TRAVEL TO CUZCO PERU: Cuzco has many and deserved titles, such as "Historical Capital of Peru", "Archaeological Capital of America" and "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO

About Cuzco
The origins of Cuzco get lost in the night of times. Archaeological excavations made us know that primitive residents inhabited the valley of Cuzco (except for its bottom, then marshy) near three millenniums ago.

Toward the XII century, Manco Cápac and his sister-wife Mama Ocllo emerged from the waters of the Lake Titicaca, semi Gods daughter and son of Inti (the god Sun), with the mission of the foundation of a new Kingdom that would improve the conditions of life of the towns. Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo would have to walk until finding a place in the earth where the great gold scepter that Manco Cápac had would submerge, they walked to the north and they arrived to Pacárec Tampu (Pacaritambo) where rested in a small cave; to the dawn they continued to the north arriving to the hill Huanacaure and there the scepter submerged, and there he founded the city of Cuzco (Quechua Language: the navel of the world).

Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo left in people's search, and formed the Hanan Cuzco. They taught them how to work the earth and how to sow; they made and used agricultural tools, artificial irrigation systems, to build and to live in towns.

Inhabitants of other districts arrived when got informed of the events, creating this way the Tahuantisuyo, the great empire of the Incas, which limits, after 14 successors of real lineage, reached Colombia by the north, and northern Chile and Argentina by the south; as capital Cuzco reached its maximum splendor.

It is known little more than names and legends from the first Incas kings, from Pachacútec (1448-1471) more information has gotten, the great conqueror who transformed Cuzco, reconstructing it. The Spaniards arrived and occupied the city in 1533, when Huáscar (Pachacútec's grandson) was the Inca king.

In this time Cuzco was a city of admirable architecture made in stone with wide plazas, big temples and palaces decorated with abundant gold pieces. Many of these colossal constructions have been built for the eternity.

The Spanish Cuzco has like base the foundations of the Inca walls and the lines of its streets, numerous buildings and churches were built, and a flourishing art school was founded (XVII century - XVIII), represented by numerous painters and authors (paintings of the "Escuela Cusqueña", pulpit of San Blas, Custody of the Cathedral and the Iglesia de la Merced, etc.)

The cultural coalition Andean-Hispanic, has determined very special characteristics in its architecture and population, city of incomparable beauty in the world, which conserves with pride their customs and traditions, at the same time progressively is incorporated to the modernity. To this is added the privileged geographical scenery, of beautiful landscapes, in which has been developed.

Cuzco Guide

Machu Picchu: Is a mystical place, a monument to divinity, where people can feel that they are a creation of God. The high sense of spirituality that inhabits this place seems to transport its visitors to a place where everything "in an unimaginable way" is possible. It is a place where strange forces of nature allow the individuals to reach an incomparable cosmic state, a state that can only be experimented in Machu Picchu. It is one of the most popular archaeological sites of the world, and therefore, the most visited attraction in Peru.

Historical Center of Cuzco: To go over the historical center of Cuzco, is walking by the city that was traced and designed by the Incas, it is like going for a walk by colonial buildings built on the base of the old real palaces of the Incas, is the coalition of two architectural styles that make it unique in the world, it is the opportunity to appreciate architectural and art jewels that contain their centennial or millennial walls. Museums, churches, Inca places, popular markets, handcrafts artisans, San Blas, and more.

Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman: 4 Km north of Cuzco. It embraces 3,000 hectares approximately, where a rich Andean flora and extraordinary Inca and Pre-Inca archaeological monuments as Sacsayhuaman, Kencco (or Qenqo), Puca Pucará and Tambomachay.

Valle Sagrado de los Incas (The Sacred Valley): 15 Km north of Cuzco. Called this way to the end of the extensive valley of Urubamba, where the agricultural cattlemen and beautiful towns were concentrated since Inca times. The valley is characterized to have very special conditions, as an excellent climate, very fertile lands and the waters of the sacred river of the Inca, Valle Sagrado is embraced between the towns of Písac and Ollantaytambo, it has wonderful landscapes where its inhabitants, native of the Quechua ethnic, conserve many customs and ancestral rites.

Around Cuzco: You can visit amazing scenarios near to Cuzco city, archaeological places, beautiful towns and nature landscapes, as Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Tipon, Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, enjoy their traditions and folklore.

Inca Trail: Part of the 23,000 kilometers (approximately 14,000 miles) of roads built by the Incas in South America, this is Peru's most famous trekking route and possibly one of the most spectacular in the Americas. Every year; some 25,000 hikers from around the world walk along the extraordinary 43 kilometers of this stone-paved road built by the Incas leading to the unassailable citadel of Machu Picchu located in the depth of the Cuzco jungle.

Also called Cusco and Qosqo

Cuzco is the most visited tourist destination in Peru, and the wealthy attractiveness in the city and its areas around, as well as "Ciudad Perdida de los Incas" (Lost City of the Incas), Machu Picchu, the new 7 wonders of the World, transforms it into one of the main tourist attractiveness of the world, offering an excellent quality of tourist services.

We recommend you visit combined Arequipa, Puno and or Tambopata with Cuzco

 

CLASSICAL INCA TRAIL: This classic trek along the historic Inca Trail is considered by many to be one of the great short treks of the world, and is a superb introduction to trekking in the Andes. Importantly, we spend ample time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley whilst acclimatising to the altitude before heading out onto the trail. Our Inca Trail itinerary differs from most as we avoid the busier camp sites. We ascend the jungle trails and cloud forest to appreciate the panorama of Andean peaks that would have inspired the Inca people as we make our way to Machu Picchu. Words cannot describe the exhilaration of the first sighting of these enigmatic ruins. Rather than heading back to Cusco we spend a night in Aguas Calientes, and this vitally gives us the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu at its best, early the following morning before the crowds arrive. Both pre and post the trek we have time to explore the Cusco we know so well, delving into a selection of Spanish taverns, cathedrals and colourful Quechua Indian markets.