Machupicchu Magical Travel Agency, Tourist Package in Perú: WEB SITE: http://www.tourmachupicchutravel.com/ Telephone number: +51-84-254571 / +51949755958 (whatsapp)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
PERU TRAVEL
Through this Peru Travel Guide you will acess to a brief about the most important Peru travel destinations you may visit in a future. History, attractions, what to visit, climate, lodging, arrival and departures, photos, etc., will give you an overall idea of any destination you may want to choose. The best travel and vacation tips on Machu Picchu, Cusco, Nazca Lines, Paracas, Titicaca Lake, Manu, Lima, Arequipa..Enjoy the journey!.
PERY TOURS Travel to Cusco, explore the amazing sites of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao...
Travel to Cusco, explore the amazing sites of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao, Sillustani or Kuelap, fly over the Nazca Lines, explore the Manu rainforest, sail the Titicaca Lake or walk the Inca Trail. Practice your favorite adventure sport on the coast, rivers or mountains, or enjoy the wide variety of flora and fauna of the Peruvian Amazon jungle. Let us organize your trip and choose one of our "Peru Hot Tour Deals", with unbeatable prices, or take some of our Recommended Trips covering circuits for the best knowledge of our country. Select our Premium Travel Collection including everything necessary for the fullest possible enjoyment of your journey to Peru. If you are of an adventurous spirit, Nature Tours and Adventure Travel are waiting for you. Enjoy Peru with us!
INCA TRAIL Machu Picchu PARK REGULATIONS
The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, a protected area managed by the Peru National Institute of Natural Resources, INRENA.
All visitors must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (only authorized campsites can be used).
The following procedures must be followed:
1. Payment of entrance fees:
a. The only valid document granting the right to walk the Inca Trails Network - the Machupicchu Historical Sanctuary Network RED or SHM - is the ticket issued by the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary Management Unit (UGM). This ticket is personal and non transferable, and includes the entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
b. Payment for the right to use the RED can only be done in the city of Cusco, and has a cost of US$50, usually included in the payment will make to an authorized agency.
c. Under no circumstances, payment for the use of the RED will be accepted at its registry and entry control points.
d. Payment for the right to use the RED must be made a minimum of five (5) days before beginning the trip and the acquisition must be made under your name.
e. The reimbursement of payment for the right to use the RED is not possible under any circumstance.
f. In case of having done the corresponding payment for the right to use the RED and having fixed the dates of the visit, these dates can be postponed with four (4) days notice, providing an additional payment of 20%, and subject to place availability for the dates and routes required.
2. Reservations
a. Reservations will be made in the offices of the Departmental Headquarters of the National Institute of Culture in the city of Cusco, receiving confirmation with corresponding reservation code.
Note: Reservations will be subject to the daily capacity emitted by the UGM (500 people, including guides, porters, helpers and around 150 tourists), therefore we recommend you to reserve your place with as much notice as possible.
b. The Tour Operator can ask for reservations up to sixty (60) days before the trip begins, making a payment for the equivalent of fifty percent (50%) of the entrance ticket.
c. To maintain the reservation, the Tour Operator must cancel the balance due and provide full names, passport numbers, ages, nationalities and passport photocopies of all those going on the trip, to the relevant authorities. The traveler must send this information and documentation to us from his or her home country.
d. Failure to confirm reservations will result in their cancellation, and no reimbursement of fees will be made in this case.
e. Only people under 28 years old with valid International Student Identification will be considered as a student, entitling them to a 50% discount on the RED entrance fee.
All visitors must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (only authorized campsites can be used).
The following procedures must be followed:
1. Payment of entrance fees:
a. The only valid document granting the right to walk the Inca Trails Network - the Machupicchu Historical Sanctuary Network RED or SHM - is the ticket issued by the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary Management Unit (UGM). This ticket is personal and non transferable, and includes the entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
b. Payment for the right to use the RED can only be done in the city of Cusco, and has a cost of US$50, usually included in the payment will make to an authorized agency.
c. Under no circumstances, payment for the use of the RED will be accepted at its registry and entry control points.
d. Payment for the right to use the RED must be made a minimum of five (5) days before beginning the trip and the acquisition must be made under your name.
e. The reimbursement of payment for the right to use the RED is not possible under any circumstance.
f. In case of having done the corresponding payment for the right to use the RED and having fixed the dates of the visit, these dates can be postponed with four (4) days notice, providing an additional payment of 20%, and subject to place availability for the dates and routes required.
2. Reservations
a. Reservations will be made in the offices of the Departmental Headquarters of the National Institute of Culture in the city of Cusco, receiving confirmation with corresponding reservation code.
Note: Reservations will be subject to the daily capacity emitted by the UGM (500 people, including guides, porters, helpers and around 150 tourists), therefore we recommend you to reserve your place with as much notice as possible.
b. The Tour Operator can ask for reservations up to sixty (60) days before the trip begins, making a payment for the equivalent of fifty percent (50%) of the entrance ticket.
c. To maintain the reservation, the Tour Operator must cancel the balance due and provide full names, passport numbers, ages, nationalities and passport photocopies of all those going on the trip, to the relevant authorities. The traveler must send this information and documentation to us from his or her home country.
d. Failure to confirm reservations will result in their cancellation, and no reimbursement of fees will be made in this case.
e. Only people under 28 years old with valid International Student Identification will be considered as a student, entitling them to a 50% discount on the RED entrance fee.
INCA TRAIL Machu Pichu ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Because you are visiting Andean areas, do not forget to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness. When you arrive at altitude, make sure you drink hot tea or coca leaf tea (mate de coca), walk slowly and eat lightlY
In order to prevent any health disorder, remember always drink bottled water.
Altitude Levels
Cusco City: 3,360 metres above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
Machu Picchu: 2,400 m.a.s.l.
Urubamba Valley: 2,850 m.a.s.l.
In order to prevent any health disorder, remember always drink bottled water.
Altitude Levels
Cusco City: 3,360 metres above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
Machu Picchu: 2,400 m.a.s.l.
Urubamba Valley: 2,850 m.a.s.l.
INCA TRAIL Machu Picchu WHAT TO BRING
A: Clothes
1. Hiking boots and trainers (sneakers).
2. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
3. T-shirts
4. Sweaters and a thick jacket
5. Rain wear during rainy season
B: Equipment
1. Camera and films
2. Insect Repellent and sunblock
3. Torch and knife
4. Backpack and light case
C: Personal toilet items:
1. Soap, shampoo, toothbrush and dental floss.
2. Towel
We recommend you to: - Use boots during the whole trek. - Drink a lot of liquid during long excursions and on the Inca Trail.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Our company prides itself in providing first class service and products, and being especially concerned about the wellbeing and safety of you, the traveler.
Consequently, we provide you our own equipment and the following service.
1. Bilingual guides for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
2. Porters to carry heavy equipment. We provide an optional service of personal porters.
3. All meals are provided throughout the length of the journey, consisting of breakfast, lunch and supper. All meals are hot and freshly prepared at each mealtime along the way.
