Dr. Robert Schoch and his wife Catherine Ulissey, in conjunction with Gaia, look forward to welcoming you and traveling across Peru and Bolivia with you. During
this mystery-packed two-week adventure, they will share their knowledge and first-hand experiences, as together we visit some of the most breathtaking ancient sites of the region, exploring the rich traditional cultures and mind-boggling
enigmas of history. Our initial meeting point is in Miraflores, now a part of the Lima Metropolitan Area. Miraflores was established as a town by the Spanish
in the 16th century, but its origins go back to pre-Inca times some 1500 years
ago or earlier.

The Nazca (Nasca) Lines are gigantic geoglyphs and geometric lines “drawn” on the surface of the Peruvian desert by removing pebbles and making shallow trenches and depressions to expose contrasting soil and rock colors. Traditionally they have been attributed to the Paracas and Nazca people, who flourished between around 500 BCE and 500 CE. As optimally seen from the air, the “lines” include not only straight lines and simple geometric shapes, but also depictions of animals ranging up to over 600 feet in length, such as a monkey, various types of birds, a human, and a pair of hands. How and why were these lines created? By whom and when? Despite the dogmatic assertions of some conventional archaeologists, the Nazca Lines remain shrouded in mystery, and they share similarities to other geoglyphs found around the world, from California to Great Britain to Russia and Kazakhstan. On site we will discuss the alternative theories that have been proposed to explain them, including Dr. Schoch’s: that charged particles expelled from our Sun at the end of Earth’s last ice age during a solar explosion took shape in our magnetosphere (as cutting-edge plasma physics now demonstrates), driving down to ground level, literally branding the ground. Intriguingly, these geoglyphs share many similarities to the enigmatic rongorongo script of Easter Island. In 2012, Dr. Schoch proposed that the rongorongo was, in essence, a plasma script, shapes seen in the sky in the wake of a massive solar outburst. This hypothesis was subsequently confirmed by plasma physicists. Together we will discuss the science and possibilities. 

This tour includes a special private visit to view the "Nazca mummies" which Dr. Schoch is personally very curious about. The “Nazca mummies” have engendered heated controversy ever since they were first brought to the attention of the world in 2016-17. Some people have claimed they are "aliens" (that is, extraterrestrials) while many others have denounced them as modern hoaxes. The interpretation that Dr. Schoch finds most interesting and compelling (at this point) is that they are genuine ancient archaeological relics, purposefully created composites – essentially ancient "sculptures" made from animal and human bones and other materials. Together our group will examine the evidence. 

Huacachina is a picturesque village and oasis surrounded by sand dunes. The waters of the natural lake are reputed to be of therapeutic value for a number of aliments, ranging from arthritis to asthma. According to one legend, the lake was created when a beautiful princess had removed her clothing and was about to bathe, but then she saw a hunter and fled – leaving behind the water, and/or her mirror, which subsequently became the lake (and according to some myths, the princess still lives under the waters of the lake).  

Cusco (Cuzco, Qusqu), located at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, was the capital of the Inca (Inka) Empire (circa 13th century to 1532 when it was captured by the Spanish). In Quechua (the native language of the region), the Inca Empire was known as Tawantinsuyu (the land or realm of the four parts) and at its height (under the Sapa Inca, or Emperors, from 1438 to 1533) Cusco dominated the Andes and much of western South America. The heart of the Inca Empire was the Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Urubamba Valley, named after the river which flows through it. This incredibly beautiful region with fertile soils, a moderate climate, and lush vegetation is in many ways a world of its own. As we will experience, the spirit, wisdom, and traditions of the Incas continue here 500 years after their empire ceased as a political entity.  

The town of Ollantaytambo (Ullantaytampu) in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located about 45 miles northwest of Cusco, played a pivotal role in the history of the Inca Empire. It was captured by the Sapa Inca Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (Pachacútec), who is credited with establishing the full Inca Empire in 1438, and Ollantaytambo served as Pachacuti’s royal estate. A century later, Ollantaytambo was the headquarters and stronghold of the Sapa Inca Manqu Inka Yupanki who led the resistance against the Spanish. However, the origins of Ollantaytambo and its ancient structures go back to a much earlier period – just how early, we will have the opportunity to discuss on site as we explore the many terraces, fountains, and enigmatic stone structures found here. Perhaps most famous of all is the “Temple Hill” which includes the Sun Temple with the Wall of Six Monoliths composed of beautiful and finely fitted megaliths, each weighing tens of tons, carved from rose rhyolite (a very hard igneous stone, related to granite) that is believed to have been transported from the other side of the valley. The engineering is mind-boggling. How did these ancient people accomplish such feats? According to many standard archaeologists, the Inca and their ancestors lacked the wheel, iron or steel, did not use domesticated animals to carry or move heavy loads, and the Inca lacked writing (although they did have quipu [khipu], knotted strings for record keeping and some forms of communication – indeed, the Inca were known for their excellent textiles). Yet, despite their supposed lack of such attributes that are typically associated with high culture in the Old World, the Andean peoples achieved unprecedented levels of societal organization, successful agricultural innovation, and developed a high civilization over a vast territory. How do we explain these phenomena and discrepancies? These are some of the mysteries and topics we will have a chance to discuss as we explore the archaeological remains. 

