To Be the Inca: An interview with Inti Raymi actor Nivardo Carrillo

In the Andes, the sun is a reason for celebration. Each year on June 24th, one of the largest and most colorful festivals in Latin America erupts on the cobbled streets of Cusco, Peru. The Inti Raymi festival attracts foreigners and Peruvians alike with a re-enactment of a sacred solstice celebration of the Incas.

For the Inti Raymi event, a cast of hundreds dress in full regalia to welcome the return of the Father Sun, or “Inti”. No deity was more important to the Incas. Continue reading →

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu vs. Alternative Trek

Peru

At Southwind Adventures, we are passionate about exploring South America’s best-loved landscapes. Machu Picchu reigns as one of the most sought-after destinations in the world! The awe-inspiring Incan citadel is surrounded by a network of fascinating pre-Columbian trails, most famously the Inca Trail.

You may be wondering if the classic Inca Trail is the best route for trekking to Machu Picchu, or if other routes unveil a more remote and less traveled side of the area.

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Elegance and Adventure in Peru’s Colca Canyon

Peru

Twice the depth of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon in southern Peru measures up as one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons on the planet. It’s a journey into deep and vibrant Peru, where traditional Andean culture holds on to its roots, condors soar upward from the depths, and iconic Peruvian vicuñas and alpacas roam in the nearby highlands.

Colca is not your typical Andean landscape, however. The region contains Peru’s main concentration of volcanoes and geothermic activity, which translates to unique peaks and natural hot springs. Continue reading →