Bolivia and Peru for 13 days: earth glyphs and dinosaur tracks on the tracks of mysterious cultural and prehistoric remains

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1 Bolivia and Peru for 13 days: earth glyphs and dinosaur tracks on the tracks of mysterious cultural and prehistoric remains BOLIVIA: La Paz - Sajama with the strange lines - Oruro and the mines PERU: Arequipa - Toro Muerto and its petroglyphs- petrified dinosaur tracks at Corire- Aplao and the mysterious earth glyph near Cosas NOTE: We ll gladly conform this travel offer to your individual wishes. THE ITINERARY AT A GLANCE (subject to modifications) DAY 01 DAY 02 DAY 03 DAY 04 DAY 05 DAY 06 DAY 07 Arrival in La Paz/El Alto: Welcome in Bolivia! La Paz: sight-seeing tour, cable railway, Gold- Museum with the Fuente Magna bowl, the Moon Valley (option: National Archaeological Museum Tiwanaku) La Paz -> Sajama national park at der Bolivian- Chilean border Sajama national park: lagoons, gushers and pure nature Sajama national park; mysterious lines -> Turco Turco: the Inka Mill or remains of Atlantis? -> Oruro Oruro: the mines and the strange Tio cult elongated skulls

2 DAY 08 DAY 09 DAY 10 DAY 11 DAY 12 DAY 13 Oruro -> the petroglyphs of Cala Cala -> La Paz INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT: La Paz/Bolivia -> Arequipa/Peru Arequipa -> Corire: the petroglyphs of Toro Muerto Corire: dinosaur park -> Aplao Aplao: the enigmatic earth glyph near Cosas -> Arequipa Arequipa: flight home and Goodbye! GENERAL TOUR DESCRIPTION (subject to modifications) DAY 01 h ARRIVAL IN LA PAZ/BOLIVIA The world s highest seat of government: La Paz rrival at the airport of La Paz/El Alto where I will welcome you and pick you up; transfer in a private vehicle and on the way to your hotel we will stop at a vantage point from where you have a wonderful panoramic view over the city of La Paz which is located in a circular deep valley at about 3,600 meters above sea level. If the weather conditions are good you see the natural landmark of the city: the Illimani Mountain, about 6,340 meters high with its three characteristic snow-covered peaks as well as a part of the Royal Cordilleras. Check in at the hotel. After that we will meet in the cafeteria of the hotel where I give you a short introduction of your journey and its itinerary. Dinner (not included) or in an external restaurant in the historic center where our hotel also is located. ( - / snack / - ) DAY 02 LA PAZ: A DAY TO GET TO KNOW THE CITY AND FOR ACCLIMATISATION TO THE HEIGHT fter an invigorating breakfast we first drive to the new teleferic which was inaugurated in The station of the Yellow Line is located between the historic center and the lower southern zone (Zona Sur). Once boarded the cabins you are silently floating over the roofs of the town for about 20 minutes and ascend in direction to El Alto, the other town on the Altiplano an ideal situation for photographing or filming (vertical height between El Alto and La Paz about 500 meters). After this impression we take the teleferic to bring us back to station where we first boarded and where our private transport awaits us which brings us to the Museum of Precious Metals (Museo de Metales Preciosos), also known as the Gold Museum where, among many gold treasures of the Incan era the infamous

