nd July 2011:
including the winter solstice at Chankillo ruins and the Inti Raymi in Cuzco; accompanied by Eclipse City's archaeoastronomical expert
With possible extensions to Nazca (2 days) or Astronomy Today (7days)
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- Inca Experience 2: 15th September - 28th September 2011:
including the equinox at Pachataka Observatory in Copacabana accompanied by Eclipse City's archaeoastronomical expert
- With possible extensions Nazca (2 days) or Astronomy Today (7days)
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Please be aware that Inca Experiences can be extended with an overflight of the Nazca Lines or our Astronomy Today Tour heading via the Uyuni Saltlake to San Pedro de Atacama and Cerro Paranal to visit the Very Large Telescope.
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Itinerary of Inca Experiences
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Day 1: Arrival Lima
According to your arrival at Jorge Chavez international Airport you will be picked up by your Eclipse City representative and brought to our 5* hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. It will be a day for arriving, getting to know the surroundings and relaxing.
In the evening we will drive altogether down to the ocean to enjoy Peruvian cuisine and/or delicious fresh fish dishes.
Overnight Lima
Meals included: Dinner
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Day 2: Lima/Casma
In the morning we will leave to visit the historical centre of Lima which was declared UNESCO World Heritage. Peru’s capital is a rich kaleidoscope of colonial architectural jewels and revered pre-Columbian sites; We will take our time to explore the 16th century Plaza Mayor (Main Square), graced by the Government Palace, City Hall and Cathedral. We The Francisco Convent, built in the 17th Century, and its Catacombs ancient underground cemetery will be visited as well.
The modern facets of Lima we will explore driving through the neighbourhoods of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larco Mar along the coast.
After lunch our private bus will take us on a 5 hours drive to Casma, about 400km further north of Lima. Due to the lack of international tourism in this region the best hotel is a 3* hotel where we will spend the night after dinner.
Overnight Casma
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 3: Chankillo/Lima
The group of Inca Experience 1 will visit the ceremonial centre of Chankillo on the 21st of June, the day of the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The Inca Experience 2 will get there on September 16th.
The ruins include the hilltop Chankillo fortress, the nearby solar observatory with 13 towers including observing points to the east and the west, residential and gathering areas as well as the geoglyph group.
The 13 tower of Chankillo span the entire annual solar rising and setting arcs as seen from the observation points and indicating the four solstices. It is unique in the world as a functioning solar observatory build by an unknown culture. The ruins are dated between 350 BC- 100 BC.
Overnight Lima
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 4: Lima/Cuzco/Valle Sagrado
Today we take a flight from Lima to Cuzco where our private vehicles will take us to the Sacred Valley (Valle Sagrado) of the Incas where we will spend the night. This is a good option to get used to the height and prepare ourselves to enter Cuzco, the navel of the world.
Overnight Valle Sagrado
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 5: Machu Picchu
We will be picked up early and transferred to the railway station to board the tourist train that goes through the Urubamba Valley or Sacred Valley, to the unique and most famous mountaintop ruins of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua and lies on 2430m above see level.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built around 1400 AD and luckily never discovered by the Spaniards. This fact gives us the opportunity of visiting the only “Holy Stone” of the Incas preserved: the Intihuantana or “The Hitching Post of the Sun”.
No doubt that there are many myths about the “Lost City of the Incas” but we have now the chance to verify or falsify some of them.
Overnight in Cuzco
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 6: Inti Raymi – The Festival of the Sun/Cuzco
Today the Inca Experience 1 travellers will be participating in the most important festival of the whole Incan Empire: The Inti Raymi ("Festival of the Sun") was a religious ceremony of the Incas in honour of the god Inti. It marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. The last Inti Raymi with the presence of an Incan Emperor was celebrated in 1534. Since 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuamán on June 24 every year.
After the celebration we will enjoy some free time for winding down and back-tracing today’s experiences.
The Inca Experience 2 group will visit Sacsayhuamán and then have some time in Cuzco for walking around, shopping and relaxing.
Overnight Cuzco
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch
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Day 7: Cuzco
Cuzco, the navel of the world was the capital of the Inca Empire and lies on 3400m. The historical part of the city is built on ancient Inca ruins. Here the famous Koriancha temple was found in the southern part of the city. This temple of the sun was the most sumptuous of the whole empire and served not only to accommodate 4000 priests and their attendants but was the main astronomical observatory for the Incas.
You will have the morning for walking around Cuzco, shopping and relaxing.
In the afternoon we will meet for a walking tour through the centre.