Machu Picchu, one of the most famous ancient sites in the world (and a UNESCO World Heritage site), is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas” and is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”. Machu Picchu is a citadel located on a mountain ridge at an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet. According to conventional archaeological dating, the site was built and occupied by the Incas between around 1420 to 1532, and subsequently abandoned (perhaps due to disease decimating the population). Apparently, the Spanish of the late 16th century were aware of Machu Picchu, and may have even visited it, but later the location of the site was lost for over four centuries, until it was discovered by the Peruvian explorer Agustín Lizárraga Ruiz in 1902 and rediscovered by the American Yale University professor Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Machu Picchu is a site of stunning beauty and complexity. While many traditional archaeologists assert that the site was built primarily by the Inca emperor Pachacuti around 1450, there is evidence, which Dr. Schoch will point out, of different stages of construction, the earliest of which may go back to a much earlier, pre-Inca, period. How far back in times does this site go? We will walk among the approximately 200 stone buildings that compose the city remains and note the terraces and sophisticated water channel system that the ancient people employed. We will visit the Temple of the Sun, the Room of the Three Windows, and the Inti Watana (The Hitching Post of the Sun) that is believed to have been used as a precise astronomical calendar or clock in ancient times. We will also note that despite over a hundred years of modern archaeological investigation, new discoveries continue to be made at Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is without doubt a breathtaking, and very sacred, site. On this day we will have the privilege of returning for a sunrise ceremony.

Saqsaywaman (Sacsayhuamán, Saksaywaman; in Quechua, aksay waman pukara which can be translated as “fortress [or citadel] of the royal hawk [or falcon]”) is located on the northern boundary of Cusco atop a hill overlooking the city. The structures are dated by conventional archaeologists to the time of the Sapa Inca Pachacuti (reigned 1438—1471). The walls found here are composed of tightly fitted enormous stone blocks that in some cases have the appearance of being “melted” or “vitrified”. Dr. Schoch does not doubt that Saqsaywaman may have been utilized, and possibly rebuilt, by the Inca people during the 15th century; however, its origins may go back to a much earlier period, and how it was constructed remains a mystery.

Pisac is a town in the Sacred Valley that goes back to ancient Incan times and earlier. Today it is known for maintaining the traditional indigenous culture, and for its famous Andean market.

Lake Titikaka (Lake Titicaca) combines haunting beauty with ancient mystery.  It is a huge lake, over 3000 square miles in surface area at an elevation of over 12,000 feet and a maximum depth of over 900 feet. There are legends of lost cities under the lake’s surface; whether or not the legends are true, modern underwater archaeologists have recovered numerous artifacts. Lake Titikaka is composed of two basins connected by a narrow strait: The larger basin is Lago Grande (also referred to as Lago Chucuito) and the smaller basin is Wiñaymarka (also called Lago Pequeño, "little lake"). Based on modern satellite images, Lago Grande appears to have the rough shape or outline of a puma chasing its prey, a viscacha (a type of long-eared rodent found in South America that looks similar to a rabbit) represented by Wiñaymarka. Geologically, the origins of Lake Titikaka, and earlier lakes in the region, go back over ten million years, yet it is unclear exactly how and when the current lake took shape, and it features many rare species. From an ethnographic perspective, it is known for its traditional boats constructed of totora reeds which look remarkably like boats that were used in ancient Egypt. Indeed, the late Thor Heyerdahl made such boats famous when he sailed a Titikaka-built reed boat across the Atlantic in a demonstration that such boats are ocean-worthy. And the Uros (Uru) people have long created artificial floating islands in the lake using totora reeds. 

