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HOME PAGE > WELCOME TO PERU > CUSCO

CUSCO - The Archeological capital of the Americas combines

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HISTORY:
The City of Cusco is located in the southeastern Andes. Its name in Quechua means "center of the world".

Manco Capac founded the city of Cusco around 1,100 A.D., legend says that in the beginning the land was darkness and the great Lord Sun took pity on these wretched creatures and sent to earth his own son, Manco Capac, to spread civilizaction and enlightment.

The goddess Moon sent her daughter Mama Ocllo to be his bride. They appeared on earth emerging from the waters of the sacred Lake Titicaca . Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo began a long journey searching for the place where to found their kingdom. They came to a fertile valley where Manco Capac repeating the test assigned by the Sun, plunged his golden staff into the ground, this time it sank deep into the soil and disappeared, where they found their capital and called it Cusco "Navel of Earth".

The architectural legacy of Cusco dates back to the 15th century and is attributed to the Inca Pachacutec (1438-1471), who built the city's most remarkable constructions, including fine stone carving and perfect locking between stone blocks, and the trapezoidal design of entryways. These buildings include Sacsayhuaman, the Korikancha Temple, (Temple of the Sun) on top of which the Spanish built the Santo Domingo convent, and on the street called Hatun Rumiyoc (two block from the main square), the wall that includes the famous 12-sided stone.

WHAT TO SEE:
The best place to start exploring Cusco is perhaps the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the center of solemn parades and great assemblies since the Inca times. The Cathedral, built on top of where once stood the palace of Inca Wiracocha, mixes Spanish Renaissance architecture with beautiful stone-work. Its cons-truction began in 1580 and took approximately one century to complete.

La Compania Church, also in the Plaza deArmas, built in 1571 by the Jesuits at the time of the foundation of Inca Wayna Capac's palace (the last ruler of the unconquered empire).

Museum of Religious Art, displays a fine collection of colonial artifacts and paintings of the "School of Cusco". The building was constructed on the site of Inca Roca's palace.

Santo Domingo Church and Convent, the most remarkable characteristic of this building is that it was built using some of the Inca walls of the fabulous Koricancha, "temple of the supreme God Sun", that colonial chronicles described as having the inner walls covered with gold plates to reflect the sun's rays entering through windows specially positioned for that purpose.

San Blas Church, s small adobe building that holds a carving masterpiece, the renowned pulpit of San Blas, work of Indian craftsmen on a massive single piece of wood which is said to be the finest wood-carving piece in the world.

La Merced Church and Convent, dating back to the 17th century. It has a small museum with the best colonial paintings in Cusco, a variety of lavish religious objects including the four feet high gold mons trance, covered with precious stones and two large pearls in the shape of mermaid.

Also within the city the colonial churches of San Francisco, Santa Catalina, Santa Clara, San Pedro, Santa Teresa, and San Antonio Abad and the beautiful colonial houses of "La Casa de los Cuatro Bustos", "The Admiral's Palace, "House of Marquis of Valleumbroso, among others.

PLACES TO SEE OUTSIDE THE CITY:
The entire area of Cusco bears an exceptional wealth of Inca constructions being the most interesting and accessible those lying north of the city.

Here stands the massive-fortress of SACSAYHUAMAN, only 4 kms from downtown Cusco. Made of large boulders including one weighing 125 tons ranged in a zig-zag shape in three platforms which presently serves as the great scenario for the legendary Inti Raymi Festival. (Festival of the Sun) held every year on June 24.

Following the road leading to the northeast you arrive to QENQO (zig-zag), another great example of skillful Inca masonry work consisting of a large limestone covered with carvings, thought to have been used for ritual sacrifices. A mysterious cave with large niches, and an amphitheater facing north with 19 niches are part of the complex.

Tambo Machay, consisting of a beautiful ceremonial bath, popularly called "Bath of the Inca", formed by four leveled walls linked by stairs and adorned with crystalline waterfalls.

Puca Pucara, meaning Red Fort, -in some lights the rocks looked- this tambo post-house served to lodge travelers and store goods.

CLIMATE: April to September (winter) is usually sunny and dry with temperatures varying from freezing at night to comfortable during the day as long as you do not stay on the shade. January to March is known as the rainy season, being January and February the wettest, with confortable temperatures during the day and slightly cool at night.

ALTITUTE: The city of Cusco is at 11,150 feet above sea level. In order to speed acclimatization rest for a couple of hours after your arrival, avoid alcoholic beverages and eat lightly the first day.

SHOPPING, Handcrafted items are highly produced in Cusco and are available in shops, markets and from street vendors. The most popular are woven bags, sweaters, ponchos, rugs, tapestries, ceramics, small carved items and many more.

	PROGRAMS


	Chiclayo - Trujillo - Cajarmarca - Otuzco 7DAYS/6NIGHTS See details



	Chiclayo - Trujillo 4DAYS/3NIGHTS See details



	Lima –At –A- Glanze 3DAYS/2NIGHTS See details



	Mysterious Nazca Lines 3DAYS/2NIGHTS See details



	Classic Cusco, Machu Picchu 4DAYS/3NIGHTS See details



	Arequipa & Colca Canyon 4DAYS/3NIGHTS See details



	Amazonia Adventures - Sandoval Lodge 4Days/3Nights See details



	Amazonia Adventures - Amazonia Lodge 6Days/5Nights See details



	Trekking in Peru See details



	Day by day Choquequirao Expedition 5DAYS – 4 NIGHTS See details



	Sacred Titicaca Lake 4DAYS/3NIGHTS See details



	Sacred Journeys 8DAYS – 7 NIGHTS See details



	The Medicine Journey 11NIGHTS/12DAYS See details



Sacred Sites 15NIGHTS/16DAYS See details