Overnight Cuzco
Meals included: Breakfast/Dinner
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Day 8: Cuzco/Puno
After breakfast we will leave Cuzco. Our private transfer will take us to Puno visiting Andahuaylilla, the “Sixtine Chapel” of the Americas, Raqchi and its temple Wiracocha as well as the picturesque town of Pucara and its museum on the way.
Overnight Puno
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 9: Puno/Copacabana/Isla del Sol
Inca Experience 1: Early in the morning we will leave the harbour of Puno to visit the swimming islands of the Uro-Tribe. These islands are made of reeds, rising six meters above the lake level. They are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes. The main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors.
The Uros islands at 3810 meters above sea level are just five kilometres west from Puno port.
In the afternoon we will arrive to Copacabana, a famous place of pilgrimage in South America where the Virgin of Copacabana is worshipped.
Further up on the hill a complex stone labyrinth (Pachataka Observatory) can be found which was of great astronomical importance: at the time of the solstices and the equinoxes, watched from a certain point, symbols are projected on a stone placed over 2 rocks at the edge.
Inka Experience 2: We will leave for Copacabana after breakfast to have enough time at Pachataka Observatory because it is day of the equinox! Eclipse City's expert will take you there and explain in every detail the importance and function of the site. Best of all will be that we will be able to see how it worked.
By boat we continue to the Sun Island where we will spend the night.
Overnight Sun Island
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 10: Sun Island
Situated on the Bolivian side of the lake with regular boat links to the Bolivian town of Copacabana, Isla del Sol ("Island of the sun") is one of the lake's largest islands. In the religion of the Incas, it was believed that the sun god was born here.
The main economic activity of the approximately 800 families on the island is farming, with fishing and tourism augmenting the subsistence economy.
There are over 180 ruins on the island. Most of these date to the Inca period circa the 15th century AD. Many hills on the island contain agricultural terraces, which adapt steep and rocky terrain to agriculture. Among the ruins on the island we will visit the Sacred Rock and the labyrinth-like building called Chicana.
Overnight Sun Island
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 11: Sun Island/Moon Island/Huatajata
After breakfast we will visit the Moon Island and the Sun Virgins Temple, where the most beautiful virgins of the Incas were conserving the sacred fire dedicated to their gods.
We will have lunch at the Sun Island and then leave for Huatajata where we will visit the Inka Village and the Altiplano Museum that will give us a holistic insight of the Incan lifestyle, habits and peculiarities.
After dinner we will be invited to the observatory “Alajpacha” for stargazing and learn more about the Aymara’s Cosmovision.
Overnight Huatajata
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 12: Huatajata/Tihuanacu/La Paz
Tiwanacu was once the largest city in the World and it is considered to be the “cradle of American civilizations”. The ruins are dated between 1580 BC – 1200 AC and present a high level of development in their stone work. This can be admired in the famous Sun Gate, the Monoliths, the temples and the artificial pyramid.
Close to Tiwanacu a four-part massive building has been found. Puma Punku has been built with massive rocks that, even with our technology today, can hardly be moved.
Inca Experience 2: You will be brought to the Floating Islands of the Uros at the Bolivian side in the morning before leaving for Tiwanacu.
Overnight La Paz
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 13: La Paz
After breakfast you will get to know the centre of the highest capital in the World by walking. La Paz lies on 3700m and has the peculiarity to offer on every corner of the streets an insight into the mysterious past of this city, of which only one example is the world famous witch craft market.
Our hotel is situated in the centre. A walking tour in the morning will give you orientation so you will be able to explore more by yourself in the afternoon.
Overnight La Paz
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
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Day 14: La Paz/Lima
Today is time to go home and take a bag full of indescribable experiences, an expert-knowledge of Andean cultures and the development of astronomy with you. The flight from La Paz to Lima and a transfer there to the airport at an appropriate time for you to catch your plane today is included.
Meals included: Breakfast
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Terms & Conditions for Eclipse City’s Astronomy Tours :
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Included in Tours:
Eclipse City representative (English, German, French and Spanish speaking depending on the tour), English and/or Spanish speaking archaoastronomical experts, Meals as indicated in the program, local hotel service fees and taxes, 4*-5* hotels including breakfast, domestic flight with a 23 kg luggage allowance, excursions mentioned in the program including English/Spanish speaking local tour guides and entrance fees.
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Not Included in Tours
Visa fees, health and travel insurance, personal (e.g. medical, travel, etc) and cancellation insurances, personal items, personal expenses, intercontinental flights, tour guide in any other language (can be arranged), tips of any kind, all items not mentioned in the program.
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Inca Experience Price in Euro (EUR): 4999 € per person based on double occupancy (add 799 € for single occupancy)
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Inca Experience 1 and 2 (557 KB)