4. Our company employs porters to carry kitchen equipment.
5. Water, fruit and snacks.
6. Bathroom tent.
7. Dining tent, with table and chairs.
8. Dining utensils and cutlery.
9. First Aid kit.
10.Mattresses.
11. Comfortable, ample tents suitable for outdoor acitivities. Three-people tents are used to accommodate two people.
1. Hiking boots and trainers (sneakers).
2. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
3. T-shirts
4. Sweaters and a thick jacket
5. Rain wear during rainy season
B: Equipment
1. Camera and films
2. Insect Repellent and sunblock
3. Torch and knife
4. Backpack and light case
C: Personal toilet items:
1. Soap, shampoo, toothbrush and dental floss.
2. Towel
We recommend you to: - Use boots during the whole trek. - Drink a lot of liquid during long excursions and on the Inca Trail.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Our company prides itself in providing first class service and products, and being especially concerned about the wellbeing and safety of you, the traveler.
Consequently, we provide you our own equipment and the following service.
1. Bilingual guides for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
2. Porters to carry heavy equipment. We provide an optional service of personal porters.
3. All meals are provided throughout the length of the journey, consisting of breakfast, lunch and supper. All meals are hot and freshly prepared at each mealtime along the way.
4. Our company employs porters to carry kitchen equipment.
5. Water, fruit and snacks.
6. Bathroom tent.
7. Dining tent, with table and chairs.
8. Dining utensils and cutlery.
9. First Aid kit.
10.Mattresses.
11. Comfortable, ample tents suitable for outdoor acitivities. Three-people tents are used to accommodate two people.
INCA TRAIL Machu Picchu WEATHER
The climate in the Andes can basically be divided into two seasons, the wet season and the dry season.
The dry season is normally between May and September, with generally sunny days, warm evenings and often very cold nights.
The rainy season is from October to May, though rains usually come only between January and March. The Inca Trail is usually closed for these months due to the possibility of landslides or mudslides ("huaycos").
For information about temperatures, please, visit Cusco destination, clicking on the left bar.
The dry season is normally between May and September, with generally sunny days, warm evenings and often very cold nights.
The rainy season is from October to May, though rains usually come only between January and March. The Inca Trail is usually closed for these months due to the possibility of landslides or mudslides ("huaycos").
For information about temperatures, please, visit Cusco destination, clicking on the left bar.
INCA TRAIL Machu Picchu STEP BY STEP
Preparatory Session
A day before the tour, you and your fellow trekkers are given a "briefing" session where you receive information and recommendations about the trek schedule, campsites, park ecological regulations (Machu Picchu is a Natural Reserve protected by the Peruvian State), equipment and essential materials, clothing, food, security aspects, first aid, transportation and a customer suggestion sheet.
Trip to Ollantaytambo, Chilca and Piscacucho
Early in the morning ( 4:30 - 5:00 ) we will pick you up at your hotel by bus and transfer you to Piscacucho in Chilca, passing through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the towns of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. There is an optional breakfast at Urubamba.
Beginning the Trek
At km. 82 on the railway line ( Piscacucho ) you and your fellow travelers prepare your backpacks and, accompanied by your guide and porters, begin the trek by crossing the suspension bridge over the Urubamba river. Your adventure on The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starts at this point.
Patallaqta ("Town on the Heights")
This is an Archaeological Complex at the foot of a mountain on the left bank of the Cusichaca River, a tributary of the Urubamba River. There is a large number of agricultural terraces that probably served to feed other towns and " tambos" on the Inca Trail. Its urban sector has more than one hundred buildings. It also has an Inca altar named " Pulpituyoq".
Wayllabamba ("Grassy Prairie")
This is a small Indigenous village located at the foot of a mountain and surrounded by fields of corn, potatoes, etc. On sunny days, you can see the snow covering peaks of the Cordillera of Urubamba, including Mt.Veronica . Most groups normally camp here on their first night because it has public baths and plenty of water. In Patawasi, an archeological site nearby, there are Inca terraces and some ancient buildings.
Abra de Warmiwañiusca ("Dead Woman's Pass")
This is the highest point on the Inca Trail. The trail is steep here, and so the trek is hard and tedious. A definite change in nature can be appreciated on the way, from temperate valley forest to the treeless grasslands of the windswept puna. A highland grass called "ichu", used for pasture, grows here. There is a campsite called "llulluchapampa" just before the pass, situated on a flat area surrounded by two streams of crystalline water, and again with public baths. Many hikers rest here before the final trek to the pass which is cold and windy.
We recommend not to stay too long in order to avoid altitude sickness (soroche).
Runkuraqay ("Oval Buiding")
This is an Inca "tambo" built in a semi circular shape that overlooks the valley of Paqaymayu ("Hidden River"). On the way to the Inca site, at the bottom of the valley, there is the Paqaymayu campsite, with plenty of water, public baths and a small waterfall. You can rest here and have some lunch. The trail then climbs to the Runkuraqay Pass (4,000 m.a.s.l. / 13,114 f.a.s.l.), passing by the twin lakes of "Yanacocha" ("Black Lake"). It's also possible to camp here.
Sayaqmarka ("Dominant Town")
This is a magnificient Inca site situated on the edge of a mountain with a panoramic view of the Aobamba Valley, and in the distance the snow covering the peak of Mt. Pumasillo. This ruin has narrow mazelike halls. The only access to the site is by a steep, but solid stone staircase built into the edge of the mountain. Descending quickly by the same stairs, on our way back to the Trail, we will find a cloud forest full of exotic plants, such us orchids, moss, and lichens, and the song of the birds and calls of the native wildlife, all perfectly harmonized in this unique environment. The sensation of being in these diverse natural environments is an experience to treasure for the rest of your life.
On our way to the trail, we also pass by Conchamarka, a small, recently discovered archaeological complex, and Chakicocha ("Dry Lake") campsite, a spacious flat area with public baths and good water supply. The trail then starts to climb again by the edge of the mountains arriving at the first tunnel on the Trail. The tunnel is 20 meters long and has stairs carved out of solid rock. Coming out of the other end of the tunnel, we climb a little more and arrive at the third and last pass on the trail, Phuyupatamarka Pass.
Phuyupatamarka ("Town above the Clouds")
This is one of the most singular cities on the Inca Trail. Almost always surrounded by clouds typical of a cloud forest environment, Phuyupatamarka is located on the edge of a gorge that dominates the Urubamba valley. The town has many agricultural terraces and a group of ritual fountains with fresh running water.
At the top of the site, there is a square from where, with good weather, one can appreciate the gorgeous scenery of the Urubamba Valley and the snow covering peaks of the mountain range. At the lower part of the site, there is a group of circular and curved buildings that seem to follow the geographic form of the terrain, illustrating graphically the great skill of Inca engineers to harmonize man labor with nature. Near the Phuyupatamarka Pass, there are several small campsites with superb views of the surrounding landscape. Then the Inca Trail descends quite abruptly, going down by several stone staircases, and passing through a second tunnel, to continue on a cornice like path above the Urubamba Valley, and finally descending towards Wiñaywayna.
