Best ancient ruins destinations in South America
Best ancient ruins destinations in South America
Inca citadel complexes and ancient stone fortresses in South America
South America's ancient sites are dominated by the achievements of Andean civilisations, whose monumental stonework, road networks and ceremonial complexes represent some of the most technically sophisticated construction of the pre-modern world. The concentration of significant remains along the western spine of the continent is extraordinary, with multiple distinct cultures leaving substantial physical evidence across a compressed geographic area.
The most visited sites have well-developed visitor infrastructure with guided programmes, transport links and permit systems managing access to the most fragile locations. Lesser-known sites in the Amazon basin and along the Pacific coast receive far fewer visitors and require more independent planning, but offer a significantly different experience with considerably more space. Active excavation continues to produce new findings across the region.
Altitude is a serious consideration at many of the most significant Andean sites, several of which sit above 3,500 metres, and acclimatisation time should be built into any itinerary. Your money goes a long way across most of the continent, making extended multi-site itineraries practical. Permit requirements at the most popular destinations have tightened and advance booking is now essential during peak season.
Lists by region
Town in Peru
Machupicchu Pueblo
Gateway to the Inca wonder
Huayna Picchu is a steep peak that rises above the Inca citadel and the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo. Narrow stone stairs and cables climb to a small summit at 2,720 metres. Hikers look straight down on the ruins and the Urubamba River. A limited number of permits are issued each day.
Town in Bolivia
Tiwanaku
Ancient pre-Incan civilization's mysterious ruins
The Gate of the Sun at Tiwanaku in Bolivia is carved from a single block of andesite stone. It stands about three metres tall and shows a central figure with rays. The site sits at about 3,850 metres near Lake Titicaca. Nearby stands the stepped Akapana pyramid and a temple courtyard.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Sacsayhuaman above Cusco is an Inca fortress with three zigzag walls built of giant stone blocks. Some boulders weigh more than 100 tons. Masons fit them together without mortar in tight patterns. Every June the Inti Raymi festival takes place on the wide grassy plaza in front of the walls.
Island in Chile
Easter Island
Mysterious Moai and Volcanic Landscapes
Ahu Tongariki on Easter Island has fifteen moai standing in a row on a stone platform. A tsunami in 1960 knocked them down and archaeologists restored them in the 1990s. The tallest reaches about nine metres. At sunrise the statues stand dark against the sky and the ocean.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Nazca Lines
Mysterious geoglyphs etched across desert skies
The Nazca Lines in Peru are giant drawings cut into the desert floor between 500 BC and 500 AD. A hummingbird spans about 90 metres and a monkey about 100 metres. Small planes fly over the shapes to show their full outlines. A viewing tower beside the highway reveals a few figures.
Archaeological Site in Lima
Caral-Supe
Americas' Oldest Known Urban Civilization
Caral in Peru is a city about 5,000 years old and one of the oldest known in the Americas. Six stepped pyramids rise from the desert of the Supe Valley. The Great Pyramid is about 28 metres tall. Builders left a plaza with circular courts and no pottery.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Machu Picchu
Lost Inca city among clouds
The Temple of the Sun at Machu Picchu has a curved stone wall built with tightly fitted blocks. A trapezoid window inside lines up with the sun at the winter solstice. Below the temple lies a cave with carved steps. The Inca used this place for rituals and astronomy.
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