Manui
Island Small island in the Tuamotu‑Gambier archipelago
Small islet in the Îles Tuamotu‑Gambier archipelago; visitors come for lagoon swimming, snorkeling on coral reefs, and boat passages between atolls en route to larger Gambier islands.
Marcahuasi is a high-elevation granitic plateau in the Andes east of Lima, Peru, known for its dramatic rock formations and carved-looking stone figures. The plateau sits at roughly 3,800-4,000 metres above sea level.
The rock formations are natural, formed by long-term geological and erosional processes acting on the granitic bedrock. Human interaction has been largely recreational and folkloric, with the site becoming popular with hikers and amateur archaeologists during the 20th century.
Marcahuasi lies in Huarochirí Province in the Department of Lima, in the eastern highlands above the coastal plain. The usual approach is from the village of San Pedro de Casta east of Lima by road and then on foot to the plateau.
- Altitude and climate: The plateau sits at high altitude around 3,800-4,000 metres, so acclimatize before hiking and expect cool temperatures at night.
- Access: Most visitors reach the plateau from the mountain village of San Pedro de Casta, which is the common trailhead for day hikes and overnight camping.
- Best viewing times: Stone formations are natural granitic outcrops shaped by erosion; lighting at sunrise and late afternoon gives the greatest visual contrast for photography.
