For those that are not deeply familiar with it, Machu Picchu is a citadel located at the top of a mountain that is surrounded by the lush greenery produced by the jungles also located nearby. An interesting fact is that it’s made its way through history without any kind of notice until the year 1911, when it was discovered by Hiram Bingham.

In more general terms, Machu Picchu is not only an architectural gem of Incan times, but it is also represents the maximum expression of the relationship that existed between man and his environment at the time. For this reason, three decades ago in 1983, UNESCO categorized Machu Picchu as a World Heritage site.

It was constructed somewhere in the middle of the XV century and according to certain documents, it could have been the home and/or final resting place of Pachacutec. Nevertheless, due to the ceremonial feel and character of it, its thought that it could also have been a religious sanctuary.

Machu Picchu is in perfect balance with nature. The beautiful landscape expresses nature’s amazing palette in shades of green which embrace the visitor with a sense of inexplicable calm. Those that have visited will say that it is such an amazing place, that it’s almost a surreal experience.

There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu. One of them is to take the Hiram Bingham road, which winds its way up the cliffside of the mountain, starting at the Puente Ruinas train depot. Meanwhile, the second option is to take the Incan roads that will lead you to Machu Picchu. You should know though, that taking either route won’t get you out of paying the entrance free into the ruins.

Regarding the weather and climate that prevails over Machu Picchu; typical weather tends to be warm and humid during the day and night as well. Usually the temperature fluctuates between eight and twenty-two degrees Celsius (approximately 45 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit ); it’ll rain often and quite excessively between the months of November and March. It should be noted that the rain is quite heavy, although it’s also common that it’ll quickly alternate between heavy rains and intense, bright sunshine.

Here’s a bit of advice that you might want to keep in mind: When you visit Machu Picchu, you should definitely carry some bug repellant with you to keep from getting mosquito bites. Also, don’t forget to carry water or some other kind of beverage that will quench thirst; you’ll mainly be walking while you’re here, and you’ll need to keep hydrated.

No doubt you’ll want to make sure you wear comfortable shoes, but durable ones. A quick solution would be to buy a pair of hiking boots or trekking shoes, since they’d be ideal for going up all the solid stone steps and uneven terrain at Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu attained another distinction a few years ago, when it was declared to be one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. A special feature of this distinction- which was received in Lisbon, Portugal- is the fact that this selection was made after receiving over 1 million worldwide votes.

In the following video you’ll be able to see for yourself how beautiful Machu Picchu is:

Tags Technorati: tourism, trips, places, Cusco, Peru, Machu Picchu, tourism Peru, archeology.

Sacsayhuamán, is a fortress whose name comes from the aimara voice saqsaw “place of fulfillment”, and waman “hawk”. It is because of this that it is giving the meaning of “place where the hawk is fulfilled”, this fortress enjoys breathtaking architectural works, since it has been edified of very gigantic stones, united in such a mastery that a needle would not fit in beween them.

Where is it  located?
This fortress is located to 2 km from the city of Cusco, to 3700 msnm and has an extension of 3093 hectares, and is surrounded by the Ausangate, Pachatusán and Cinca mountains, being bathed by the waters of the Tullumayo river.

Why is it important?
Sacsayhuamán, enjoys a beautiful landscape that is accompanied by an incomparable flora and fauna, among which are emphasized the llamas and the hawks; moreover every 24th of June of every year it is celebrated in this place the Inti Raymi, a cult celebration to the Inti of God Son, maximum God to the Inca empire.

How is it?
It is a about a fortress that begun its construction in the fifteenth century, in the government of Pachacútec; while it was in the XVI century, with Huayna Cápac, that the final touches were given to this monumental architectural work.  This building has been built out with gigantic stones, that make educators ask themselves in present times how is it that the Inca made the transfer of these from one place to another.

In the walls of Sacsayhuamán can be found images worked by the Incas, there are also chicanos or subterranean entrances to the tunnels, amphitheaters, and constructions clearly rituals, that apparently have relation to the worship of water.

