The six week study portion of our term was brought to a close with a fascinating journey to the departamento of Cusco. Traveling to Machu Picchu requires a plane, a bus, a train and another bus. Along the way we visited archaeological sites containing stonework that revealed brilliant designs and remarkable engineering.

The Inca Empire dominated western South America during the 15th and early 16th centuries. Four guides -- Michel, Michael, Rodrigo and Elvis -- led us on hikes throughout Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Macchu Picchu, explaining the history of this epic time and describing the social organization required to construct the many terraces, buildings and monuments we discovered.