3 Fuente Magna bowl can be admired. This quartzite bowl contains three scriptures in its inner face, whereat one was identified as Babylonian (!) and the other as Proto-Semitic. The third one is totally unknown. We will discuss the implications on history while looking at the bowl. Lunch in the historic center or hotel. In the afternoon we will drive to the southern zone of La Paz which comes up with another characteristic, like a modern city in southern Spain. We take a look at the so-called Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna), a nature park with bizarre geological formations of clay and pressed rubble/debris which were formed by erosion and rough climate conditions. We are sure: these are the traces of an ancient ocean before the Andes were formed and raised into the heights together with the water! In the afternoon return to our hotel and repose. Option (no extra charge): In the afternoon you/we can visit the Object of exciting discussions: the Fuente Magna bowl. National Archaeological Museum Tiwanaku which was reopened in 2014 after it had been closed for several years. This is a good information of the most important archaeological site in Bolivia. If you want to visit Tiwanaku and Puma Punku you can add an extra day. We will make you a non-binding offer, depending on the number of the participants. ( B/ L / - ) DAY 03 TOUR IN THE SAJAMA NATIONAL PARK The highest mountain in Bolivia in the after-glow: the Sajama volcano. arly in the morning, at about 6 o clock, we set out. Our private transport awaits us at the hotel. We leave La Paz, and pass the new town of El Alto on the Altiplano and then turn in the direction of south on the main road to the village of Patacamaya. Along this route we stop for a break for a breakfast or a coffee. In Patacamaya we continue our journey towards the south-west and directly set course for the Sajama national park. You can already see the highest mountain of Bolivia from the distance: the Sajama volcano. The regular and majestic cone, always snow-covered, towers with a height of 6,542 meters and is silhouetted against the landscape. Along this route section we stop at some funeral towers, called chullpas, and enjoy the vastness of the sparsely populated landscape. These chullpas differ from the famous counterparts in Sillustani/Peru which are made of massive andesite blocks (included in some of our other tour programs, we ll gladly send you these programs on demand), because these buildings were built of air-dried mud bricks (adobe). We will also see some bizarre geological formations on our way to the natural park where we stop. One can positively feel how gigantic geological forces formerly worked here. The Sajama and its two volcanic sisters, the Pomarape and the Parimacota, are coming nearer now. Having arrived at the entrance of the national park, we pause for a moment and admire the Sajama in its whole gorgeousness. In the park we first head for a small village in order to make a break. There we become acquainted with the weird lines for the first time which extend dead straight through the landscape stretching for miles, including mountain slopes. We continue our journey and reach our hostel in the middle of the park, in Tomarapi. After lunch a visit of the Queñua forest will be on the agenda. It is the highest forest in the world and is under conservation. Return to the hostel. After lunch a view in the night sky is worthwhile. The starry sky and the Milky Way are so clear like nearly nowhere else because there is no artificial light and no pollution. The firmament is framed by the volcanic landscape that one gets the impression to be on another planet. Accommodation in the hostel.

4 ( B/ L / D ) DAY 04 THE SAJAMA NATIONAL PARK: LAGOONS, GUSHERS AND PURE NATURE arly in the morning we repair with our vehicle to the gusher area Walla Keris in order to still see their activities in the early morning hours before the sun warms up the air and the spectacle of nature seems less impressive. Then we explore the park by foot. During the hike we see snow-covered volcanos, wide highland areas, Lama- and Alpaca herds and also chullpas of the pre- Inca era, but this time in a colourful design. We will also see some lagoons and cave paintings can also be found, witnesses of settlements of early cultures. Return to our vehicle and we go to the village of Sajama. In the afternoon we recover from the stresses and strains using the hot springs located between Sajama and Tomarapi. Accommodation in the eco lodge in Tomarapi. ( B/ L / D ) DAY 05 SAJAMA - THE WEIRD LINES -> TURCO hen we start our day we first will get a fresh coffee; then you have once more the possibility to use the dawning day for photo shooting or video filming because the colours of the landscape and the deep blue morning sky make excellent contrasts. We drive back in the direction of the entrance of the park and stop in a village to look for the mysterious lines about of which origin and purpose you can t hear something new, interesting or reasonable on-site. For me these lines are reminiscent of the earth works in Nasca/Peru (lines, earth roads, figures). Is there any connection between these two sites? Today these dead straight earth constructions are used as ways for cattle or hiking trails. What was their purpose in former times? We leave the Sajama park and set for the village of Turco in order to arrive at a mysterious city: La Ciudad Pétrea (the City of Rocks) which manifests a dense conglomerate of strangely formed rock figures. You can effortlessly recognize birds, heads or animals which are located near to a recent river valley. One asks oneself: were these the forces of erosion, did work there cosmic energies or was there once any culture working, albeit partially? The late afternoon we arrive in the village of Turco and move into our rooms. For it s about a simple, basic accommodation (there aren t any hotels in this region) the camping stove will be turned on I will cook something and we make ourselves comfortable with beer, wine and noodles. Accomodation in the hostel. ( B/ - / D )