Wiñaywayna ("Forever Young")
This site is named after an orchid native in the area, which blooms all year-round, decorating the site with vibrant reds, violets and yellows. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful citadels on the trail, and the last urban center before Machu Picchu. The place was built on the steepest side of the valley over the left bank of the Urubamba River. It has four main sectors: the urban sector on the lower part of the town, with more that twenty buildings, the ritual fountains sector, the agricultural terraces sector and the Tower sector. The last sector has the finest architecture of the complex, leading experts to believe that it was a religious or royal quarter.
The following day, very early in the morning at about 4.15 a.m, we leave Wiñaywayna for the Intipunku or Gate of the Sun, to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu. From this point, the astonished traveler can contemplate the majesty and grandeur of Machu Picchu, the Sacred City of the Incas, under the first dawn rays.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is the Inca city, and many claim it to be the most beautiful, best preserved and most famous fortress in the world. It is the climax of the Inca Trail trip. The city was considered lost for many centuries, covered as it was by a lush vegetation typical of the Southern Peruvian Andes cloud forest, until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham, the American historian, on July 24, 1911.
The city is divided in three main sectors: urban, agricultural and adjacent areas. The urban sector has, amongst other attractions, the following archaelogical sites: the City Gate, the Ñusta's bedroom, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, ritual fountains, the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Temple, the Intiwatana (The Hitching Post of the Sun), the Main Plaza, the Sacred Rock, artisan workshops, the industrial quarter, and the jails. The agricultural sector includes the terraces, the funerary rock and the cementery. Finally the adjacent areas are: the Intipunku, the Temple of the Moon, Wayna Picchu (a mountain peak beside the city) and the Inca drawbridge.
The Incas worshiped the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains and the mother earth and Machu Picchu and the citadels all along the Inca trail were built primarily for religious purposes. Traveling along this Sacred Path, therefore, is now as it was in Inca times, a pilgrimage to the religious heart of the Inca Civilization.
A day before the tour, you and your fellow trekkers are given a "briefing" session where you receive information and recommendations about the trek schedule, campsites, park ecological regulations (Machu Picchu is a Natural Reserve protected by the Peruvian State), equipment and essential materials, clothing, food, security aspects, first aid, transportation and a customer suggestion sheet.
Trip to Ollantaytambo, Chilca and Piscacucho
Early in the morning ( 4:30 - 5:00 ) we will pick you up at your hotel by bus and transfer you to Piscacucho in Chilca, passing through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the towns of Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. There is an optional breakfast at Urubamba.
Beginning the Trek
At km. 82 on the railway line ( Piscacucho ) you and your fellow travelers prepare your backpacks and, accompanied by your guide and porters, begin the trek by crossing the suspension bridge over the Urubamba river. Your adventure on The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starts at this point.
Patallaqta ("Town on the Heights")
This is an Archaeological Complex at the foot of a mountain on the left bank of the Cusichaca River, a tributary of the Urubamba River. There is a large number of agricultural terraces that probably served to feed other towns and " tambos" on the Inca Trail. Its urban sector has more than one hundred buildings. It also has an Inca altar named " Pulpituyoq".
Wayllabamba ("Grassy Prairie")
This is a small Indigenous village located at the foot of a mountain and surrounded by fields of corn, potatoes, etc. On sunny days, you can see the snow covering peaks of the Cordillera of Urubamba, including Mt.Veronica . Most groups normally camp here on their first night because it has public baths and plenty of water. In Patawasi, an archeological site nearby, there are Inca terraces and some ancient buildings.
Abra de Warmiwañiusca ("Dead Woman's Pass")
This is the highest point on the Inca Trail. The trail is steep here, and so the trek is hard and tedious. A definite change in nature can be appreciated on the way, from temperate valley forest to the treeless grasslands of the windswept puna. A highland grass called "ichu", used for pasture, grows here. There is a campsite called "llulluchapampa" just before the pass, situated on a flat area surrounded by two streams of crystalline water, and again with public baths. Many hikers rest here before the final trek to the pass which is cold and windy.
We recommend not to stay too long in order to avoid altitude sickness (soroche).
Runkuraqay ("Oval Buiding")
This is an Inca "tambo" built in a semi circular shape that overlooks the valley of Paqaymayu ("Hidden River"). On the way to the Inca site, at the bottom of the valley, there is the Paqaymayu campsite, with plenty of water, public baths and a small waterfall. You can rest here and have some lunch. The trail then climbs to the Runkuraqay Pass (4,000 m.a.s.l. / 13,114 f.a.s.l.), passing by the twin lakes of "Yanacocha" ("Black Lake"). It's also possible to camp here.
Sayaqmarka ("Dominant Town")
This is a magnificient Inca site situated on the edge of a mountain with a panoramic view of the Aobamba Valley, and in the distance the snow covering the peak of Mt. Pumasillo. This ruin has narrow mazelike halls. The only access to the site is by a steep, but solid stone staircase built into the edge of the mountain. Descending quickly by the same stairs, on our way back to the Trail, we will find a cloud forest full of exotic plants, such us orchids, moss, and lichens, and the song of the birds and calls of the native wildlife, all perfectly harmonized in this unique environment. The sensation of being in these diverse natural environments is an experience to treasure for the rest of your life.
On our way to the trail, we also pass by Conchamarka, a small, recently discovered archaeological complex, and Chakicocha ("Dry Lake") campsite, a spacious flat area with public baths and good water supply. The trail then starts to climb again by the edge of the mountains arriving at the first tunnel on the Trail. The tunnel is 20 meters long and has stairs carved out of solid rock. Coming out of the other end of the tunnel, we climb a little more and arrive at the third and last pass on the trail, Phuyupatamarka Pass.
Phuyupatamarka ("Town above the Clouds")
This is one of the most singular cities on the Inca Trail. Almost always surrounded by clouds typical of a cloud forest environment, Phuyupatamarka is located on the edge of a gorge that dominates the Urubamba valley. The town has many agricultural terraces and a group of ritual fountains with fresh running water.
At the top of the site, there is a square from where, with good weather, one can appreciate the gorgeous scenery of the Urubamba Valley and the snow covering peaks of the mountain range. At the lower part of the site, there is a group of circular and curved buildings that seem to follow the geographic form of the terrain, illustrating graphically the great skill of Inca engineers to harmonize man labor with nature. Near the Phuyupatamarka Pass, there are several small campsites with superb views of the surrounding landscape. Then the Inca Trail descends quite abruptly, going down by several stone staircases, and passing through a second tunnel, to continue on a cornice like path above the Urubamba Valley, and finally descending towards Wiñaywayna.
Wiñaywayna ("Forever Young")
This site is named after an orchid native in the area, which blooms all year-round, decorating the site with vibrant reds, violets and yellows. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful citadels on the trail, and the last urban center before Machu Picchu. The place was built on the steepest side of the valley over the left bank of the Urubamba River. It has four main sectors: the urban sector on the lower part of the town, with more that twenty buildings, the ritual fountains sector, the agricultural terraces sector and the Tower sector. The last sector has the finest architecture of the complex, leading experts to believe that it was a religious or royal quarter.