There have been found warehouses of food and weapons, and channels from which water was distributed.  Also, the throne of the Inca is found located next to the fortress and is composed of an immense rock, that has been polished in various levels.  It is presumed that from this throne the sovereign presided the ceremonies and events, giving orders from right there.

The monument that can be observed currently constitutes only 20% of the consruction that was centuries behind, given that the Spaniards in the time of the Conquest, disarmed the walls and towers to avoid uprisings against them.

How to arrive?
In this fortress you could take photographs, a walk, meditate and discover more about the Incan culture.  You could arrive on foot or automobile, as you wish.

On foot you could arrive by three routes:

• Through the hill of the Admiral: Walk through the street Córdoba to the Plazoleta de Nazarenas. Continue to the Nazarenas Street and then to the end of Pumacurco. Another good option is to go through the Admiral Hill to the end of  Ataúd, to then continue by Huaynapata. Approximate time: 30 minutes.

• Through Suecia: Walk through Suecia Street, then Huaynapata and follow through Resbalosa, until you get to Circunvalación Street.

• Through Plateros: Walk through the Shapi Street and then go through the Amargura Hill, following along Circunvalación Street.

To travel to the Fortress by automobile you could take Suecia Street to the Salesiano School, to then turn right and follow through the Circunvalación Street.  Another option is to go through Plateros Street through Shapi and end up on Circunvalación Street. From the Main Square to the fortress is about 10 minutes in automobile, approximately.

Images: Wikipedia

Tag: Tourism, Cusco, Cuzco, Sacsayhuaman, Peru, Inti Raymi

]]> http://www.globalexpresstours.com/english/country-peru/archeology-peru/sacsayhuaman-a-cusquean-fortress.html/feed 0 http://www.globalexpresstours.com/english/country-peru/archeology-peru/choquequirao-the-other-machu-picchu.html http://www.globalexpresstours.com/english/country-peru/archeology-peru/choquequirao-the-other-machu-picchu.html#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:11:10 +0000 Fiorella http://www.globalexpresstours.com/?p=8350 The traces of the Inca civilization are not limited to what has already been discovered. The forest keeps still many secrets as that of Choquequirao.

In the heart of the forest of Cusco, more than 3 thousand meters above sea level, protected under the foothills of the snow-covered Salcantay and settled in the natural beauty of the valley of the river Apurímac; Choquequirao raises itself proud in the province of La Convencion, in the department of Cusco.

It the middle of an area with overwhelming ecological diversity, Choquequirao is a complex of ruins that in a remote time was a fortress, center of commercial and religious activities in the hegemony of the Inca empire. Choquequirao was discovered, just like the fortress of Machu Picchu, by the American Hiram Bingham, but it wasn’t until well in the 20th century that it was given the importance that its nature required.

In present time it has been disinterred approximately 30% of the totality of the complex. To give an idea of the importance and the reach of Choquequirao, it would suffice with saying that is a fortress with an architectural organization, a location and a very similar distribution we find in known ruins such as Machu Picchu.

It is known that Choquequirao was one of the bastions of the dynasty of Manco Inca, when the resistance against the Spanish invader withdrew all the royal panaca to the jungle of Vilcabamba, that culminated with the capture and execution of Túpac Amaru I in the year 1572. Subsequently, its difficult access marginalized it of Spanish occupation and was not known again of until the registration of Hiram Bingham (except by mentions of explorers and Spanish columnists such as the Juan Arias Topete in 1710, Cosme Bueno in 1768 and Pablo José Origaín in 1790).

To date the restoration works are being concluded and made ready so that Choquequirao becomes a tourist destination as attractive as Machu Picchu. The works of restoration will culminate in 2011.

Images: SolMar.
Technorati Tags: tourism, tours, trips, places, Choquequirao, Peru, Machu Picchu.

