SACRED VALLEY

Ollantaytambo

it is located 97 km north-East of the city of cusco(1 hours and 30 minutes by car) and was built during the incan period, as fortified area which includes temples benched terraces and an urban sector, two ectors can be distinguished; One denominated "araqama Ayllu"; and area related to worshipping and religious activities and the other, "Qosqo Ayllu" which is a compound of living quarters.as its fortified walls and towers show it, along witch traces of ancient paths and aqueducts.

the village of Ollantaytambo is called "live incan Village",as its inhabitants maintain the ancient customs. you can visit the village of willoc, the inhabitants of which speak Quechua and stand out by their red clothes that identify them as members of a region and different ayllu to then rest of then region. Ollantaytambo's archeological area is an other monumental aster work of incan archtecture, as it was built on two mountains, in a strategic place that visually dominante the whole valley.

in its time ollantaytambo was a miltary religious, Administrative and agricultural complex, the entranceto the city was made through a door called Punku-Punku. On top there is the master work of incan architects and stone utters. Ollantaytambo is the only incan city that is still almost intact and its houses still serve as hoes in which live the descendants of that great culture.

for visitors we recommend they'd take a walk around the village's urban area, where "chicherias" (local "pub" or tavern where "chicha" is begin serverd) are abundant, along with exquisite trapezoidal door styles. the city's design ,its axes,urban structure, the beauty of its volumes and contrants between light what attract the visitors. the main church has a facabe with six pink granite monoliths brought from some other place and perfectly fit in the stone wall.

More information: Sacred valley

Read More

INCA TRAIL

TRADITIONAL INCA TRAIL

it is part of the trail network the incan developed to unite the main administrative and religious center sin the whole tawantinsuyo.One of these day journey requires,as the incan trail passes by mount Salkantay's slopes. Stopovers take place around archaeological sites and the most popular programas that of four days and three nights. On this journey full of beautiful landscapes, one goes through various ecological levels and archaeological sites on the way. thanks to this,the Incan trail has gained the reputation of being one of the world's best hiking destinations, although it is a pilgrimage for many. On the way the incan trail goes up to mountain passes that get close to 4,000 m.a.s.l, such as that of Warmiwañusca (4,200 m.a.s.l) and Runkuraqay (3,860 m.a.s.l) to then head down to 2,000 m.a.s.l on the jungle's edge, climbing up and down large stairways cut into the rock and passing through tunnels of up to 20m. length This circuit of the Incan trail stars on the Piscacuchu stretch, on km. 82 of the Cusco - Machu Picchu railroad track.

More information: Inca trail

Read More

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE CUSCO

QORIKANCHA (ENCLOSURE OF GOLD)

Initially built as religious enclosures of the ancient inhabitants of the Huatanay Valley, it was transformed by the inca Yupanqui and known as the Temple of the Sun. It was one of the incan Cusco's most impacting constructions. as inside it , there were walls completele covered with gold sheets and gardens with gold sheets and gardens with full size corn plants and was composed of six enclosures of wich only two are conserved, as the rest was destroyed to build the church and anlarge the Dominican cloister,in the 16 century.

Since 1534, the conquerors erected the church and the dominican monastery upon the Incan foundations and both were destroyed as a consequence of the 1650 earthquake and rebuilt around 1681. this fact allowed the original incan walls to be discovered, as these had been covered with a lime plasterwork. The Monastery of Santo Domingo possesses a very valuable painting collection, with canvases from the 17 and 18 centuries. It is built with perfectly jointed. finely lapidated rectangular stone blocks. A disc of massive gold that existed above its door, with the design of the Sun, was hidden by the natives and on one ever knew what happend to it, thus contributing in giving more veracity to the legend about the incas incomparable wealth

More information: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE CUSCO

Read More

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is an important tourist attraction which stand out for its handicraft fairs, biodiversity located in the mountains, which are an aternal imprint of the magnificence of a great empire as was that of the incas.

The main attractions are its archaeological sites, handicraft and agricultural fairs, as well as its gastronomy and the practice of hikes on itineraries that include villages situated on mountain tops, from which pure water rivers rush down, to then join with the great vilcanota or Urubamba river. The community centers function like "Ayllus" (Andean communities) and maintain the Ayni (Community work) alive. Throughout the whole valley, the mountains are respected as protectors and have names in Quechua that begin by the word "Apu" which means: Ostentatious, Powerful Mountain or Spirit.

