| ||||
Title: | Cusco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Date of publishing: | February 22, 2015 | |||
Hits: | 5671 | |||
Category: | Other content | |||
Language: | English | |||
Also available in the following languages: | Dutch, Spanish |
Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the great Inca Empire and it possesses an incomparable cultural legacy which has led it to be commonly known as the Historical Capital of Peru and also has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Qosqo, its original name means the navel of the world. Its ancient masterful work is still present in the narrow cobbled stone streets, palaces and museums, as a testimony of its more than 30 centuries of life. Cusco, is in fact the oldest currently inhabited city in South America, its great hstory is reflected in the buildings of the historic centre which began in pre-Inca times and continued through the Inca, Colonial and Republican periods.
More than a city, Cusco is a cultural place. It is the symbol of the union of cultures and races becoming the most important travel destination in Latin America. In order to know the real Cusco it is necessary to walk through its markets and plazas and to participate in the daily life of this magical town. It is the starting point for those planning to visit the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary.
MACHU PICCHU
Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. Surrounded by sacred mountains and the Vilcanota river, the great Inca ruler Pachacuti chose this place to build a sacred centre. A replica of Cusco, connected to the rest of the empire by an elaborate system of trails, today it is known as Machu Picchu or "Old Mountain". Machu Picchu is an ancient marvel and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Since the site was never discovered by the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. It was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the North American historian, Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The work of the indigineous inhabitants complements the natural environment, rarely seen elsewhere in the world.
URUBAMBA VALLEY - SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
The valley of the Urubamba River is a magical place called Sacred Valley by the Incas because of its fertile soil and beautiful landscape. Currently it’s a great place where one can appreciate the living culture of the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Andes. Visitors can enjoy colonial villages, local markets, traditional handicrafts and local homes and get a real feeling for the Andean way of life. The valley is the setting for a number of Inca remains, including the archaeological Inca sites of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, which were constructed up on the mountain so that the limited flat areas of land in the valley could be used exclusively for the growing of the region’s many different crops, particularly corn. Today local people cultivate white corn, which is the largest and sweetest corn on the cob in the world.
Cusco's Universe - 4 days program
Enjoy the experience to know the past and present of this magic city, through these four days tour transporting you to the enigmatic and captivating places of the Andean culture. Our tour includes visit Cusco City, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machupicchu.
Sharing in Cusco - 4 days program
Enjoy the experience to know the past and present of this magic city, through these four days tour transporting you to the enigmatic and captivating places of the Andean culture. Our tour includes visit Cusco City, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, Machupicchu.
Cusco City of Legend - 6 days program
Enjoy the adventure to visit this fabulous place, knowing the perfect combination among the archeology, history and tradition from this great culture and beeing in contact with the nature in these fabulous places. Our tour includes visit Cusco City, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Aguas Calientes, Machupicchu.