HISTORY
The Cathedral of Cusco is found on one of the streets of the main square of Cusco and is, without any doubt, gives the notable and most attractive buildings of America, product of various projects.

The first cathedral built in Cusco was the Iglesia del Triunfo in 1539, that raised its foundation on the base of what was the most important temple of the Inca era, dedicated to the God Wiracocha. At present, the Iglesia del Triunfo is a chapel that is auxiliary to the Cathedral of Cusco.

The Cathedral, was built in 1560 and finished being build in 1668, having had the luck to not have had the same outcome, as the other churches and temple, of the earthquake of 1650.  Its construction was in charge of Juan Miguel of Veramendi in 1560, who was replaced by Juan Correa in 1562, and substituted by other various teachers, and finally, taking charge of the direction of this work Miguel Gutiérrez Sencio in 1615.

On February 8, 1928 the Cathedral of Cusco was declared as the Basilica Menor of the Catholic Church.

ARCHITECTURE

The Cathedral of Cusco, was built with stones originating from nearby zones; besides, reddish tone granite blocks were reused taken of the fortress of Sacsayhuamán.

It has been built on a platform whose form is that of a latin american cross and is conformed by five sections of Basilical style.  It has on two auxiliary chapels, that flank it to each side, -El Triunfo, and Jesus, María and José-, and presents a plant-parlor of three ships with two sections of lateral chapel and wall flat front.

Also, in its architecture we can find vaults that are of gothic architecture; its high Altar, silver; and its lateral chapels, that are surrounded by golden grilles and coronations with allusive sizes to the regular dedication.

On the side of the epistle (right), the altar of the Señor de los Temblores can be found, the Virgen de los Remedios and the Chapel of the Plateria, whose more prized piece is the immense silver pavilion that serves as processional walks for the Corpus Christi, presented by the bishop fray Bernardo de Serrada in 1731.

On the side of the Gospel (left), the chapel of The Virgen Immaculada Virgin can be found (”The Pretty one”) and that of the apostle Santiago.  The seating of the chorus of the Cathedral, is found located in the main side and in the retrochoir there are also some chapels, as that of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua, while the exterior sides have been decorated with the paintings of Basilio Santo Cruz on the Virgin of Belen and the Virgen de Almudena.

The Sacristy, is one of the most luxurious and most decorated precincts of the Cathedral, therefore presents an assembly of paintings from to the middle of the 17th century of Marcos Zapata.  For all this and more, the Cathedral is a place you must visit during yof in transit our stay in Cusco, you will therefore remain captivated by this beautiful and enigmatic construction.

Images: Boletín de New York and Photobucket.
Technorati Tags: tourism, tours, trips, places, Cusco, Peru, cathedral, the Cusco cathedral.

Where is it found?
The trail from Piscacucho, the place where one should cross the bridge that hangs over the Urubamba River, is known as the Inca Path.  Others prefer to start their voyage at  Quri Wayrachina, at the height of Kilometer 88 of the railroad line that goes from Cusco to Quillabamba, and continues in the direction of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.

How is it?
The Inca Path measures at most, 4 m wide and its climate is temperate during most of the year; although, if one wants to do trekking, we recommend doing it during the dry season between April and October because from November to March rains are characteristic of this area and may make this area a dangerous zone due to how slippery its terrain becomes.

When one travels the Inca Path, one marvels at all that one sees around him, starting with the truly exotic flora; for example, one may be witness to more than 250 species of orchids.  Furthermore, the fauna is truly astonishing.  One may see reptiles such as jergon, lizards, frogs and many Andean and forest animals that subsist in this path.

The wonderful thing about this path is that one may also observe ancient Incan settlements created from plowed granite like Wiñay Wayna. The tourist will also pass by two very high places:

• Huarmihuañusca (’dead woman pass’) some 4200 msnm, and

• The entrance to Machu Picchu, through Inti Punku (’the sun’s portal’).

How does one get there?