The following day, very early in the morning at about 4.15 a.m, we leave Wiñaywayna for the Intipunku or Gate of the Sun, to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu. From this point, the astonished traveler can contemplate the majesty and grandeur of Machu Picchu, the Sacred City of the Incas, under the first dawn rays.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is the Inca city, and many claim it to be the most beautiful, best preserved and most famous fortress in the world. It is the climax of the Inca Trail trip. The city was considered lost for many centuries, covered as it was by a lush vegetation typical of the Southern Peruvian Andes cloud forest, until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham, the American historian, on July 24, 1911.
The city is divided in three main sectors: urban, agricultural and adjacent areas. The urban sector has, amongst other attractions, the following archaelogical sites: the City Gate, the Ñusta's bedroom, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, ritual fountains, the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Temple, the Intiwatana (The Hitching Post of the Sun), the Main Plaza, the Sacred Rock, artisan workshops, the industrial quarter, and the jails. The agricultural sector includes the terraces, the funerary rock and the cementery. Finally the adjacent areas are: the Intipunku, the Temple of the Moon, Wayna Picchu (a mountain peak beside the city) and the Inca drawbridge.
The Incas worshiped the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains and the mother earth and Machu Picchu and the citadels all along the Inca trail were built primarily for religious purposes. Traveling along this Sacred Path, therefore, is now as it was in Inca times, a pilgrimage to the religious heart of the Inca Civilization.
INCA TRAIL HIKING THE INCA TRAIL Machu Picchu
The Lost City of Machu Picchu is without doubt the most recognizable symbol of Inca Civilization for us as well as for the international visitor. "The Inca Trail", as it is known now, was the Royal Highway that led pilgrims and officials of the Empire to the Sacred City of the Incas.
Hiking the Inca Trail is a highly rewarding holiday choice! It is the best of its kind in the world, due to its exquisite natural beauty and unforgettable views offering a wide variety of ecological areas, from deserts to tropical Andean cloud forest; home to exotic plants and animal life. On the Inca Trail, there are over 250 known species of orchids , and in the different ecosystems, numerous rare birds, animals, and reptiles including several species considered to be in danger of extinction.
Walking the ancient Inca Trail gives you the opportunity to visit overgrown Inca buildings undiscovered by the Spanish Empire, giving you the feeling that you are the first to come across them.
Walking this Andean highway is a truly fascinating and unforgettable experience. The Trail is paved with blocks of stone, It has stone stairways, tunnels and wooden bridges. It crosses rivers, streams, temperate valleys, warm cloud forests and cold highlands.
Witnessing and experiencing all this wonder make the traveler to marvel at the intellectual and spiritual grandeur of Andean man, whose highest achievement was Inca civilization.
The Inca Trail is part of a 30,000 kilometer highway system, that integrated the vast Inca Empire of Tawantinsuyo (The Four Ways), running from southern Colombia to central Chile passing through the cities of Quito in Ecuador; Cajamarca, Huanuco, Jauja, Huamanga and Cusco in Peru; La Paz and Cochabamba in Bolivia; and finishing in Salta and Tucuman in Argentina. These highways run mainly by the coast, through the Highlands and in some cases reached the tropical mountains near the Amazon forest. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a fine example of this last type of highway.
Following the footsteps of the original Incas, on one of the most accessible treks in the region, the Inca Trail to the enigmatic Machu Picchu, The Lost City of the Incas, is one of the greatest adventures you are ever likely to have nowadays. Years of experience with adventurers on this trail have helped us to design three unforgettable Inca Trailtreks that we are now proud to offer you.
Hiking the Inca Trail is a highly rewarding holiday choice! It is the best of its kind in the world, due to its exquisite natural beauty and unforgettable views offering a wide variety of ecological areas, from deserts to tropical Andean cloud forest; home to exotic plants and animal life. On the Inca Trail, there are over 250 known species of orchids , and in the different ecosystems, numerous rare birds, animals, and reptiles including several species considered to be in danger of extinction.
Walking the ancient Inca Trail gives you the opportunity to visit overgrown Inca buildings undiscovered by the Spanish Empire, giving you the feeling that you are the first to come across them.
Walking this Andean highway is a truly fascinating and unforgettable experience. The Trail is paved with blocks of stone, It has stone stairways, tunnels and wooden bridges. It crosses rivers, streams, temperate valleys, warm cloud forests and cold highlands.
Witnessing and experiencing all this wonder make the traveler to marvel at the intellectual and spiritual grandeur of Andean man, whose highest achievement was Inca civilization.
The Inca Trail is part of a 30,000 kilometer highway system, that integrated the vast Inca Empire of Tawantinsuyo (The Four Ways), running from southern Colombia to central Chile passing through the cities of Quito in Ecuador; Cajamarca, Huanuco, Jauja, Huamanga and Cusco in Peru; La Paz and Cochabamba in Bolivia; and finishing in Salta and Tucuman in Argentina. These highways run mainly by the coast, through the Highlands and in some cases reached the tropical mountains near the Amazon forest. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a fine example of this last type of highway.
Following the footsteps of the original Incas, on one of the most accessible treks in the region, the Inca Trail to the enigmatic Machu Picchu, The Lost City of the Incas, is one of the greatest adventures you are ever likely to have nowadays. Years of experience with adventurers on this trail have helped us to design three unforgettable Inca Trailtreks that we are now proud to offer you.
TRANSPORTATION IN MACHU PICCHU
Peru Rail (ex-ENAFER, the National Railroad Company) offers a variety of services to Machu Picchu, from San Pedro Station, in Cusco, to Aguas Calientes.
WHEN TO GO TO MACHU PICCHU
The ideal months for visiting Machu Picchu are from June to October as the weather is mild during this time of the year.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN MACHU PICCHU
From June to October the mornings are warm with brilliant sunshine, though it can get quite cool in the shade. At night temperatures can drop to 10ºC.
From from December to April showers and downpours are common, followed by bright, intense sunshine.
We recommend to take a raincoat or umbrella to protect yourself from the rain.
From from December to April showers and downpours are common, followed by bright, intense sunshine.
We recommend to take a raincoat or umbrella to protect yourself from the rain.
RESTAURANTS IN MACHU PICCHU
In Aguas Calientes, the small town situated near down Machu Picchu, there are several restaurants and hotels which offer you a varied carte du jour with the most delicious dishes of Cusco and the best of the international food.
In Machu Picchu top, located in a privileged site with a spectacular view on the citadel of Machu Picchu, you will find Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge restaurants offering you an exquisite menu of Peruvian and International food.
In Machu Picchu top, located in a privileged site with a spectacular view on the citadel of Machu Picchu, you will find Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge restaurants offering you an exquisite menu of Peruvian and International food.
HOTEL AND LODGING IN MACHU PICCHU
As tourists have access to hotel facilities in Cusco city, a one-day visit to Machu Picchu is feasible. However, if the visitor wishes to stay overnight, the small town of Aguas Calientes, about 8 kilometers from Machu Picchu, has a good number of small hotels, hostels, and restaurants as well as standard facilities such as a police station, electricity, water supply and telephones.
