This city is the capital of the department in which it is located and is also considered the Historical Capital of Peru.
The city of Cusco is rich, because of the amount of tourist resources it presents, and because of the history that precedes it. Among the tourist attractions that are found in Cusco, there are places like, the Historical Center of the city that includes more than seven Catholic churches of Colonial origin.
The main churches that comprise the Catholic-religious circuit of Cusco are the Cathedral, the Church of La Compañía, the Convent and the Church of La Merced, the Church of San Blas, the Temple of San Cristóbal, the Church of Santo Domingo, among others. The temples found in the city of Cusco, in many cases, are based on ancient Inca buildings, and many of them, are currently, in addition to churches and convents, museums, which house inside, invaluable pieces of religious art, as pictures of the Cusco school, especially.
Another tourist attraction, outside of the religious resources found in the city of Cusco, are the headquarters of the Old Town Hall, which is currently occupied by the municipal authorities of Cusco and is located in the Plaza del Regocijo.
Other mansions or important colonial constructions that are in the city of Cusco, are La Casa de Garcilaso, so called because it was the home in which this important Peruvian chronicler was born; there is also Casa de la Calle Tigre, where the rector of the San Antonio Abad University currently operates; The house of the Sierpes, next to the alley of the seven snakes; the Casa de los Cuatro Busto, which according to the accounts would have belonged to the Pizarro brothers; The Palace of the Admiral, among others.
The church of Santo Domingo, mentioned above, is built on an important archaeological complex known as the Koricancha, which was one of the most important Inca palaces of Cusco. In the outer walls of the place, in addition, is the famous stone of the twelve angles, which is considered, a stone that has magical properties, and that can provide energy to whoever touches it.
For those who want to know the traditional neighborhoods of the city, there is nothing better than visiting the Barrio de San Blas, famous for the workshops of illustrious craftsmen who are there. The San Blas fair usually opens on Saturdays only, however, if you go on weekdays, you can take advantage of the visit to know the same workshops of the artisans of the neighborhood, where you can get beautiful sculptures and paintings.
For those who have an interest in museums, there are also different spaces for this purpose in the city, one of which is the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, located in the Plaza de las Nazarenas and which includes among its pieces an exhibition of the famous Larco collection.
Cusco has connection with the main cities of the country as Lima, Arequipa, Puerto Maldonado, Juliaca and seasonal flights to Pisco, Trujillo and Iquitos. Also is connect with La Paz and Bogota. By Land, Cusco is 23 hours far from Lima.
MACHU PICCHU
When the traveler arrives in Cusco with the desire to know Machu Picchu and does not have too much time to do any of the different Inca Trail that exist, the best option is taking a train to Aguas Calientes, the welcome town to visit one the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is located in the district of Machu Picchu, in the province of Urubamba, in the department and region of Cusco, with different levels of altitude. It is currently considered a National Historic Sanctuary, protected by the government.
Machu Picchu is one of the most important tourist places in Peru and in the whole world. The greatest architectural, religious and landscape work that the Inca ancestors have left us. The Sanctuary was discovered in 1911 by the North American expedition that was directed by Hiram Bingham, who was inserted in the wild of the area, with the intention of discovering the mythical city of the Incas. Although Bingham made the first scientific expedition to the place, this had already been traveled before by Agustín Lizárraga, who guided the expeditions from 1911 to the site (although there are no public records that give Lizárraga the official discovery). It is also said that the inhabitants of the surrounding area knew of the existence of the Sanctuary which they already called Machu Picchu, which in Quechua means “Cerro Viejo”.
It is believed that the Sanctuary would have been one of the monumental works that the Inca Pachacútec left during his reign. For Pachacutec, Machu Picchu would have been a testimony of the exploits won. Machu Picchu occupies a total construction area of 530 m. long by 200 m. wide, and in its complex at least 172 smaller spaces are housed.
