Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

A district of Mexico City, Xochimilco is known for its canals and chinampas, a farming system developed by the Aztecs to cultivate crops using the surrounding lakes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco harness unique agricultural techniques still in use today.

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Viejo San Juan
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Viejo San Juan

Established in 1521 by the Spanish, Old San Juan is the oldest city in the United States and its territories. There you'll find colonial architecture, impressive fortifications, cobblestone streets, open plazas, and hidden patios. Nearby, el Yunque National Forest is the sole tropical rain forest in the U.S.

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Once the Capital of the Inca Empire
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Once the Capital of the Inca Empire

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is famed for its rich history, culture and architecture. Cobblestone streets lead visitors to Plaza de Armas, alongside archaeological remains like the Twelve-Angled Stone. It's also the spot for freshwater trout ceviche and the perfect jumping off point for Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain.

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Sacred Valley & Peru's Andean Highlands
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Sacred Valley & Peru's Andean Highlands

Sacred Valley is a region in Peru's Andean highlands known for fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages, stretching from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. Together, with Machu Picchu and the nearby city of Cusco, they formed the heart of the Inca Empire in the late 1500's.

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Near-Death Experience on Rainbow Mountain
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Near-Death Experience on Rainbow Mountain

A two hour drive from Cusco, Vinicunca, also called Mountain of Seven Colors, is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 16,522 feet above sea level and extremely harsh conditions. The seven colors come from mineral composition but are only visible during Augusts’s dry season.

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Hiking Peru's Epic Colca Canyon
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Hiking Peru's Epic Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon is a river canyon in southern Peru famed as one of the deepest in the world. It’s a trekking and rafting destination with canyons, valleys and remote traditional villages honring terraced agriculture that predates the Incas. The giant Andean condor can often be spotted from viewpoints like Cruz del Condor.

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The White City of Arequipa
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

The White City of Arequipa

Known as the “White City” because of its baroque style buildings made of sillar, a white volcanic stone, Arequipa, Peru feels warm and welcoming and is filled with live music, spicy food, antique stores and a vibrant historic center. The town is also surrounded by four imposing volcanoes.

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Dune Buggy Rides & Wine Tastings in Huacachina
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Dune Buggy Rides & Wine Tastings in Huacachina

Sunsets, sandboarding, lagoons and dune buggy rides. Huacachina is a tiny village and desert oasis west of Ica in southwestern Peru. Its center is filled with emerald green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon, thought to have therapeutic properties.

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24 Hours in Lima
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

24 Hours in Lima

Founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes, Lima is a coastal city full of life on Peru’s west coast. Surfing, paragliding and dancing, cathedrals, parks and museums, nightlife, restaurants and plazas; Lima has it all.

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