For those taking the Inca Trail, there is a lodge very close to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna which has terraces and comfortable rooms.
If you count with higher budget and you want a special place where spend the night, consult about the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located close to the Citadel.
For those taking the Inca Trail, there is a lodge very close to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna which has terraces and comfortable rooms.
If you count with higher budget and you want a special place where spend the night, consult about the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located close to the Citadel.
MachuPicchu Travel and Tour Information Machupichu
In the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it. Not only has it great snow peaks looming above the clouds more than two miles overhead, gigantic precipices of many-colored granite rising sheer for thousands of feet above the foaming, glistening, roaring rapids; it has also, in striking contrast, orchids and tree ferns, the delectable beauty of luxurious vegetation, and the mysterious witchery of the jungle."
Hiram Bingham on Machu Picchu
Since Machu Picchu discovery on July 24, 1911, by north american Hiram Bingham, it has been considered oneof the world's greatest architectural and archaeological monuments, due to its extraordinary magnificence and harmonious structure.
At 2,400 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l), in the province of Urubamba, department of Cusco, Machu Picchu surprises us because of the way its stone constructions are spread over a narrow and uneven mountain top, bordering a sheer 400 meter cliff side of the Urubamba River canyon.
Machu Picchu is a citadel shrouded in mystery, and to this day archaeologists have not uncovered the history andpurpose of this city of stone. The site has an area of about one square kilometer, and stands in a region that the Incas considered to be magical, due to the meeting of the Andes mountains with the mighty Amazon river.
Perhaps, Machu Picchu mystery may never be fully explained as, so far, there are only hypothesis and conjectures. For some, it may have been an advance settlement for planned further expansions by the Incas. Others believe Machu Picchu have been a monastery where young girls (acllas) were trained to serve the Inca and the Willac Uno (HIgh Priest). Support for this theory comes from the fact that of the 135 bodies discovered while exploring the site, 109 were female.
The surprising perfection and beauty of Machu Picchu's walls, built by joining stone to stone without using any cement or adhesive whatsoever, has led to many myths developing around how the city was constructed .
It is said that a bird by the name of Kak'aqllu knew the formula for softening rock but by command, perhaps, of the ancient Inca gods, had its tongue torn out. It is also said that there was a magic plant which could dissolve and compress stone.
Nonetheless, mysteries and myths aside, the real attractiveness of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, lies in its squares, aqueducts and watchtowers, its observatories and in its sun clock, evidence of the wisdom and skill of the city's Andean builders.
ATTRACTIONS IN MACHU PICCHU
"I was left speechless" wrote Hiram Bingham, about the moment he discovered the ancient citadel, and since then thousands of visitors on seeing Machu Picchu for the first time have reacted in the same way. Machu Picchu is an indispensable place to visit for everybody who gets to Cusco, and on seeing it, you, like the famous North American archaeologist, will be left speechless and won't want to leave.
The Citadel of Machu Picchu:
Machu Picchu has two sectors; an agricultural sector and an urban sector. The agricultural sector consists of stepped terraces for cultivation (andenes) built on the slopes of surrounding mountains.
The urban sector is "U" shaped and has two immense architectural groups with streets and stairwells that consist of a total of 3,000 steps, as well as a network of water canals suitable for domestic and irrigation use, interspersed with small squares and courtyards.
The constructions in Machu Picchu have rectangular floor spaces. Many of the enclosures, called masmas, have only three walls, which at one time were all thatched with tree trunks and ichu (straw).
Doors and windows are encased in trapezoid shapes as arethe niches in the walls where idols and other objects were placed; a typical feature of Inca architecture.
Each wall in Machu Picchu is different; even those that share the same enclosure have different styles. The best finished wall is the main wall of the Templo Principal (Main Temple), where the cut and polished stones are flawlessly fitted together.
Worthy of attention too are the Intihuatana, a sundial made out of polished stone; the Torreón (Watchtower), a building with curved walls, and the Templo de las Tres Ventanas (Temple of the Three Windows).
HISTORICAL SANCTUARY
Due to its special location in a region of Peru where the Andes and the Amazon meet, the 32,592 hectares surrounding the citadel have been declared a protected area in order to preserve the flora, fauna and geological formations, as well as the archeological remains .
The Machu Picchu Sanctuary is a priceless example of Andean archeology and culture, combined with a spectacular natural environment home to species of fauna and flora unknown elsewhere in the world.
Apart from Machu Picchu itself, there are 34 other archeological groups in the Sanctuary, which are interconnected by the ancient Inca Trail, an impressive original Inca route, which nowadays is open to tourists.
Notable amongst these sites are the Inca constructions of Runquracay, the ruins of Sacyamarca (similar to Machu Picchu), the citadel of Phuyupatamarca ("Town above the Clouds"), the ruins of Wiñay Wayna ("Eternally Young"), the Temple of the Moon and the archeological group known as the Gran Caverna ("Great Cavern"). The flora of Machu Picchu is exuberant, and in higher areas different species of high-Andean grains are found. In the low areas, trees such as the "aliso" Alnus jorullensis, "nogal" Juglans neotropica, "intimpa" Podocarpus glomeratus, "Kisuar" Buddleja incana may be found. There are also 30 genus and over 90 species of orchids.
Among the fauna of Machu Picchu we can find birds such as the "condor" (Vultur gryphus) and diverse species of hummingbirds, and mammals such as pumas (Felis concolor), the "tigrillo" (Felis pardalis) as well as a few species of monkeys and ophidians of the Bothrops species. There are species in danger of extinction in the Sanctuary as well, such as the "rock hen" ("gallito de las rocas"), the "spectacled bear" ("oso de anteojos"), the otter and the mountain cat.
Hiram Bingham on Machu Picchu
Since Machu Picchu discovery on July 24, 1911, by north american Hiram Bingham, it has been considered oneof the world's greatest architectural and archaeological monuments, due to its extraordinary magnificence and harmonious structure.
At 2,400 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l), in the province of Urubamba, department of Cusco, Machu Picchu surprises us because of the way its stone constructions are spread over a narrow and uneven mountain top, bordering a sheer 400 meter cliff side of the Urubamba River canyon.
Machu Picchu is a citadel shrouded in mystery, and to this day archaeologists have not uncovered the history andpurpose of this city of stone. The site has an area of about one square kilometer, and stands in a region that the Incas considered to be magical, due to the meeting of the Andes mountains with the mighty Amazon river.
Perhaps, Machu Picchu mystery may never be fully explained as, so far, there are only hypothesis and conjectures. For some, it may have been an advance settlement for planned further expansions by the Incas. Others believe Machu Picchu have been a monastery where young girls (acllas) were trained to serve the Inca and the Willac Uno (HIgh Priest). Support for this theory comes from the fact that of the 135 bodies discovered while exploring the site, 109 were female.
The surprising perfection and beauty of Machu Picchu's walls, built by joining stone to stone without using any cement or adhesive whatsoever, has led to many myths developing around how the city was constructed .