Before beginning the walk, it is extremely important that one does it accompanied by a specialized tourist guide; because this route should be known with extreme precision.  Once one is accompanied by his guide, one may continue to the Inca Path that may be begun at Piscacucho, crossing the hanging bridge that crossed through the Urubamba River; one walks for an hour and one reaches the Miskay ruins.  From this point, one continues towards the  Llaqtapata fortress, elegantly dressed with platforms made from quinoa and maize.  One must cross another hanging bridge that will take one to the  Cusichaca Valley, where one finds oneself in a eucalyptus dance.

After this, we continue through a detour towards Quri Wayrachina, which is located at kilometer 88 of the railroad line that goes from Cusco to Quillabamba and counts with altars made of stone that have sculpted images, which were used for religious ceremonies.  Afterwards, one passes by the architectural complex of  Patallacta, Huayllabamba, Llullucha, Warmiwañusca, the Pacamayo Valley, Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñayhuayna, in order to reach the citadel of  Machu Picchu.

One should keep in mind that during the first two days of your trip, the climate is dry and one may observe an Andean landscape with the presence of mountains, streams and snowcaps.  During the last two, humid.  On the third day, the landscape to be observed is like a forest, full of vegetation that turns tropical, since you are in the center of the jungle.

Images: Terra y Wikipedia.
Technorati Tags: tourism, tours, trips, places, Cusco, Peru, The Inca Path.

Where is it?
This city is located to the northeast of Cusco, a province of Urubamba and it is the capital of the Ollantaytambo district located at around 2,792 meters above sea level (approximately 9,160 feet).

If you choose to travel by rail, the distance to the Ollantaytambo train station is 68 kilometers (42 miles approximately); if you travel by the Chinchero-Urubamba road, the distance is about 75 kilometers (46 miles approximately); and if you prefer to go by the road that passes through Pisaq, then the distance is about 93 kilometers (57 miles approximately).

Why is it important?
The importance of this city really radiates from its history, architecture, flora, fauna, etc… The Spanish chronicler Pedro Sarmiento (XVI century), maintained that Pachacutec is to be held responsible for having conquered and then destroyed Ollantaytambo to then integrate it into his own empire. Meanwhile, it was during the Conquered era, that Manco Inca Yupanqui made use of the town and made it a temporary capital; and from it set up resistance against the conquering Spaniards, but ultimately had to fall back into the forest land of Vilcabamba.

The architecture of Ollantaytambo is some of the best in the Cusco area, since the stones used on its structures have mostly all been hand carved individually, the streets are quite straight and narrow taking up an area of about 15 blocks; the homes are constructed over Incan murals, it has the Temple of the Sun, the monoliths etc.

There are two old legends that are said to explain the origin of Ollantaytambo:

• The Legend of Tunupa

In this legend it is said that a messenger of the gods; dressed as a beggar and with the look of a man of many years; arrived in the city before the Incan Empire had ever been established, and was received quite warmly and graciously by the city’s inhabitants and by the man in command of the city, the “curaca” – the Chief.

Tunupa- in a show of gratitude- gifted his walking stick to the chief, which transformed into gold at the birth of the chief’s firstborn, to whom the name of Manco Capac was given. Manco Capac left Ollantaytambo on a mission to establish an empire wherever this golden walking stick happened to bury or sink itself. The stick ended up sinking itself by a mountain near Cusco- the Huanacaure  mountain range- and so it was that the decision was made to create the Incan Empire and establish the capital here.

• The Legend of Ollanta

This legend says that a general from the Incan Empire named Ollanta and Cusi Coyllur- daughter of Pachacutec- had a secret romantic relationship that was at the time prohibited being that she was of noble and royal background, while he was just a commoner from the town. Pachacutec, who was the 9th Inca, did not condone of the love between the two, which is the reason Ollanta ended up kidnapping Cusi Coyllur in order to marry her.

