Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the most economically important tourist attraction in Peru, bringing in visitors from around the world. For this reason the Peruvian government wishes to repatriate the materials taken by Bingham to Yale. The ruins are commonly reached in a day trip from Cuzco by first taking a narrow-gauge railway and then ascending nearly 1,640 feet (500 metres) from the Urubamba River valley on a serpentine road. Smaller numbers of visitors arrive by hiking the Inca Trail. The portion of the trail from the “km 88” train stop to Machu Picchu is normally hiked in three to six days. It is composed of several thousand stone-cut steps, numerous high retaining walls, tunnels, and other feats of classical engineering; the route traverses a wide range of elevations between about 8,530 and 13,780 feet (2,600 and 4,200 metres), and it is lined with Inca ruins of various types and sizes. At Machu Picchu there is a hotel with a restaurant, and thermal baths are at the nearby village of Aguas Calientes. The Inca Bridge and other parts of Machu Picchu were damaged by a forest fire in August 1997, but restoration was begun immediately afterward. Concern for the damage caused by tourism was heightened by discussion of the building of a cable-car link to the site.

 

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The Adventures of the Great Wall of China

 As China's most famous attraction, the Great Wall of China is an essential stop on all China tours. Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

Mutianyu Great Wall is just as close as Badaling and offers wonderful views of the Great Wall and the surrounding hills with far fewer tourists. This section of the Wall also features a thrilling toboggan run that you can ride from the top of the Wall down to the bottom of the hill.

Due to their proximity, Badaling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu are all doable as a half-day trip from downtown Beijing. We usually recommend Mutianyu over Badaling or Juyongguan, since the massive crowds at the latter two sections can ruin one's experience of this impressive structure.

Further away from Beijing, Jinshanling Great Wall is about 150 km northeast of downtown and it usually takes about two and a half hours to drive there. Despite the longer drive, Jinshanling is among the most stunning sections of the Great Wall. If your itinerary allows for one full day seeing the Great Wall, then we highly recommend a tour to Jinshanling.

Gubeikou and Jiankou can also be visited within a day tour from Beijing. Both sections have not been restored since they were first built in the Ming Dynasty, making them ideal choices for those who want to hike and experience the wild Great Wall. Do be aware that the Jiankou section features very steep and dangerous climbs and is only suitable for experienced hikers.

There are also some other famous sections of the Great Wall within or outside Beijing, such as Huanghuacheng, Simatai, and Shanhaiguan, but we only recommend these if you are visiting the Great Wall for a second time or planning a multi-day, in-depth Great Wall tour.

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Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

With arms open wide over Guanabara bay, Christ the Redeemer receives the visitants and bless the cariocas.

In the top of the mountain is installed Christ the redeemer, one of the most wanted touristic sides of Rio de Janeiro. Biggest and most famous scripture Art Déco of the world, the Christ statue started to be planned in 1921 and it was developed by the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa over 5 years of job, from 1926 to 1931, the opening year of the monument.

It’s located at Parque Nacional da Tijuca, 710 meter above the sea level, where anybody can appreciate one of the most beautiful views of the city. Over all 220 steps that lead to the famous statue feet, it was elected one of the Seven Wonders of the World made by formal voting in 2007 by the Swiss Institution New 7 Wonders Foundation. The monument is accessible by train, van or car.

To get into the monument, there’s a nice ride by train that, during 20 minutes, it crosses Mata Atlântica until Corcovado’s top. Making an easy access to the visitants, three panoramic elevators and four escalators were built. The visual is amazing; it makes an unmissable programme for those that visit the city.

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Curiosities said about the Taj Mahal

Although many consider it a temple,  the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum  that hides a beautiful and tragic love story between an emperor and his wife. This majestic building was built in the 17th century and is located near the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India, and is undoubtedly a must-see for the thousands of tourists who visit this corner of India. But let's delve into the love story that surrounds this magical place.

Curiosities:

• Around 20,000 people and more than 1,000 elephants worked in its construction 
• All chief architects were ordered blinded and had their hands cut off so they could never build anything like it. 
• It was about to be destroyed in the 19th century by the English
• The Taj Mahal receives more than 3 million visitors a year and is one of the most photographed tourist destinations in the world.
• Its architecture is based on Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. It has been part of the 7 Wonders of the World since 2007.
• Depending on how the sun hits it, the mausoleum can be seen in up to 10 different shades of color
• The Taj Mahal took 22 years to fully build Taj means “crown” and Mahal means “first lady of the palace”

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Las Dunas, an attractive tourist attraction in San Cosme y Damián

 The Dunes of San Cosme and Damián are one of those paradisiacal places that Paraguay has. Many years ago, they were simply some dunes on top of a hill on the Paraná, but with the rise of the river due to the reservoir of the Yacyretá Dam, they remained like white sand islands, nestled in the middle of the water.

To get to the dunes, one must communicate with the official numbers since it must be done through the boats/boats dedicated to such transportation.

Keep in mind to bring bags for your waste, sunscreen, shade and seating equipment, since they are deserted islands in the middle of nowhere, but precisely that isolation gives it a paradisiacal touch and tranquility, making its beaches with crystal clear waters They are among the most envied in the country.

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