Peru

Main Destinies

CUSCO: UNIVERSAL PATRIMONY

In 1534 Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Cuzco. Cuzco, also called the archaeological capital of America, was the main city of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, it means the capital of the fabulous Inca Empire, it was considered by the Incas as "Navel of the World" (Ombligo del Mundo). Today it is the first tourist center of Peru and it has been proclaimed by the UNESCO as Cultural Patrimony of Mankind.

Cusco or Qosqo, Cuzco or Cusco, city located to the south of Peru, capital of the department of Cuzco, at an altitude of almost 3415 meters (almost 11,211 foot) above sea level, it has a population of 300 thousand inhabitants approximately, with a temperate weather, nice during the day cold at nights, in detail is dried and sunny from April to September and variable y rainy from October to March.

We get to Cuzco by earth for the Central Highway or by the South Panamericana Highway approximately from 20 to 32 hours depending the way you choose to go there. By air on a trip of approximately 1.30 minutes.

Everything in Cuzco is beautiful, because it encloses all the history of Peru, since its foundation up to the retirement of the Spanish conquerors. Nearby there are important archaeological monuments where once lived the nobles descendants of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo; monuments such as: Fort of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Tambomachay Baths, the platform of Pisac and Chinchero, the Fort of Ollantaytambo, Puca Pucara and the incomparable edifications of MachuPicchu, near river Urubamba, that was discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham.

Cuzco's Main Square known as Haucaypata in the time of the Incas was the place of many celebrations and it is up to now an ideal place to meet. The Cathedral and the church of the Jesús Company, two colonial churches are in Main Square. Other important colonial churches are Santo Domingo (Koricancha Inca), the convent of Santa Catalina (Place of the Acliawasi Inca, or residence of the elected women), and San Blas, in the zone of the artists.

The main industry of the city is the dyeing, refined sugar, chocolate production and the manufacturing of cotton products.

Many of the actual houses are made of adobe with red roof tile; they have rests of works on stone as base. Some buildings that are from the time of the Spanish conquest are the Cathedral, built at the beginning of the XVII century, and the Prefecture, that originally was the palace of the explorer Francisco Pizarro. Even though much part of the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1950, the historical places have been restored. Cuzco is the center for tourist trips to South America. Streets are narrow and with grades. It is the oldest city from those who have been inhabited in continuous way.

The great quantity of museums and churches has contributed with Cuzco to be the most important tourist center of Peru. The "Caminos del Inca", that were used by old Peruvians to get to the city of Macchu Picchu, offer the possibility of finding innumerable Incas constructions that mixed with the nature, give an integral vision, of the greatness and importance that Macchu Picchu has.

Visit Cuzco without knowing the legendary city of Machu Picchu is like not have gone. To go to Macchu Picchu you must take a train that goes everyday from the city making a long way of 3 or 4 hours and they go back to Cuzco in the afternoon. Those who like adventure may choose the walking of 3 or 4 days knows as "Caminos del Inca" (Inca's walk).

Visits and excursions

CUSCO

Visit of the city by walking, of its narrow streets with the Inca's walls only over passed by the colonial constructions, visit Main Square, the Cathedral, San Blas and the artists and artisans saloon, and the Q'oricancha ("Gold Walls ") where it was the Sun Temple.

FOUR RUINS

Tour places nearby Cuzco: Tambo Machay (Inca's bath), Puca Pucará (the small red fort), Kenko (the small labyrinth) and Sacsayhuaman (the head of Puma that forms the city). This excursion can be made by foot, horse or in car.

SACRED VALLEY

Discovering of the Sacred Valley and Chinchero markets.

MACHU PICCHU

Machu Picchu, pre-Columbian Inca stronghold in the Andes, about 80 km (about 50 mi) northwest of Cuzco, Peru. Located at a high altitude on a ridge between two peaks, about 600 m (about 1950 ft) above the Urubamba River, the ruined city covers about 13 sq km (about 5 sq mi) of terraces built around a central plaza and linked by numerous stairways. The majority of buildings are one-room stone houses (now roofless), arranged around internal courts; some larger structures were evidently used for religious purposes. All are distinguished by engineering skill and fine craftsmanship. The city was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham; it is not mentioned in the writings of the Spanish conquerors of Peru, and the time of its occupancy is uncertain. Bingham believed that Machu Picchu might have been the last refuge of Incas from Cuzco fleeing the Spanish invaders, but nothing is actually known of its history.

PICKILLACTA

Visit (optional) of Pickillacta "city of fleas " or "important city " according to the versions, city of great dimension of the Huari culture.

ANDAHUAYLILLAS

Small town and sits "Peruvian Sixtine Chapel" made by the ecclesiastic "Boca Negra" (Black mouth) and the church of Huaro with the paintings of Tadeus Escalantes.

RAFTING

Rafting (optional) in Vilcamayu River beggining for Huambutyio or de Pachar.

MARAS

Excursion to Salinas of Maras, linked to a flank of mountains before the Incas and always in exploitation, like if time has stopped its course.

INCA'S WALK

Inca's walk, a walk of 3 days to discover the 4th day the dawn of day, the vestiges of Machu Picchu city.

Information