5 TAG 06 TURCO AND THE "INCA MILL" -> ORURO AND ITS MINES Are these really just millstones of the Incas? The Inca mill, north of Turco. e prepare a breakfast and talk about the program for the day. Then we set out for an interesting place which is called La Molina de los Incas (The Inka Mill), a rocky and crescentshaped formation in which there a weird stone wheels with hubs. It is assumed that firstly these were millstones and secondly these were the cultural remains of, of course, the Incas. Who else? Some wheels weren t finished. Why? But on a closer look we will detect sometings strange that doesn t add up to the Inca explanation. It seems like a mute echo from the remote past (headword: Atlantis in Bolivia?). We continue our journey to Oruro, the capital of the homonymous federal state. Before we reach the city we stop at a nice place where we can see the Uru Uru Lake with brackish shallow water which connects with the Lago Poopo located farther south. It is sure that these two lakes once formed a greater inland lake with the Lake Titicaca located farther north. The name Oruro derives, incidentally, of the word Uru/Uro, a name of an obviously ancient tribe (extinct now) which had the characteristic to dwell on balsa rafts on the Lake Titicaca. We will discuss about this because the Urus can, in my opinion, also be connected to the Atlantis theory. We arrive at Oruro and get to our hotel in the town centre. The rest of the day is at your free disposal. Accommodation in Oruro. DAY 07 ORURO: THE MINES AND THE STRANGE TIO CULT ELONGATED SKULLS The city of Oruro in the homonymous federal state. reakfast in the hotel. After that we visit the Anthopological Museum of Oruro ( El Museo Antropológico Eduardo Lopez Rivas ). Apart from a folkloristic section which also contains musical instruments is an archaeological-anthropological section in which are exposed some elongated skulls, a global cult as it seems. Think, in this regard, of the coastal Paracas culture in Peru, famous for its elongated skulls, or of the pharaoh named Echnaton. We will discuss about that onsite. You can also see mummies in fetal positon or squatting position, but also exhibits of the prehistoric past like tusks of mastodons or pieces with archaic petroglyphs and patterns which indicate that the region of Oruro has been populated for a long time and, in our opinion, is against the official theory of the crossing of the Bering Strait (as a first phase of settlement), which also fits snugly to the legend of origins of the Urus/Uros After lunch we will have a visit in the underworld : we go into the mines where are exploited numerous metals and minerals. These tunnels and shafts are more than 300 meters deep (a large part of these constructions which are partly under water can t be seen because it is forbidden for visitors for security reasons, we will stay in the upper level). When we pass some vertical shafts we feel heat rising from the interior of the earth. We step in ramified corridors in order to behold the strange Tio cult. The Tio is a figure which looks like the Christian devil which are offered sacrificial offerings by the miners. But we assume something else behind the story, you will be amazed. Furthermore we pass a mountain through a horizontal tunnel at ground level: on one slope we go in, on the other we come out. Return to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your free disposal. Accommodation in Oruro.

6 DAY 08 ORURO -> THE PETROGLYPHS OF CALA CALA -> LA PAZ Ancient petroglyphs in Cala Cala, federal state of Ouro. fter the breakfast we drive on the national highway in the direction to Cala Cala (a term of the Aymara language which can be translated as stone stone ) an archaeological site on ca. 4,500 meters above sea level. The rocks on which were carved archaic symbols are named quelcata (written). You can mainly see on them camel-like figures in the colours of red, white and black. The age determination is only about 2,500 years, but these depictions fit well with the Paleolithic! Sometimes it seems that we have a time barrier in South American archaeology: nothing has to be older than 2,500 years. Also interesting are the artificial cavities, officially made for sacrificial offerings (what else?). We return to La Paz to our hotel where we will arrive at night. DAY 09 h INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT: LA PAZ/BOLIVIA -> AREQUIPA/PERU View at the cathedral of Arequipa, in the background is the Misti volcano. fter the breakfast transfer to the airport of El Alto. Connection flight to Arequipa. When we arrive at the airport of Arequipa our private transport awaits us for bringing us to the hotel, located in the town centre. The afternoon is at your free disposal. It would be best to go for a stroll through the historic centre and admire the main plaza, the Plaza de Armas with the eye-catching wide cathedral. Go to a café in one of the beauty galleries enframing the Plaza de Armas and behold the monstrous Misti volcano, the town s landmark. It also is recommendable a visit in the ample monastery town of Santa Catalina, an autarkic small town embedded in the city of Arequipa. Don t miss a visit in the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries (Museo Santuarios Andinos) with its famous, naturally conserved ice mummy named Juanita. This remarkable discovery is accompanied by a documentary which is performed in the museum. Arequipa is also known for its chocolate culture and good coffee. Towards evening you can dine in a nice restaurant at or near the Plaza de Armas enjoying the atmosphere of Arequipa.