It is said that a bird by the name of Kak'aqllu knew the formula for softening rock but by command, perhaps, of the ancient Inca gods, had its tongue torn out. It is also said that there was a magic plant which could dissolve and compress stone.
Nonetheless, mysteries and myths aside, the real attractiveness of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, lies in its squares, aqueducts and watchtowers, its observatories and in its sun clock, evidence of the wisdom and skill of the city's Andean builders.
ATTRACTIONS IN MACHU PICCHU
"I was left speechless" wrote Hiram Bingham, about the moment he discovered the ancient citadel, and since then thousands of visitors on seeing Machu Picchu for the first time have reacted in the same way. Machu Picchu is an indispensable place to visit for everybody who gets to Cusco, and on seeing it, you, like the famous North American archaeologist, will be left speechless and won't want to leave.
The Citadel of Machu Picchu:
Machu Picchu has two sectors; an agricultural sector and an urban sector. The agricultural sector consists of stepped terraces for cultivation (andenes) built on the slopes of surrounding mountains.
The urban sector is "U" shaped and has two immense architectural groups with streets and stairwells that consist of a total of 3,000 steps, as well as a network of water canals suitable for domestic and irrigation use, interspersed with small squares and courtyards.
The constructions in Machu Picchu have rectangular floor spaces. Many of the enclosures, called masmas, have only three walls, which at one time were all thatched with tree trunks and ichu (straw).
Doors and windows are encased in trapezoid shapes as arethe niches in the walls where idols and other objects were placed; a typical feature of Inca architecture.
Each wall in Machu Picchu is different; even those that share the same enclosure have different styles. The best finished wall is the main wall of the Templo Principal (Main Temple), where the cut and polished stones are flawlessly fitted together.
Worthy of attention too are the Intihuatana, a sundial made out of polished stone; the Torreón (Watchtower), a building with curved walls, and the Templo de las Tres Ventanas (Temple of the Three Windows).
HISTORICAL SANCTUARY
Due to its special location in a region of Peru where the Andes and the Amazon meet, the 32,592 hectares surrounding the citadel have been declared a protected area in order to preserve the flora, fauna and geological formations, as well as the archeological remains .
The Machu Picchu Sanctuary is a priceless example of Andean archeology and culture, combined with a spectacular natural environment home to species of fauna and flora unknown elsewhere in the world.
Apart from Machu Picchu itself, there are 34 other archeological groups in the Sanctuary, which are interconnected by the ancient Inca Trail, an impressive original Inca route, which nowadays is open to tourists.
Notable amongst these sites are the Inca constructions of Runquracay, the ruins of Sacyamarca (similar to Machu Picchu), the citadel of Phuyupatamarca ("Town above the Clouds"), the ruins of Wiñay Wayna ("Eternally Young"), the Temple of the Moon and the archeological group known as the Gran Caverna ("Great Cavern"). The flora of Machu Picchu is exuberant, and in higher areas different species of high-Andean grains are found. In the low areas, trees such as the "aliso" Alnus jorullensis, "nogal" Juglans neotropica, "intimpa" Podocarpus glomeratus, "Kisuar" Buddleja incana may be found. There are also 30 genus and over 90 species of orchids.
Among the fauna of Machu Picchu we can find birds such as the "condor" (Vultur gryphus) and diverse species of hummingbirds, and mammals such as pumas (Felis concolor), the "tigrillo" (Felis pardalis) as well as a few species of monkeys and ophidians of the Bothrops species. There are species in danger of extinction in the Sanctuary as well, such as the "rock hen" ("gallito de las rocas"), the "spectacled bear" ("oso de anteojos"), the otter and the mountain cat.
CUSCO - PERU Transportation
You can use public transport buses and mini-buses to get about the city with a charge of just under one Sol (S/.1.00). On the other hand, taxis have a fixed urban tariff of two Soles (S/. 2.00) possibly rising to five Soles if you're going to the airport.
To get to Machu Picchu, the visitor must travel by direct train to Aguas Calientes and from there, board any of the buses provided by the six different agencies which cover the route up to the citadel.
Peru Rail (ex-ENAFER The National Railroad Company) offers a variety of services to Machu Picchu.
Tourism autowagon: Daily departures from Cusco 7 days a week. 6 and 9 a.m. Length of journey: 3 hours. Return to Cusco: 3 and 6.30 p.m. The service includes bilingual hostesses, video-tv, snacks, sale of souvenirs and tourist Information. Fare: 55 dollars.
Inka Coach (Coche Inka): Monday through Saturday. Departure from Cusco: 6:25, 8:40 and 10:15 a.m. Return to Cusco: 4, 6 and 8:15 p.m. Same services as provided by the autowagon. Fare: 45 dollars.
Pullman Coach (34 dollars) and Tourist Class (20 dollars) with the same times of departure and arrival as the Inka Coach.
To get to Machu Picchu, the visitor must travel by direct train to Aguas Calientes and from there, board any of the buses provided by the six different agencies which cover the route up to the citadel.
Peru Rail (ex-ENAFER The National Railroad Company) offers a variety of services to Machu Picchu.
Tourism autowagon: Daily departures from Cusco 7 days a week. 6 and 9 a.m. Length of journey: 3 hours. Return to Cusco: 3 and 6.30 p.m. The service includes bilingual hostesses, video-tv, snacks, sale of souvenirs and tourist Information. Fare: 55 dollars.
Inka Coach (Coche Inka): Monday through Saturday. Departure from Cusco: 6:25, 8:40 and 10:15 a.m. Return to Cusco: 4, 6 and 8:15 p.m. Same services as provided by the autowagon. Fare: 45 dollars.
Pullman Coach (34 dollars) and Tourist Class (20 dollars) with the same times of departure and arrival as the Inka Coach.
CUSCO - PERU FLIGHTS
From Lima you can get to Cusco by air, in a 70 minutes approximately flight.
Flights from Lima to Cusco:
Daily flights via Lan Peru, StarPeru, Taca Peru .
Flightsfrom Cusco to Lima:
Daily flights via Lan Peru, StarPeru, Taca Peru .
We recommend you always reconfirm reservations and check flight departure times.
Cusco can also be reached overland but the journey is exhausting and takes close to a day and a half. From Lima as a starting point there are three routes:
Route 1: Lima - Arequipa - Juliaca -Cusco.
Route 2: Lima - Nasca - Puquio - Chalhuanca - Abancay - Cusco.
Route 3: Lima - Huancayo - Ayacucho - Abancay - Cusco.
The journey by road is not recommended, its better by far to get to Cusco by air.
Flights from Lima to Cusco:
Daily flights via Lan Peru, StarPeru, Taca Peru .
Flightsfrom Cusco to Lima:
Daily flights via Lan Peru, StarPeru, Taca Peru .
We recommend you always reconfirm reservations and check flight departure times.
Cusco can also be reached overland but the journey is exhausting and takes close to a day and a half. From Lima as a starting point there are three routes:
Route 1: Lima - Arequipa - Juliaca -Cusco.
Route 2: Lima - Nasca - Puquio - Chalhuanca - Abancay - Cusco.
Route 3: Lima - Huancayo - Ayacucho - Abancay - Cusco.