The Inca, in trying to rescue his daughter, besieged and surrounded all of Ollantaytambo. However, after 10 years of intense battles, he decided to accept the marriage and the love that the pair had for each other. So it’s said, that the name of the town, derives from the name of the general.

Ollantaytambo, is a Cuscan town that shouldn’t be missed while visiting the area, as there is so much tourist activity going on within it like: kayaking, boating, mountain climbing, mountain biking, group nature walks, hiking, fish farm tours as well as homestay tourism (lodging with local families). Its streets are permeated with Incan history, its walls are examples of finely crafted architecture and last but not least it’s ambiance, is full of strong mysticism.

Images: Wikipedia

Technorati Tags: tourism, tours, trips, places, Cusco, Peru, Ollantaytambo.

Where is San Blas?
San Blas is located at the very center of the city of Cusco, about four blocks away from the Plaza de Armas of the city. It’s also called the “Barrio de los Artistas” or “Barrio de los Artesanos” (“The Artist’s Neighborhood” or “The Artisan’s Neighborhood”).

What makes this place important?
The importance of the neighborhood of San Blas emanates from its history, architecture and magic. Within the confines of the area, there is a church by the same name (Iglesia de San Blas), which is a catholic temple dedicated to Saint Blas. It’s said that the church was constructed over an Incan shrine or sanctuary, in which tribute was paid to Ilapa, the god of Thunder and Lightning.

It’s thought that the church first opened it’s doors in 1544, during the service period of the second bishop of Cusco – Brother Juan Solano…although, it is also thought that it was actually after 1559, during the rule of Viceroy Andres Hurtado of Mendoza.

At first, the walls of the church of San Blas were made out of adobe; but after the earthquake of 1650 the walls needed to be repaired and reinforced with stone supports, in order to prevent the same problem from reoccurring in case of any other natural event.

It is widely accepted in the area, that the  church also contains the finest carpentry work of the Cusco region, especially the pulpit of San Blas, which was carved and sculpted from one solid piece of cedar wood over four hundred years ago. It’s assumed that this work was created by the hands of the indigenous people with great care and attention to detail.

What is San Blas like?
San Blas is really a magical neighborhood. From the moment you’re there you’ll be amazed by the narrow, cobblestonestreets that look as if they’re a complete zig zag maze by the many twists and turns they can take. Many of the homes are whitewashed with pretty balconies painted in blue and roofs of uneven slates. This unique charm is the reason why during the Colonial period, this neighborhood was very much appreciated.

It is maintained that San Blas, during the Incan era, was the settlement area for the mitimaes, whom were the artisans of this time and would ended up being sent to different areas, by order of the Incas for one specific mission: “Yachay” meaning, to “show and learn.” These mitimaes at some point arrived at T’oqokachi (T’oqo meaning “hollow” and kachi meaning “salt”), which is the original name of the San Blas neighborhood. Their purpose here was to show and teach their art to the local goldsmiths and silversmiths whom themselves were part of the Chimu culture; ultimately teaching them techniques for plating and veneering which they then used to make sculptures out of gold. These techniques were eventually used in the construction of Koricancha (an Incan temple).

Due to all of these events and it’s rich history since the time of the Incas to modern day, San Blas is a neighborhood brimming with art and culture. It’s mainly inhabited by artists and creative types that do great work with carving and sculpting out of silver, gold and stone which turns into fine sculptures, handmade dolls, masks and practical ceramic pieces, among other objects.

How to get there?
The San Blas neighborhood is located four blocks away from the Plaza de Armas in the city of Cusco and from this starting point, it shouldn’t be more than a 15 minutes walk. Also remember, that it’s possible to visit the markets and fairs  placed by the artisans of the neighborhood in the plaza of San Blas. It occurs continuously, every Saturday starting at 9:00am and ending at 5:00pm.

Images: Taa-Peru, FotosPUCP and Commons.

Technorati Tags: tourism, tours, trips, places, Cusco, Peru, San Blas, San Blas Cusco.