7 DAY 10 h AREQUIPA -> CORIRE: THE PETRGLYPHS OF TORO MUERTO The mysterious petroglyphs of Toro Muerto. n the morning we drive to the local bus station of Arequipa and board the public bus to Corire; the trip lasts about 3.5 hours and goes along the Panamericana Sur through contemplative mountain landscapes. About midday we arrive at our hotel in Corire where we will have a rest. The early afternoon we drive to the Toro Muerto national park in order to dedicate ourselves to its characteristic and weird petroglyphs which partly leave much space for interpretations and speculations. It is also known a UFO scene on one block. This detail we heard from a park guardian whom we talked to in 2014 on-site. He also claimed to have witnessed strange phenomena in the sky in this area. Does it have a connection to the UFO scene on the aforementioned rock? NOTE: the Toro Muerto park is a slightly inclined rock desert and it is hot there. Please, think of sufficient sunscreen and water because we will stay there at least two hours. The late afternoon return to our hotel. Accommodation in Corire. DAY 11 h CORIRE -> THE DINOSAUR PARK -> APLAO Lebensechte Replik eines Dinosauriers im Jurassic Park in der Nähe von Corire. reakfast in the hotel. Then we drive northwards and after about 20 minutes our transport will drop us off in front of the Jurassic Park as is written in big letters on a shield above the entrance. The official name of this private-funded park is Huellas de Dinosaurios Querulpa Chico. We ascend on paved gravel paths (please, take some water with you) and pass a little museum which we visit and various lifelike reconstructions of dinosaurs and finally reach the first of two inclined plates on which we can see petrified dinosaur tracks of various species. While regarding the paleontological relief bemuses a little bit because it gives the impression of a chaos: it seems that the animals ran in all directions instead of following their tracks in one direction. It never is about the tracks of a herd of the same genus going in one distinct direction like one would have expected. These footprints must have been produced at the same time because they all are in the same stratum, showing carnivores, herbivores, quadruped and biped animals. Did they flee from a great catastrophe which caused the petrification in a very short time and their subsequent extinction? These are exciting questions, aren t they? After this excursion in prehistoric times we leave the Jurassic Park and board our transport, setting course for Aplao, our next interim target. Arrival in our lodge and lunch. The afternoon in Aplao is at your free disposal because the next day will be strenuous.

8 DAY 12 h APLAO -> THE MYSTERIOUS EARTH GLYPH NEAR COSAS -> AREQUIPA The mysterious earth glyph in the desert near Aplao. arly in the morning, at about 05:00 and 05:30, we get in our transport and drive about 7 kilometers uphill in the desert region of a mountain plateau where fantastic earth glyphs can be seen. Don t forget: you belong to the few ones who can see this! We have to go by foot the remaining meters (please, think of water and sunscreen). These figures were made in a special manner: interrupted lines made by little earth heaps of earth measuring about 10 centimeters in height and between 20 to 30 centimeters in diameter and having a distance between each other of 30 to 40 centimeters. Compared to the figures of Nasca farther north this method of construction is different. Sometimes these figures were classified as zoomorphic or anthropomorphic, elaborated as a high relief or a bas relief, sometimes its dimensions reach 50 meters and more what is once more reminiscent of the Nasca figures (only discernible as a whole from the air). What did these figures formerly represent? Are there any other explanations than the common ones, because the most striking earth glyph only shows geometrical characteristics like some figures of Palpa some kilometers north of Nasca? We descend the hot desert plain to the place where our transport is waiting. Return to our lodge for a rest. You can have lunch there. In the afternoon we leave for the return to Arequipa. Arrival at our hotel in Arequipa in the early evening. DAY 13 h AREQUIPA -> AIRPORT OF AREQUIPA AND FLIGHT HOME reakfast in the hotel (depends on the departure time of your booked flight). Then transfer to the airport of Arequipa where I will say goodbye to you. You will make your voyage home and we hope that you will take with you many photos, new impressions and ideas. END OF THE GENERAL TOUR DESCRIPTION (subject to modifications individual adjustments on demand possible) NOTES: 1) BOLIVIA The accommodation in the Sajama national park and Turco are simple/basic, that means: the rooms are basically furnished with freshly made beds (no TV) and electric energy is provided by a photovoltaic system, but not at night. There is a common shower and breakfast is included. In Turco I will prepare the meals (dinner and breakfast) and there is no shower. Reception for Internet and mobile phones isn t possible either. Please, bear in mind that we are in the middle of nature! So, the part of Bolivia can be more understood as an expedition than a classical tourist trip. As from Oruro you will be accommodated in a hotel once again.

