A short volcanic hill in Quito doubles as a stellar observation point of an iconic statue.

An ancient Incan convent on Lake Titicaca's Island of the Moon.

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

The 19th-century vessel floats proudly on Lake Titicaca, but its journey from Britain to the Peruvian altiplano was far from smooth sailing.

On this tiny spot of land in the middle of Lake Titicaca the only ones who do the knitting are the men.

The Uros people live on floating reed islands in lake Titicaca.

These ruined Incan mausoleum towers still bear carvings of sacred animals on their blocks.

This 16th-century monastery was founded to cloister the daughters of wealthy local families.

Ecuador's largest Incan ruins show evidence of sophisticated irrigation and diplomacy among the ancient builders.

A remote candy-striped mountain in the Peruvian Andes straight out of the pages of Dr. Seuss.

This Peruvian canyon is filled with geometric salt pools that have been being harvested since the Incan empire.

Huge stone depressions which may have acted as an Incan agricultural experiment.

A backdoor to Machu Picchu that only the most foolhardy infiltrator would attempt to breach.

The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu serves as a testament to Incan engineers.

An unexpected desert oasis in South America.

The mysterious "Candelabra of the Andes" could represent anything from a god's trident to a hallucinogenic plant.

This stone complex marks the urban center of a lost civilization.

The large collection of pre-Columbian pottery might make you blush.

The highest tropical mountain range in the world is in Central Peru, home to a vast array of exotic and quirky plants and animals.

A jungle cave in Peru of unknown depths, otherworldly sounds, and strange nocturnal birds that navigate by echolocation.

This ancient Roman bridge and aqueduct still stands as a wonder of classical construction.

A well-preserved medieval village nested on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by a network of cliffs, natural bridges and canyons.

The university library shaped like a giant piece of Swiss cheese.

Swiss vineyards in a UNESCO heritage site.