Custom Latin America Tours by Yampu

As we were reminded during the presidential inauguration, the United States is still a young nation, especially compared with the ancient civilizations of Central and South America. Man-made wonders such as Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza provide fascinating glimpses into the pre-Columbian past, and Yampu Latin America Tours can guide you to these and other historic sites.

The experienced tour operator (formerly known as Kontiki) has mapped out several new itineraries for 2009. Its Three New Wonders of the World trip, a 14-day journey, features explorations of Chichen Itza, the former Mayan capital in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula; the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu (above) in Peru; and the Christ the Redeemer Statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro.

For those who travel for gastronomic pleasure, there's Yampu's Culinary Tour of Peru. The nine-day adventure includes visits to a remote potato-growing village in the Andes; the salt pans, or salineras, of Maras; and a private cooking lesson in novoandino, a fusion of Peruvian and international cuisine.