The journey by road is not recommended, its better by far to get to Cusco by air.
WHEN TO GO TO CUSCO
The ideal time to visit Cusco is between June and October, when you can enjoy brilliant sunshine from very early in the day, as is the case throughout the Peruvian highlands all year round. Nevertheless, it can get rather chilly in the shade, thus you should always keep a warm garment with you when you're out and about.
Another important reason for visiting Cusco in June is the Inti Raymi or "Celebration of the Sun". This event is a reenactment of the most important ceremony from Inca times, when the Inca Emperor venerated the Sun God, and implored Him to grant abundant harvests and eradicate famine from the Empire.
Another important reason for visiting Cusco in June is the Inti Raymi or "Celebration of the Sun". This event is a reenactment of the most important ceremony from Inca times, when the Inca Emperor venerated the Sun God, and implored Him to grant abundant harvests and eradicate famine from the Empire.
CUSCO - PERU WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Between June and October, temperatures can drop to almost about 3º or less at night, but unlike from April to December, there are no heavy rains.
Generally speaking, Cusco's weather can be cold, but rarely freezing.
The average annual temperature is 12ºC, ranging from an average morning temperature of 18º and nighttime temperature at around 6º
Generally speaking, Cusco's weather can be cold, but rarely freezing.
The average annual temperature is 12ºC, ranging from an average morning temperature of 18º and nighttime temperature at around 6º
CUSCO PERU - TYPICAL FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
No need to worry about eating out in Cusco, as the city offers a variety of menus to suit all tastes, excellent service and very fine cuisine. Why ask for more? The majority of restaurants are close to the Main Square ("Plaza de Armas"), offering different levels of service quality and menu variety, depending on your budget or the price you're prepared to pay.
However, if you want to try typical Cuscan food, we recommend you make a round of the Cusqueñan "picanterías" and "chicherías", to try some native dishes. If around in November or December you could try Quso Kapiche, a stew of boiled lima beans and potatoes, seasoned with onion, garlic, lard, milk and red pepper.
On Carnival Tuesday, in February, a traditional soup prepared with beef, lamb, bacon, pork, cabbage leaves, potatoes, chick peas and rice is served.
You should also try rabbit or guinea pig "pepián". "Chicha de jora"; an Andean beverage made from fermented corn, is also worth a try.
However, if you want to try typical Cuscan food, we recommend you make a round of the Cusqueñan "picanterías" and "chicherías", to try some native dishes. If around in November or December you could try Quso Kapiche, a stew of boiled lima beans and potatoes, seasoned with onion, garlic, lard, milk and red pepper.
On Carnival Tuesday, in February, a traditional soup prepared with beef, lamb, bacon, pork, cabbage leaves, potatoes, chick peas and rice is served.
You should also try rabbit or guinea pig "pepián". "Chicha de jora"; an Andean beverage made from fermented corn, is also worth a try.
Cusco - Peru HOTEL AND LODGING
HOTEL AND LODGING
Cusco offers a wide range of hotels and hostels, providing the tourist with a variety of facilities and quality service.
One can find basic hostels (lodging) or those with 1, 2 or 3-stars; Apart Hotels and hotels from 1 to 5 stars.
There are also private homes, authorized by the Cusco Municipality to take in lodgers at reasonable prices.
Prices for accommodation vary according to the category of the establishment.
The current rate in Cusco for one night can be anything between 10 and 300 dollars.
Cusco offers a wide range of hotels and hostels, providing the tourist with a variety of facilities and quality service.
One can find basic hostels (lodging) or those with 1, 2 or 3-stars; Apart Hotels and hotels from 1 to 5 stars.
There are also private homes, authorized by the Cusco Municipality to take in lodgers at reasonable prices.
Prices for accommodation vary according to the category of the establishment.
The current rate in Cusco for one night can be anything between 10 and 300 dollars.
CUSCO - PERU ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
The sites surrounding Cusco, such as Machu Picchu, Saqsaywaman and Ollantaytambo, are, due to their grandeur and perfection, archaeological jewels which reflect the greatness of Andean man.
Machu Picchu located in the province of Urubamba, close to the Collpani valley, at an altitude of 2,330 masl, and surrounded by exuberant vegetation, adorned by the most diverse and colorful orchids, Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Some scientists believe that Machu Picchu was a fortress; others, that it was a citadel or monastery. What is beyond doubt however, is the skill of the Inca architects who built it. Machu Picchu has clearly differentiated sectors, such as an agricultural area, squares, living quarters, watchtowers, observatories, and a sundial, amongst others.
The trapezoidal doors and windows stand out , as do the roofs, which have one or two sides, and which, in Inca times, were covered with tree trunks and "ichu" (a local straw). Due to its unique archaeological value, UNESCO has declared Machu Picchu Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.To get to the site, you must take a three hour train ride to Aguas Calientes , a small town at the foot of the mountain where Machu Picchu is situated, and then a 30 minute bus ride up the mountain. If you are a trekking enthusiast you can reach the citadel on a four-day trek along an ancient roadway, the Inca Trail.
Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park
Sacsayhuaman covers an area of 3,000 hectares, two kilometers north of Cusco. The site is considered unique in the world due to its singular architectural characteristics.
In building Sacsayhuaman, the Incas used stone blocks of up to 9 meters high and 5 meters wide, each fitting perfectly with the other. The fortress has an area of approximately 360 meters and has doors, galleries and watchtowers at strategic points.
Apart from the fortress of Sacsayhuaman , the archeological park also contains the sites of Q'Enqo or Kenko ("labyrinth"), a center for ceremonies worshipping the Pachamama ("mother earth"); the Puca Pucara or "Red Fort" and Tambomachay or the Inca Bath, built to worship the element of Water.
OLLANTAYTAMBO
Ollantaytambo, 97 kms. from Cusco, was an administrative, social, religious and agricultural center in Inca times.
The site, and the town of the same name, is a must-see amongst the many sites of interest along the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley runs along the banks of the Urubamba or, in Quechua, "Wilcamayu" River.
It's astounding natural beauty is further accentuated and embellished by the many pre-Hispanic ruins found all along its course.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is comprised of the towns of Pisaq (32 kilometers from Cusco) where there is a pre-Colombian settlement and stepped terraces; Calca (50 kilometers from Cusco), famous for the sulfurous thermal-medicinal springs of Machacancha ; Yucay, where the advanced agricultural engineering skills of the Incas can be appreciated; and Urubamba, the heart of the valley, and ideal for adventure tourism.
Machu Picchu located in the province of Urubamba, close to the Collpani valley, at an altitude of 2,330 masl, and surrounded by exuberant vegetation, adorned by the most diverse and colorful orchids, Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Some scientists believe that Machu Picchu was a fortress; others, that it was a citadel or monastery. What is beyond doubt however, is the skill of the Inca architects who built it. Machu Picchu has clearly differentiated sectors, such as an agricultural area, squares, living quarters, watchtowers, observatories, and a sundial, amongst others.
