|
Tourist Circuits
1. TOURS CUSCO
The Cathedral
Built between 1560 and 1664 out of large
slabs of red granite taken from the Inca
fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Cathedral is one
of the most imposing structures in the city. Its
faade, built in Renaissance style, contrasts
with the Baroque and silver of its lavish
interior. It also houses one of the most
important collections of gold and silver work of
the colonial period, elaborately engraved wooden
altars and a beautiful collection of oil on
canvas paintings from the Escuela Cusquea. On
either side of the slabs of red granite are two
small auxiliary chapels. One of these, the Del
Triunfo church, in fact Cusco's first Cathedral,
was built in 1539 on top of the palace of Inca
Wiracocha.
Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo
The convent was built on the spectacular
Koricancha ("site of gold"), the most important
temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and
whose walls were plated with sheets of gold. The
convent was built on a foundation of smoothened
stone structures -the most finely crafted in
Cusco- taken from the Inca sanctuary. The faade
of the convent is an excellent example of
Renaissance art and its distinctive spire, built
in Baroque style, stands out over the thatched
roofs of the Cusco skyline. Like the two
churches mentioned above, it houses an
impressive collection of canvas paintings from
the Escuela Cusquea.
 Sacsayhuaman
An imposing example of Inca military
architecture, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman was
built using large slabs of granite to safeguard
the city from attack by Antis, or invading
forces from the East. Sacsayhuaman ("satisfied
falcon" in Quechua) is made up of three large
terraces which overlap in a zigzag formation
surrounded by enormous stone ramparts of up to
300 meters in length. Its elevation and
proximity to Cusco, as well as the dimensions of
the stones -up to 5 meters high and weighing up
to 350 tons-made Sacsayhuaman a quarry for
certain structures in colonial Cusco.
Kenko and Puca Pucara
Kenko is a ritual site built on a sole
outcrop of limestone, with underground galleries
and a semicircular amphitheater. Puca Pucara (in
Quechua, "red fortress"), was a military
installation made up of stairways, terraces and
large walls which once formed part of the
capital's defense system. Both structures are
part of the archaeological circuit near the city
of Cusco.
Tampumachay
Also known as the "Baos del Inca" or the
Inca baths, Tampumachay was apparently a site
dedicated to the worship of water and a resting
place for the Inca monarch. Among its most
notable features are its system of aqueducts,
canals and cascades carved in stone, designed to
channel water flowing from a nearby spring.
According to experts, Tampumachay was also a
kind of royal garden, abounding in ornamental
vegetation and fed by an intricate network of
canals
2.
SACRED VALLEY
 Sacred Valley of the Incas
Just an hour's drive from Cusco, the
Urubamba Valley, or Sacred Valley of the Incas,
is a setting of picturesque communities,
impressive terraces and many important
archaeological sites. Dominated by the imposing
peaks of the Vilcanota mountain range, the
valley has been the storehouse for agricultural
products for the city of Cusco since Inca times,
and today is famous for being home to maize cobs
with the largest kernels in the world. The
valley includes the area between the Inca
communities of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Its mild
weather and particular geography make it ideal
for outdoor sports enthusiasts to practice
rafting, mountain bike-riding, hang-gliding and
trekking.
Pisac
Pisac lies 33 kilometers from the city of
Cusco by a paved road, and has an old quarter;
an archaeological site considered one of the
most important in Cusco, and a modern quarter;
dating from the colonial period. It also has a
Sunday market which attracts thousands of
visitors and people from remote communities,
dressed in colorful, traditional attire. Every
Sunday there is the procession of the varayocs,
or mayors, who, at around 9:30 am go to church
to attend the traditional Mass held in Quechua.
Ollantaytambo
A typical lnca community located 21 km from
Urubamba at 2800 masl, named in honor of the
chief Ollanta, who was famous for courting an
Inca princess, daughter of Pachactec. One of
its best -preserved areas, known as Hanan
Huacaypata lies north of the main square and
contains 15 estates built with elegantly crafted
stone walls. Ollantaytambo also features an
extensive archaeological site located on the
imposing hillside overlooking the town,
containing structures such as the Temple of the
Sun, and the Maacaray or Royal Hall, the
Incahuatana and the Baos de la Princesa. It
also has hotels, restaurants and horses and
mountain bikes for hire. A branch road leading
from Ollantaytambo to the Malaga mountain pass
(4,200 masl), goes through towns such as
picturesque Huilloc, home to the renowned
wayruros (porters).
Chinchero
This community is located 28 km from Cusco
on the paved road to Urubamba. Here lie the
remains of what was the royal hacienda of Tpac
Inca Yupanqui, as well as a beautiful colonial
temple built on Inca foundations. Its main
attraction, however; is its Sunday market, which
was originally dedicated to the barter of
products by the people of the valley and the
upper areas. Nowadays, the market is a real hub
of activity, vibrant with color and movement
which fascinates tourists with its range of
handicrafts and textiles made in true pre-Columbian
style
3. MACHU PICCHU.
THE MACHU PICCHU HISTORICAL SANCTUARY
 This Historical Sanctuary, which was established
in January 1981 and covers an area of 35.592
hectares, is much more than a collection of
archaeological sites located in a misty tropical
setting. Due to its strategic location, on the
eastern slope of the Andes, it extends across
one of the most extraordinary sectors in the
country. The geographical location also allows
it to protect, in an area covering just 20
square kilometers, ecosystems varying from the
year-round snow found at 6.000 masl, to the
steamy tropical jungles to be found at just
above 1.700 masl. This sanctuary is home to a
number of spectacular species, such as the
Peruvian Cock-of-the-rocks (national bird); the
spectacled Andean bear (also called the
ucumari), which is the only bear species in
South America; the small deer, or sachacabra;
the tanka taruca; and over 300 species of birds.