9 2) PERU the accommodation in Aplao is also basic, but well-kept, and equipped with private showers and toilets. This region still isn t widely opened for tourism but it is even more interesting. Explanation for the abbreviations under the texts: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner. Group prices per capita for 2017 (gross prices): 1 person: $US 6,280,00; 2 persons: $US 4,165.00; 3 persons: $US 3, ; 4-8 persons: $US 2,615.00; 9-12 persons: $US 2, (two vehicles necessary) (single supplement: $US ) INCLUDED IN THE PRICE ARE:, Permanent attendance by Dieter Groben with profound command of Englisch and Spanish, translations International flight La Pa -> Arequipa (DAY 09) Meals like mentioned beneath the texts Welcome snack in the cafeteria (DAY 01) for the introduction of your travel program Hotel category *** in La Paz, Oruro, Arequipa and Corire. Vegetarian meals on demand Basic/simple accommodations and meals in Turco (beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and coffee are included) Private transport, all entrance fees (museums, national park, Valle de la Luna, teleferic and sight-seeing tour in La Paz, etc.) Water and beverages (non-alcoholic) in the vehicles during the trips Statutory accident insurance (SOAT). NOT INCLUDED ARE:, Transatlantic flights/international flights (return) Beverages (also non-alcoholic) in restaurants, bars, hotels All meals (if not mentioned beneath the texts) Tips Travel insurances (and travel cancellation insurance)

10 NOTE: DUE TO THE TRAVEL CONDITIONS (WEATHER; POLITICAL CONDITIONS) THE ITINERARY CAN BE SUBJECT TO SHORT-TERM CHANGES. Additional options:: Addtional day: Tiahuanaco and Puma Punku, before we set out to Sajama, otherwise description like mentioned above Incluced are: private transport La Paz -> Tiahuanaco -> La Paz full board, entrance fees for Tiahuanaco, Puma Punku, Ceramical and Lithical Museum, 1 overnight stay in a hotel*** in La Paz, attendance and guidance by D. Groben. Significant discount from two to many. $US /pers. Option for the additional day: Andean Astronomy with the astronomer Manuel de la Torre in the ruins, introduction in archaeo-astronomy. Discount from two to many. $US 48.00/pers. What to take: sun glasses, hat or cap, sporty footwear/sturdy shoes (hiking boots recommend), sunscreen with a high protection factor (sun block), during the day light clothing and in the evening with cagoule (always with undershirt), swimwear and towel for the hot spring in Sajama, collapsible umbrella/poncho for sudden changes in weather, passport with immigration forms for Bolivia and Peru because you will need them when leaving the countries, copy of your vaccination card. ATTENTION: the Sajama national park is more than 4,200 meters above sea level. At night it can cool down to 0 C, during the day the temperature only rises to 10 C. That s why you have to take a warm wooly jumper.

11 "Groben - Turismo S.R.L. Voyages to the Origins" contact (mobile and Whatsapp): +591/ , dieter.groben@gmx.de contact in Germany: Marco Alhelm, m.alhelm@arcor.de Internet: Twitter: Groben_Turismo, Google+: Dieter Groben facebook: Groben Turismo tax number: address: Calle 50, Chasquipampa/La Paz Bolivien address in Germany: Siegfriedstraße 11, D Wiehl