In celebration of International Space Day on Friday 3 May, specialist tour operator Journey Latin America selects their Top 5 Out-Of-This-World Latin American Experiences. From ultimate star gazing to alien invasions, there is something to ignite everyone’s imagination.

Sacsayhuaman, Peru

Sacsayhuaman is a walled Inca complex on the northern outskirts of Cusco. The stone walls are constructed in such a way that each piece slots together absolutely perfectly with no need for any kind of mortar.  Even to this day, it’s not known how the walls were built and it is widely believed in Peru that the ancient Quechuas would have been incapable of building such a wonder. Many believe that the ruins were built by extraterrestrials using a process unknown to mankind.

SEE IT: Visit the ruins as part of the Short break to Cusco and Machu Picchu <http://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/Holiday-Types/Tailor-Made/Holiday-List/Peru/A-Short-Break-to-Cusco-and-Mac.aspx?subtab=itinerarytm> tailor-made holiday from £2,040pp including flights.

Nasca lines, Peru

Giant drawings of animals and symbols in the barren landscape, the origins of the Nasca Lines on the Peruvian coast remain a mystery to this day.  What makes the Nasca lines even more intriguing is that they were only first brought to public awareness with the advent of flight as they are virtually invisible from ground level. This therefore raises the question of how these intricate patterns were created without the assistance of an airborne vessel. There are many theories about their origin; the more creative is Von Daniken’s. He claimed that the lines were kind of a UFO runway, or a type of alien airport, where the alien craft landed and took off.

SEE IT: Visit the Nasca lines as part of the Condor Journey <http://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/Holiday-Types/Original-adventures/Holiday-List/2011-Peru-in-Depth---magic,-my.aspx> group tour from £3,838pp including flights.

Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), Chile

With optimum conditions of high altitude, few clouds, and virtually no radio interference or light pollution, Atacama is considered the best place on earth for star gazing. ALMA was inaugurated in March this year and is the largest astronomical project in existence. Visits to ALMA will commence later this year.

SEE IT: Visit ALMA as part of the Highlights of Chile <http://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/Holiday-Types/Tailor-Made/Holiday-List/Chile/Highlights-of-Chile.aspx?country=Chile&type=0&month=0> tailor-made holiday from £3,964pp including flights.

Kourou Space Centre, French Guiana

Kourou is arguably the world’s most active space station launching over two-thirds of the world’s commercial satellites into space. You can take a tour, or if you’re lucky enough to be there when there’s a launch, you can book to watch form the observation area.

SEE IT: Visit the Kourou Space Centre as part of the Coq of the Rock Journey <http://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/Holiday-Types/Original-adventures/Holiday-List/Trail-blazing-through-the-Guya.aspx> group tour from £4,798pp including flights.

Mataveri International Airport, Easter Island

The airport runway on Easter Island is an enormous 3,318 m long. It was extended in 1984 in order to become a designated abort site for US space shuttles.

SEE IT: Visit Easter Island as part of the Machu Picchu, Bolivia and Easter Island <http://www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/Holiday-Types/Tailor-Made/Holiday-List/Peru/Machu-Pichu-and-Easter-Island.aspx?country=Chile&type=0&month=0&page=0> tailor-made holiday from £4,678pp including flights

Further Information

For more information on Journey Latin America and to see our full range of holidays, please visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk or telephone: 020 8747 8315.

For press information or images please contact Megan Parkinson or Jenny Powles on 020 8747 8315 or at press@journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Megan Parkinson is a destination specialist and is available as a spokesperson on events, travel trends and features relating to all locations in Latin America.

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