Furthermore, over 200 species of orchid have
been found, many of which grow only in the
sanctuary. Seen from the air, the sanctuary is
shaped like a half-open book, with the mighty
Urubamba River flowing in a northwesterly
direction through the middle, and two giant
mountain ranges, the Urubamba and Vilcanota,
forming a deep valley covered with tropical
vegetation. The two most important peaks in this
valley are the Wekey Willka, or Veronica (5.750
masl) and the majestic Salkantay (6.271 masl),
which are considered to be the Apus, or
guardians spirits of the region.
Machu Picchu
The citadel of Machu Picchu is by far the
most important tourist attraction in Cusco, and
is located three hours by train from the city,
although it can be reached by helicopter (30
min.) or on foot (four days, via the Inca Trail).
Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer
Hiram Bingham, this citadel is considered to be
one of the most extraordinary examples of
landscape architecture in the world. Situated in
an enclave on the saddle of a mountain
overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba
river, in an area of lush tropical forest, it
served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing
and a private hacienda of the family of the Inca
Pachactec. It consists of two main areas: one
agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and
food stores; and the other urban, which is noted
for its sacred zone, with its temples, squares
and royal tombs built with consummate skill. The
stairways and canals carved out of stone are
recurrent throughout this remarkable
archaeological site. Opposite the citadel is the
Huayna Picchu mountain, which can be reached via
a winding stone walkway. Necessary precautions
must be taken during the rainy season (December
through March).
INKA TRAIL
At kilometer 88 of the Cusco-Quillabamba
railway line lies Qoryhuayrachina, the starting
point for one of the most famous trekking trails
in Peru. During the four-day trek, the hiker
will cross through a number of altitudes and
come across dozens of ecosystems situated
between 2,800 and 4,000 masl. In addition, they
will also be able to take in a splendid view
from the imposing snow-capped mountains in the
region. The Inca Trail visits the beautiful
stone citadels of Phuyupatamarca and Wiay Wayna,
among 16 other archeological sites before ending
at Machu Picchu. A relaxing bath at Aguas
Calientes, 2 km from the train station,
complements the 40 km circuit.
4.
SOUTH OF CUSCO
Tipn
This picturesque set of terraces, long
stairways and stone canals is located 20 km
south of the city. Evidence suggests that Tipn
was part of a royal hacienda belonging to Inca
Yahuar Huaca, as well as a place of worship and
agricultural research. An outstanding is the
sense of harmony in the channeling of water via
stone structures including aqueducts (some of
which are underground), waterfalls and gullies,
indicating the Incas' knowledge of hydraulics.
Pikillacta and Lake Lucre
Built at the peak of the Wari culture
(500-900 AD), this large urban and ceremonial
center of almost two square kilometers was built
as a massive set of stone and mud structures on
a hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Lucre or
Huacarpay. Pikillacta, or "city of fleas", is
perhaps the largest pre-Inca urban center in the
area. It gets its name from its numerous
enclosures (measuring just 4 meters each) which,
it would seem, were part of a garrison
constructed to protect the site.
San Pedro de Andahuaylillas
One of the most beautiful colonial towns in
the region, has a picturesque main square with
leafy pisonay trees hanging overhead, which is
surrounded by old estates. Its main attraction
is its distinctive church, San Pedro de
Andahuaylillas, which was built in the
seventeenth century and is considered to be a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its interior,
elaborately decorated with paintings, is simply
breathtaking. It also houses oil on canvas
paintings from the Escuela Cusquea and Baroque
altars made of carved wood.
5. MARAS- MORAY
MARAS
Maras is a small community 40 kilometers
from the city of Cusco, on a turnoff from the
road to the town of Urubamba. Its main
attraction, apart from its church, that dates
from the colonial period, are the salt mines
located near the town which captivate sightseers
and, in particular; photographers. Salt is
extracted from mines which have been in use
since pre-Columbian times. The extraction method
employed involves using an ancient drying
process, whereby saltwater, flowing from an
underground stream, is left in the sun in
thousands of wells until it has evaporated,
leaving behind only the salt, which is then
ready to be sold or exchanged for provisions.
During the summer months (April October) the
shimmering spectacle offered by the pool s is
incomparable.
 Moray
Moray (3,500 masl) lies just 7 km away from
Maras, although the road to it is not always in
good condition. This community is famous for its
embedded amphitheater, formed by four circular
terraces which seem to disappear into the
interior of the puna, like an artificial crater.
Evidence seems to suggest that Moray was an
important center of Inca agricultural research
on crops, which was carried out on different
sized plots located at various altitudes (some
of which were at more than 100 m underground).
The Andean terraces, built on retaining walls
filled with fertile soil and watered via a
complex irrigation system, offer up more than
250 different types of vegetables and cereals,
such as corn, quinoa and kiwicha.
|
