Fulfill your travel dreams and head to South America — let’s count the Moai statues together!

Text provided by Qidou Travel Network; photos by Phoenix Travel

Is South America far away? Yes, it is. But precisely because it’s far, it’s even more worth visiting. Climb up the Lost City of Machu Picchu, pay homage to the mysterious Temple of the Sun in Cusco, and count the rows of Moai statues standing in a line on Easter Island... The enigmas of these ancient civilizations are utterly fascinating. If travel satisfies our adventurous genes, then visiting Central and South America is the most iconic adventure trip, also becoming the latest dream travel destination for today’s youth. Phoenix Travel’s “Peru · Machu Picchu · Amazon · Chile Easter Island 16-Day Tour” invites you to chase your dreams in Central and South America!

The Machu Picchu Inca ruins, resembling a city in the sky, are one of the greatest wonders in human history. It seems to have appeared on Earth suddenly. Its history and the reason why it was abandoned remain unknown, sparking endless imagination. Designated by UNESCO as both a cultural and natural heritage site, it’s also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This city perched on steep cliffs boasts magnificent architecture including temples, plazas, residential areas, and observatories, all exuding an otherworldly aura. The scene of llamas wandering leisurely through the ruins is nothing short of poetic. There’s even a stone in the main square that, when struck, produces a clear chime — legend says it was discovered by Professor Bingham III, the man who found this Inca site.

Most conventional Machu Picchu tours involve taking a long train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. But if you want a more immersive and comfortable experience, the exclusive “Machu Picchu · Amazon · Chile Easter Island 16-Day” tour specially arranges a 2-night stay in Urubamba, the halfway point, to help you adjust to the discomfort caused by high altitude. What’s more, it uniquely includes an overnight stay in the outpost town of Aguas Calientes. The next morning, you’ll take a bus up the mountain, giving you more time to explore the mysterious ancient city of Machu Picchu.

On the way from Machu Picchu to Cusco via Urubamba, there are two must-visit incredible sights — the Salt Terraces of Maras and the Circular Terraces of Moray. The nearby area of the Salt Terraces has high geological salinity, and groundwater flowing through the mountain’s mineral salt zone carries a high salt content. Ingenious ancient people developed salt pans along the valley terrain, carving out numerous small channels to divert underground water. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind white coarse salt, creating a spectacular sight of irregular checkerboard-like salt fields in the valley — a perfect embodiment of the saying “the beauty of large numbers.”

Nearby, the Circular Terraces of Moray are an extremely rare concentric circular terrace structure, featuring an excellent irrigation and drainage design. A stone is placed at the very center, believed to be the spot with the highest energy. According to research by experts and scholars, these circular terraces may have been experimental crop fields for the Incas. The majestic, sweeping curves of the circles are not only beautiful but also tell the story of ancient ingenuity.

Arriving in Cusco, one must visit the Temple of the Sun, Qorikancha, considered the most important and magnificent Inca site in the city. In 1533, when Spanish colonizers set foot in Cusco and arrived before the Temple of the Sun, they were awestruck. At that time, the outer walls of the temple were inlaid with gold, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. It’s said that the temple was filled with a massive amount of gold, just like a real-life “City of Gold.”

The Temple of the Sun was built during the reign of Pachacutec, the greatest emperor in Inca civilization history, as an expression of reverence for the sun god. Even though the gold on the outer walls is no longer there, the glorious history of the temple remains indelible.

Departing from Cusco, you’ll leave the valleys of the Andes and head toward Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in South America. During the journey, you’ll take a special reed boat to visit the Reed Islands, home to the local Uro people. The community crafts boats, houses, and handicrafts from totora reeds, offering a rich taste of their unique culture.

The ultimate highlight of any South American adventure is undoubtedly the mighty Amazon River. Not only is it the river with the largest drainage basin in the world, but the Amazon Rainforest also covers half of the planet’s total rainforest area, hosting a vast ecosystem teeming with astonishing creatures such as piranhas, vampire fish, giant otters, and crocodiles. To reach the Amazon, you’ll fly to Puerto Maldonado in southeastern Peru, the gateway to the Amazon. From there, you’ll board small boats to navigate the tributaries of the Amazon for an exploratory journey. Phoenix Travel has also specially arranged a fresh fish dining experience at a waterside restaurant in the Amazon rainforest, allowing you to savor authentic Amazonian fish cuisine.

The adventure continues to Santiago, the capital of Chile, and then onward to Easter Island — one of the most isolated islands in the world. The island’s biggest curiosity is the 600+ mysterious giant stone statues known as the Moai, neatly lined up on stone platforms, all facing inland with their backs to the sea. The origins of the Moai remain a mystery. Some say they represent former tribal chiefs, while others believe they are the work of extraterrestrials. Either way, the Moai’s intriguing shapes have inspired countless creative works — for instance, in the movie “Night at the Museum,” there’s a Moai chewing gum and calling someone “silly.”

The Phoenix Travel itinerary includes a 2-night stay on Easter Island, giving you ample time to admire each Moai. Be sure to capture the moment when the sunrise casts light between the statues as it rises from the horizon, and the elongated shadows of the Moai under the setting sun — each scene is incredibly photogenic!

More related information
Recommended itinerary: Peru · Machu Picchu · Amazon · Chile Easter Island 16-Day Tour
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