Sillustani, on the shores of Lake Umayo, is the site of a series of incredible towers, one of which is nearly forty feet tall, that are attributed by conventional archaeologists to the pre-inca Qulla (Colla, Kolla) people, dating back to as early as 500 CE. The towers may have been modified and reused during Inca times. The traditional interpretation of these structures is that they were used to house and venerate the deceased; they are commonly known as chullpas or chupas, or as houses of the souls. Most interestingly, the towers are wider at the tops than at their bases – that is, they open to the sky. And found on the exterior walls of the towers are relief carvings of animals that to many observers appear similar to relief carvings found at very ancient sites, such as Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, that are thousands of miles away across an ocean and date back to the end of the last ice age. How can this be? This is something that we can discuss during our visit to the site. 

Aramu Muru (Hayu Marca, or Wilka Uta) is a carving in a cliff face that appears to be a huge blind door. Some archaeologists believe it was the beginning of an Incan carving and construction project, but subsequently abandoned; however, there is no certainty as to exactly how old it is or what its purpose was. It has been referred to as a Doorway or Gate to the Gods, as a “Stargate”, as a portal to a Valley or City of the Spirits and Gods, and as the Place of the Sun. This is a site where many have claimed to experience paranormal phenomena, including astral projection and interdimensional transportation to other realms. When we visit the site, you will have the opportunity to experience it for yourself. 

One of the outstanding achievements of the ancient Andean peoples was their sophisticated irrigation and agricultural techniques. Waru Waru (an Aymara term; also known by the Spanish term camellones) was a system of raised beds for planting crops irrigated by canals. Through the capturing and reuse of nutrients in natural fertilizers combined with controlled irrigation and taking maximum advantage of solar radiation, such agricultural techniques extended the growing season and increased the production of crops. 

The Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol, or in Aymara, Titi'kaka) is a sacred island in Lake Titikaka surrounded by mystery and legend that has been a pilgrimage site for centuries or even millennia. On the island is a large rock outcrop known as Titi Qala (also sometimes referred to as the sacred stone, Roca Sagrada). According to various Incan legends, this was the birthplace of the Sun and/or the place where the Sun took refuge during a great flood in extremely ancient times, and from Titi Qala the Sun subsequently emerged again to shine on the new world after the disaster. What could the meaning of this legend be? Could it refer to the catastrophes and floods at the end of the last ice age? These are issues that Dr. Schoch will discuss. In another legend, the founder of the Incans, Manco Cápac (circa early 13th century) is said to have originated from the Island of the Sun. In terms of modern archaeology, there is evidence of the island having been occupied for over 4,000 years. 

Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco), in modern Bolivia, was the capital of a powerful pre-Hispanic empire that dominated a large area of the southern Andes and beyond. According to the standard story, it reached its apogee between 500 and 900 CE but had its origins much earlier (dating back to 200 BCE or before). We will explore the possibility that the site of Tiwanaku extends considerably further back in time, and possibly traces its origins to the end of the last ice age, over 12,000 years ago. At Tiwanaku  is found the Kalasasaya (Kalassasaya) complex with giant monolithic stone statues that many people have remarked remind them of the stone moai found on Easter Island. Stone heads dot the walls surrounding the main courtyard. A prominent feature, known around the world, is the Sun Gate with its intricate carvings, the potential significance of which Dr. Schoch will discuss. 

Associated with Tiwanaku is the renowned site of Puma Punku, known for its ancient “H-shaped” sculpted blocks that appear to have been machined. This site has attracted much attention because it appears to be so anomalous, so out of place and time. It remains one of the true technological enigmas of the ancient world. As we explore the site, we will question how Puma Puku was constructed, what purpose it served, how far back in time it goes, and how and when it might have been destroyed. 

Caral is a huge archaeological complex, covering over 150 acres, that dates back nearly 5000 years. It was contemporaneous with the ancient Egyptians, and due to its pyramid structures, reminds many people of Egypt. Pyramids are found around the world in ancient times – is this just coincidence and convergence, as most mainstream archaeologists assert, or were ancient peoples in contact with each other long before the time of Columbus? These are issues we can discuss as we tour the pyramids and other incredible structures of Caral.  

The Miguel Mujica Gallo Gold Museum, also known as the Gold Museum of Peru, contains approximately 7,000 supposed artifacts of pre-Columbian Peru, many of gold and other precious metals, as well as a collection of weapons from around the world. However, the museum has been mired in controversy as the authenticity of many of the artifacts has been questioned – are they real or are they modern fakes? Even if fakes, the collections of the museum provide the viewer with a striking representation and appreciation of the wealth and artistry of ancient Peruvian peoples. In examining the collection, one readily understands the Spanish conquistadors’ lust for the gold of the Incas.