For her winter break, Moyer set off on an excursion to South America’s basin of civilization: Peru. From hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to camping out on the man-made floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Moyer delved into some of the most ancient and astonishing history in the world.
One of her first destinations, however, was the lesser-known World Heritage Site of the Nazca lines. Only visible from the sky via tiny tourist airplanes, the Nazca lines are geoglyphs, or geographic designs and drawings, dating back to the Nazca civilization between 200 BCE and 700 CE. Preserved by the stable climate of this plateau in the pampas of Peru, the lines reveal drawings of animals and human figures, at times nearly 700 feet across. According to historians, these formations were created to communicate with the Nazca gods that were imagined to exist in the sky.
“As I flew over in this tiny little plane, I could see perfect linear designs as well as drawings of condors and trees,” Moyer marveled.
Her next stop was the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This ancient trail spanned from as far north as Quito, Ecuador all the way to Argentina. It includes the countries of Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Though today only 25% of it remains intact due to modern construction of infrastructure, many sites can reveal a startling glimpse into one of the world’s most impressive civilizations.
Though now one of the most popular routes, the trail to Machu Picchu was once a route off the beaten path. Located in a remote peak between two precipitous valleys, the city of Machu Picchu is believed to have been an estate for the ruling family that housed hundreds of servants.
Known as “The Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu was built in the height of the Incan civilization, only to be abandoned less than 100 years later though there is no evidence that the Spanish conquistadors ever knew of its existence. Many theorize that the city’s inhabitants died out from smallpox, like many indigenous populations in North and South America. Pictured above is Moyer above the ancient city.
Her final destination while in Peru was a visit to Lake Titicaca. Situated between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America and home to its world famous floating islands.
These floating islands are artificial islands made of reeds, originally built by the Incan civilization. Built for military purposes, the islands could be moved at will when the Incans were in need of defense. Today, many of these islands are heavily populated, and over 40 still exist.
When Moyer arrived at Lake Titicaca, she participated in two one-night home stays with different indigenous families. They taught her to cook meals with them in their mud huts and caves, as she enjoyed her authentic mountain experience. “This culture was completely pristine,” Moyer explained. “Completely untouched.”
In her three weeks in Peru, she got a taste of another integral piece of South American history and culture. She said she’d love to go back and travel the rest of the continent to again, compare and contrast the vibrant and dynamic cultures of Latin America. To learn more about Moyer’s experiences or get some advice for your own travels, email Moyer at emoyer@wisc.edu.
