1.- INTRODUCTION TO STARGAZING IN PERU
Stargazing in Peru is one of the favorite activities of world travelers who venture to know one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, this because it allows them to create a connection with the universe as the geography that extends throughout Peru is unique in addition to the climatic conditions thus highlighting as one of the privileged places in the world where Stargazing in Peru becomes a gift allowing you to discover the cosmos and its mysteries. In each of the different places you can visit during your stay in Peru you will discover a new way of Stargazing in Peru, from the arid deserts of the coast, the immense forests of the Amazon and the heights of the Peruvian Andes.
2.- Reasons why it is possible to enjoy Stargazing in Peru
Let’s start by understanding that one of the main and at the same time unique reasons why Stargazing in Peru is possible is due to the geographical location that the country has, quite close to Ecuador. This aspect is one of the main benefits and advantages that give the possibility to travelers looking for Stargazing in Peru to be able to observe the constellations of the northern hemisphere but also those of the southern hemisphere, this greatly increases the number of celestial bodies that can be seen during Stargazing in Peru.
Also we should not overlook the fact that Peruvian skies are considered one of the cleanest and clearest in the world, in addition to the high altitudes of the Andes and the low concentration of light pollution in rural areas allows Stargazing in Peru to be more pleasant and with fewer obstacles, this is the reason why the nights in places away from the big cities are much clearer almost all year round so they are two favorite places to properly experience the Stargazing in Peru. Places like the Nazca desert, the mountains in the Andes and the jungles of the Amazon are two main places where it is possible to Stargazing in Peru without complications as they contain particularly stable skies atmospherically, with little pollution and contamination creating the ideal conditions to enjoy Stargazing in Peru without interruptions during long hours of the night.
Other ideal reasons to enjoy Stargazing in Peru are the astronomical observatories that have been constantly implemented in different cities, in some cases are public and other private but all offer the experience of Stargazing in Peru in a professional and adequate manner, some of the best options are the Yanco observatory (Arequipa) or the Planetarium (Cusco), mainly located in the highest areas of the city to better enjoy the experience. Side the experience of Stargazing in Peru not only seeks to find celestial bodies in some way is a way to relate to the living culture that keeps the tente in people, a heritage that has been passed from ancient civilizations who had a fairly deep knowledge about the astronomical movement and directly relate it to religious ceremonies and activities such as agriculture, in fact many of the archaeological centers in Peru are linked directly to the position of the stars and very important astronomical events such as solstices or equinoxes.
3.- BEST STARGAZING LOCATIONS IN PERU
Some of the best places where you can do Peru stargazing are characterized by having a cultural and historical legacy or strategic position in line with the stars, you will discover that each city in Peru has a particularity that makes it unique and allows you to enjoy Stargazing in Peru in a unique way.
3.1.- Cusco and Sacred Valley
The ancient capital of the Inca culture and the beautiful Sacred Valley are two of the most incredible places when it comes to Stargazing in Peru, thanks to the altitude in which they are located (3320 and 2750 meters above sea level), enjoy clear skies which provides the perfect conditions to Stargazing in Peru in a quiet way, here in the nights are clear and clear during the dry season which gives a clear view of the Milky Way with the constellations of the southern hemisphere in addition to some special events such as meteor showers, when it comes to perform it directly from the city requires specialized equipment for this as telescopes however when you are located in one of the villages has left the city that are part of the sacred valley is possible to better enjoy the Stargazing in Peru as the skies are much clearer thanks to the low presence of lighting, in both places you enjoy a rich astronomical history inherited by the Inca culture where you can also see some archaeological sites linked directly to special events such as the solstices are linked directly to activities such as agriculture.
3.2.- Maras Salt Mines
Located inside the Sacred Valley, they are considered an excellent place for stargazing in Peru, at more than 3000 m above sea level, this place undoubtedly offers a panoramic view of the night sky because it is away from big cities which allows a dry climate that helps the visibility of concentrations and astronomical events, undoubtedly in many cases the contrast created by the formations of the salt deposits and the starry background of the clear sky creates an atmosphere taken from a magical world and for those seeking to enjoy a unique experience becomes the best moment of your life.
