Visit Tiahuanaco, Bolivia

With its monoliths and carved gateways, the ruins of Tiahuanaco lie on a windy valley near to Lake Titicaca.

It is thought they were once part of a magnificent imperial capital that thrived 1,500 years ago and was believed to exert more influence than the Inca Empire in its time, and possibly be the inspiration for its more famous successor.

Your guide will point out the unusual stone carvings such as snakes with human heads and figures with two left hands at this intriguing site.