It is recognized within the constructions of the Sanctuary two sectors or areas, the first one is oriented to agrarian aims, and the other responds to an urbanistic interest. Regarding the agricultural sector of Machu Picchu, this is characterized by the presence of terraces, where besides recognizing different channels and areas for cultivation, can be seen buildings made to be small homes, possibly for the farmers sector. Close to this area, it is located what could be a place of embalming the dead of the Empire, which is called “funerary rock” and which is a rocky and loose form in which a stairway is observed. In this first area of Machu Picchu are also located different deposits or tambos.
Because of its character as a National Historic Sanctuary, Machu Picchu also protects a number of species of flora and fauna. At the level of flora, the place houses less than 200 species of different orchids, which, in part, are in danger of extinction due to fires, among other reasons (as well as illegal sale).
About the fauna, it is significant in the Sanctuary the presence of 300 different species of birds, among other animals, as the case of the strange animal known as the dwarf deer also called sachacabra, along with others such as the taruka tanca. In company with the animal species and the protected vegetation, the landscape beauty, the geology and the archeology (already mentioned) of the site are also protected, due to the nature of the sanctuary. At a landscape and geological level, the figure of Salkantay is outstanding, which is the highest altitude snow mountain in the Vilcanota mountain range, which is venerated as an Apu (andean deity) by the inhabitants.
To visit Machu Picchu have many ways, the Inka Trail (it is strongly recommendable to book six months in advance), similar trails as the Salkantay Trail or the traditional tours by train with departures from Poroy (30 minutes from Cusco) or from Ollantaytambo. Services for Tourist, Superior a deluxe coach wagon.
THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
Known as the Vilcanota Valley or the Urubamba Valley, and is itself a picturesque valley full of beauty and history, which owes its existence to the flow of the Vilcanota River. The Sacred Valley of the Incas is located between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in Cusco and is in itself the place of Peru where the largest number of archaeological attractions of Inca origin is concentrated.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, comprises in its vast territory an average of 350 discovered archaeological structures, among which, besides complexes, cave paintings are also recognized.
Of the impressive amount of archaeological resources that the valley possesses, it is possible to highlight structures such as the Archaeological Complex of Pisaq, or Pisac, where an archaeological site is recognized in which the presence of the Inca solar calendar stands out; In addition, there are complexes such as the Archaeological Zone of Ollantaytambo, the Archaeological Zone of Moray, the Archaeological Complex of Sacsayhuamán, Piquillacta, Tambomachay, Chincheros, Quespihuanca, the Andenes de Yucay, among many others.
Also, it is interesting because the diversity of peoples that inhabit its territory. Among these towns is the Town of Urquillos, which is one of the most representative communities of the valley in whose dwellings both the Inca and Colonial architectural influence is evident, and it is not for less, since for what is known, Urquillos was formerly an Inca ayllu, known as Urcos or Urcosbamba, in which we can still observe the permanence of old prehispanic traditions, mainly related to agriculture.
It is also one of the villages of the Valley the town of Urubamba, known as the “Heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas”, or the “Pearl of the Vilcanota”; These communities also include the town of Pisac, famous for its Sunday fairs, where barter is still a current activity, and where the craftsmanship of its people can continue to be appreciated; in addition to other towns.
The Sacred Valley, being a primarily natural scenario, also has in its long extension with specific resources of this nature, among these is the Urubamba River, which together with the Vilcanota, presents ideal waters for the practice of adventure sports such as canoeing; There are also different viewpoints, such as Taray and Pisac, from which you get a great view of the valley; In the same way, there are different snowy peaks in the valley, such as the Nevado Chicón, which is the one with the highest altitude in the Urubamba Mountain Range. Also part of the natural attractions of the valley, a series of lagoons, as is the case of Huaypo, or pongos such as Maenique, among many other places.
To visit the Sacred Valley have many options, seat in coach or private tours visiting the main attractions in the area.