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3.3.- Moray Terraces
Popularly known for having circular terraces for agricultural research has become more than just a place of interest for people looking to learn more about the culture is also a strategic point where you can perform the Peru stargazing, your particular of this place is that its position is directly aligned with astronomy not that gives us to understand and interpret that has a direct relationship with the observation of the sun and stars, provides clear and cool skies often from where you can see the starry sky thanks to being more than 3500 m above sea level.
3.4.- Inca Trail
Popularly known for being the trail that allows you to get to know the Inca city of Machu Picchu in the traditional way through the mountains, it also allows you to enjoy the beautiful starry sky over the high mountains surrounding the historic sanctuary, For the passionate hikers who venture to delight this tour it is possible that during the nights of camping you can enjoy an incredible experience of Stargazing in Peru since being a remote place the light pollution is null allowing in this way you can also enjoy moments of astronomical explanation where you can learn more about the cultural legacy left by the Incas in relation to their knowledge of the skies.
3.5.- Machu Picchu
An Inca citadel that is characterized by being located on top of a mountain made entirely of stone, contains unique enclosures that are directly linked to the Andean skies, in which ceremonies of astronomical interpretation were performed with the intention of anticipating special events. This knowledge was inherited for generations from much older cultures that sought to expand their agricultural techniques, thus providing enough for the entire culture to develop.
3.6.- Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Known as the white city, Arequipa has the particularity of being quite close to one of the deepest points on earth, the Colca Canyon. Both places have also been catalogued as strategic points from where Stargazing in Peru can be done without problems since they have the right weather conditions and dry seasons where the skies are clearer which makes them ideal for astronomy activities. Thanks to the altitude in which it is located in addition to being a remote place, the Colca Canyon becomes a place of natural observation that provides besides incredible landscapes an essence of drama where the night nights are filled with an incredible amount of lights in the sky due to the scarce presence of luminescence.
3.7.- Ica and Nazca Lines
Both places have the particular characteristic of being surrounded by a vast marine desert that is warm and dry most of the time, which makes it the perfect place for Stargazing in Peru. The famous geoglyphs that are scattered throughout the territory of Nazca have been linked more than once with astronomy and still today represent one of the greatest mysteries of the world, thanks to being away from the big cities the presence of light pollution is much lower than other places allowing views of the starry sky are clearer and with better visibility.
3.8.- Lake Titicaca
At more than 3800 m above sea level is the highest navigable lake in the world which is also considered one of the remote points of Peru thus making it an ideal and perfect destination for those passionate about the mysteries of the skies, those seeking to enjoy the Stargazing in Peru take this place to the clear atmosphere that presents and being distant from cities does not suffer the damage of light pollution allowing the views can be much more enjoyable for all travelers, this is a perfect opportunity to know in a better way the Andean sky where it is possible to appreciate emblematic constellations that were even represented in some chronicles of the Spaniards giving to understand that these have been present since centuries ago.
4.- ANDEAN COSMOGONY AND ASTRONOMY
“Within the Andean belief it is believed that the Milky Way was a river known as Mayu, which provided water to the earth. For the Inca culture both the earth and the sky were directly connected so that in the heavens a constellation could be identified where representations of everyday images for them that were later represented by the chroniclers, these images represented the Shepherd, the fox, the llama and his offspring, tinamu, toad and snake.”
5.- OPTIMAL TIMES FOR STARGAZING IN PERU
Outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking and Peru stargazing have to do directly with the environment and the weather for this reason the best time of the year to perform them properly is during the dry season that occurs between May and October, months where the weather becomes much more stable and suitable for these activities enjoying sunny days and clear nights without the presence of clouds.
In fact, enjoying Peru stargazing is not for everyone, in fact it is a privilege that very few companies will offer you because you must have experience in this. Auri Peru has a team of professionals that design unique experiences for you that will be unforgettable, contact us now and let’s start the journey together.
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