The trapezoidal doors and windows stand out , as do the roofs, which have one or two sides, and which, in Inca times, were covered with tree trunks and "ichu" (a local straw). Due to its unique archaeological value, UNESCO has declared Machu Picchu Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.To get to the site, you must take a three hour train ride to Aguas Calientes , a small town at the foot of the mountain where Machu Picchu is situated, and then a 30 minute bus ride up the mountain. If you are a trekking enthusiast you can reach the citadel on a four-day trek along an ancient roadway, the Inca Trail.
Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park
Sacsayhuaman covers an area of 3,000 hectares, two kilometers north of Cusco. The site is considered unique in the world due to its singular architectural characteristics.
In building Sacsayhuaman, the Incas used stone blocks of up to 9 meters high and 5 meters wide, each fitting perfectly with the other. The fortress has an area of approximately 360 meters and has doors, galleries and watchtowers at strategic points.
Apart from the fortress of Sacsayhuaman , the archeological park also contains the sites of Q'Enqo or Kenko ("labyrinth"), a center for ceremonies worshipping the Pachamama ("mother earth"); the Puca Pucara or "Red Fort" and Tambomachay or the Inca Bath, built to worship the element of Water.
OLLANTAYTAMBO
Ollantaytambo, 97 kms. from Cusco, was an administrative, social, religious and agricultural center in Inca times.
The site, and the town of the same name, is a must-see amongst the many sites of interest along the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley runs along the banks of the Urubamba or, in Quechua, "Wilcamayu" River.
It's astounding natural beauty is further accentuated and embellished by the many pre-Hispanic ruins found all along its course.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is comprised of the towns of Pisaq (32 kilometers from Cusco) where there is a pre-Colombian settlement and stepped terraces; Calca (50 kilometers from Cusco), famous for the sulfurous thermal-medicinal springs of Machacancha ; Yucay, where the advanced agricultural engineering skills of the Incas can be appreciated; and Urubamba, the heart of the valley, and ideal for adventure tourism.
CUSCO - PERU CHURCHES AND CONVENTS
The Cathedral of Cusco was originally built inside the Inca structure of the Suntur Wasi (currently the Church of El Triunfo). Years later, the Cathedral was ordered to be rebuilt in the Kiswarcancha (Palace of Inca Wiracocha).
The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo are, without doubt, amongst the most beautiful examples of Spanish architecture superimposed on Inca constructions to be found in Cusco. This complex was built over the Qoricancha or Korikancha, meaning the Temple of the Sun.
La Compañía de Jesus, or Jesuit Cathedral,
is a splendid stone construction housing, amongst other treasures, a collection of unique paintings. It was built over what was formerly the Amaru Cancha ("Fence of the Serpent") close to Cusco's main square.
The Church and Convent of La Merced, built in 1536, is famous as the home of the shrine of Our Lady of La Merced, decorated with gold and precious stones.
The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo are, without doubt, amongst the most beautiful examples of Spanish architecture superimposed on Inca constructions to be found in Cusco. This complex was built over the Qoricancha or Korikancha, meaning the Temple of the Sun.
La Compañía de Jesus, or Jesuit Cathedral,
is a splendid stone construction housing, amongst other treasures, a collection of unique paintings. It was built over what was formerly the Amaru Cancha ("Fence of the Serpent") close to Cusco's main square.
The Church and Convent of La Merced, built in 1536, is famous as the home of the shrine of Our Lady of La Merced, decorated with gold and precious stones.
CUSCO - PERU ATTRACTIONS
Day or night, Cusco is a city full of charisma and attractions. Mornings are ideal for strolling through its streets, visiting its churches, wandering about the artisan quarter of San Blas or going to the towns and archeological remains in the surrounding countryside.
At night, when the city is dressed up in light, discos, pubs and restaurants are the main attractions. Cusco's night life offers you a wide variety of places to go out and enjoy yourself, satisfying even the most different demands.
Being in Cusco, visits to the city's Churches and Convents, and the nearby archeological sites as Machu Picchu , Saqsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo are a must
At night, when the city is dressed up in light, discos, pubs and restaurants are the main attractions. Cusco's night life offers you a wide variety of places to go out and enjoy yourself, satisfying even the most different demands.
Being in Cusco, visits to the city's Churches and Convents, and the nearby archeological sites as Machu Picchu , Saqsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo are a must
CUSCO - PERU TRAVEL AND TOUR INFORMATION
CUSCO (also spelt Cuzco with a "z"), mythical capital of the Inca Empire, preserves its stone walls and battlements with pride, evoking the greatness of the "Children of the Sun". It's a city packed full of historical monuments and relics, of myths and legends, which seem to come to life every time you walk through its century old streets.
At 3,360 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), in the Huatanay valley of the southeastern Andes of Peru, visiting Cusco is an unforgettable experience, as it allows you to uncover some of the mysteries of the Incas, because Cusco was the center, the "navel" of the Andean world.
The history of the Imperial City of Cusco, the legend goes, begins in the 11th or 12th century when the first Inca, Manco Capac, obeying the dictates of the Sun God, founded Cusco.
On March 23, 1534, Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador of Peru, refounded the Inca city as a Spanish colonial settlement.
Today, Cusco, the archeological capital of Peru and America, is a city open to the world, warmly welcoming its many visitors. Visitors marvel at the city's unusual physical appearance, which uniquely and harmoniously integrates, in the same urban environmentr, pre-Colombian monuments such as the Korikancha, ("Temple of the Sun"), the Ajlla Wasi, the Amaru Cancha ("Fence of the Serpent"), and the Kiswar Kancha, amongst others, with "mestizo" (mixed Spanish and native) architectural gems such as Cusco Cathedral, the Church and Convent of La Merced and the Temple of San Blas.
The city of Cusco is surrounded by impressive archeological remains such as the citadel of Machu Picchu, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Ollantaytambo compound and picturesque towns such as Pisaq, Calca and Yucay, which still preserve the traditions of their ancestors.
At 3,360 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), in the Huatanay valley of the southeastern Andes of Peru, visiting Cusco is an unforgettable experience, as it allows you to uncover some of the mysteries of the Incas, because Cusco was the center, the "navel" of the Andean world.
The history of the Imperial City of Cusco, the legend goes, begins in the 11th or 12th century when the first Inca, Manco Capac, obeying the dictates of the Sun God, founded Cusco.
On March 23, 1534, Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador of Peru, refounded the Inca city as a Spanish colonial settlement.
Today, Cusco, the archeological capital of Peru and America, is a city open to the world, warmly welcoming its many visitors. Visitors marvel at the city's unusual physical appearance, which uniquely and harmoniously integrates, in the same urban environmentr, pre-Colombian monuments such as the Korikancha, ("Temple of the Sun"), the Ajlla Wasi, the Amaru Cancha ("Fence of the Serpent"), and the Kiswar Kancha, amongst others, with "mestizo" (mixed Spanish and native) architectural gems such as Cusco Cathedral, the Church and Convent of La Merced and the Temple of San Blas.
The city of Cusco is surrounded by impressive archeological remains such as the citadel of Machu Picchu, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Ollantaytambo compound and picturesque towns such as Pisaq, Calca and Yucay, which still preserve the traditions of their ancestors.
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