The inhabitants of the high vallet's communities also breed sheep and goats and many of these keep areas to cultivate medicinal plants the city. it is very interesting to try that gastronomy, among the traditional Pachamanca prepared which, once they have been seasoned,are buried with hot stones'till they are cooked.

The sacred valley of the incas is definitely an ecological and cultural reserve. among its Kiwicha maca and hundreds of varieties of potatoes that Sacred Valley of the incas shelters indigenous peoples who have not changed much over the past 300 years and when visits these communities, it seems as though time would have stopped.

This Valley was very appreciated by the incas,given its special geographic and climatic qualities,as it is composed of a series of microclimates. it is one of the region's main agricultural production centers, due to its fertile lands and it is the place where the best and biggest corn grain in Peru. During your journey. you will be accompanied by the Vilcanota River and as you will visit the valley. you will pass by the localities of pisaq, calca, Yucay, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and chicheros, in each one of them, there are archaelogical remains that were built by the different Incan rulers, some of them using them as fortresses, resting places or religious temples for worshipping the celestial bodies. "The Incas" Took Advantage of the climate and fertile land and there are many villages and agricultual center along the valley that are little visited. The most important attractions are the incan cities of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, including their handicraft fairs.

More information: Sacred valley of the incas

Read More

CUSCO WONDERFUL CITY

THE MAIN SQUARE OF CUSCO

the Main square (Plaza de Armas): it is the city's heart and one of the main tourist attractions to visit upon arrival to the city of Cusco. The panoramic view of all the Plaza de Armas, tantalizes anyone to relax, with a drin and contemplate the midle of the place from its balconies. In the middle of the square, there is a water fountain under which were found objets of gold during its remodeling. in 1997. It is a meeting place for visitors from the whole world; mainly during the day and at dusk. close by is the Avenida el Sun, where a wide variety of shops, shopping centers, businesses, banks and money exchange agents generate constan activity in the last ten years, the plaza de Armas has changed quite a lot. But, in Incan times,that square was called "Huaycaypata"; a Quechua word which means "High Meeting Place", as it was an important ceremonial site, where the Inti Raymi or Celebration to the sun took place each year and the place where Francisco Pizarro Publically proclaimed the conquest of Cusco.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, the square transformed itself, as stone arches were built, along with the constructions that surround it up to present days. In its surroundings, the calle triunfo leads to the neighborhood of san Blas and another street located in the center of the square's Northwestern part, carries the quechua pride made it so that, officially, many street have switched their sapnish names into their equivalent in Quechua. At night, the Plaza de Arma sacquires a picturesque hue, with bars and discotheques that gather locals.
More information: CUSCO WONDERFUL CITY

Read More

THE INCA TRAIL

Although indisputably a very fine hike, THE INCA TRAIL is just one of a multitude of paths across remote areas in the andes the Cusco .What it does offer, though, and what makes it so popular,is a fabulous treasure Machu Picchu.
Between june and september it's usually a pretty cosmpolitan stretch of mountainside, whith gringos from all over the globe converging on "Machu Picchu" the hard way. From October thorough till April, in the rainy season, it's much less crowded and there's a more abundant fresh water supply, but of course it can get very wet. that leaves May as the best month, with everything exceptionally verdant and vital after the downpours and fine weather to add a touch of springtime. According to local tradition, and it seems to work,around full moon is the perfect time to hike the Inca Trail.

As far as preparations go, the most importat thing is to acclimatise, preferably allowing at least three days in Cusco if you've flown straight up from the coast. Equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag and rucksack can usually be hired in Cusco (see p.87),and adecuate maps for the walk can be obtained from sigui Tours (Portal de Panes 123), the tourist Office, or the Explorers' Club in Lima (sepe p. 53). Porters for the Inca Trail, Often an Embarrassing luxury, charge less than $10 a day and can be arranged through most Tour Agencies in Cusco.

if you can only allocate three days to the walk, you'll be pushing it the whole way. It's far more pleasant to spend five or six days, taking everything in as you go along. Those trekkers who mean to do it in two-and-a half days should give themselves a head star by catching the afternoon train and striking up the cusichaca valley as far possible on the day before

More information: INCA TRAIL

Read More