Cusco and Machu Picchu

CUSCO

CENTER OF THE WORLD

Four roads once led from Cusco's main square to the four corners of the Inca empire that extended from what is today Ecuador and part of Colombia to northern Chile and Argentina, including all of Peru and Bolivia. An empire almost as vast as the Roman empire, the Inca nation was connected by a road network stretching over 23,000 km. (14,300 miles). Due to its position as the capital of the Inca dynasty, contemporary Cusco, a city 3,200 meters above sea level (10,000 ft.) is a showcase of several different cultures: Pre-Inca, Inca, Colonial and republican. But Cusco was more than just a capital city. It was an administrative, military and holy city, and is now the oldest inhabited city of the Americas. Many kinds of architecture are found here and one's eyes can feast on their splendid variety and combinations.

The Inca's most sacred building in Cusco, the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), today forms part of the Spanish church of Santo Domingo. Ruins, temples, churches, and mansions make this a memorable destination, full of history and culture. A city with a splendid legacy, Cusco's winding cobbled streets transport visitors through its rich and beautiful past.

The surrounding countryside is stunning, much of it sculpted by agricultural terraces once watered by complex irrigation systems. A stay in Urubamba, the Sacred Valley, is the perfect way to relax in the heart of the country. Cusco is also the departure point for visits to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, which can be reached by train, via the Inca trail, or helicopter.

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MACHU PICCHU

The Lost City of the Incas

At a distance of 120 km. (75 miles) from Cusco, in the valley of the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu rises to an altitude of 2,400 meters (7,900 ft.) above sea level between the Huayna Picchu (young peak) and Machu Picchu (old peak). It lies within the spectacular framework provided by the exuberant vegetation of nearby jungle and the rugged landscape.

The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two different areas: the agricultural and the urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations), and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses). Although constructions show different levels of architecture, religious buildings exhibit a high degree of perfection. The construction was with general use of stone, and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with ichu straw. The walls were made with an inward inclination for protection against earthquakes.

From the peak of the Huayna Picchu, situated opposite Machu Picchu, there is a prodigious panoramic view of the imposing mass of ruins and the Urubamba valley. The breathtaking views from this mountain-top citadel and its well-preserved ruins are a photographer dream.
Programs:

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Programs:

LEGENDARY CUSCO 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

• DAY 1 / CUSCO
  Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Visitors should take a short rest in order to adjust to altitude. Afternoon tour of the city visiting the Koricancha Temple and the Cathedral. Continue to the surrounding ruins: the fortress Sacsayhuaman overlooking the city, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay ruins.
• DAY 2 / MACHU PICCHU
  Catch the morning train for a full day tour of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas" one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture. Surrounded by lush cloud forest, the citadel perches on a mist-shrouded mountain top.
  Afternoon return to Cusco and hotel.
• DAY 3
  Transfer to the airport for departure flight.

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THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

• DAY 1 / CUSCO
  Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour of the city and surrounding ruins.
• DAY 2 / CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU WITH OVERNIGHT
  Full day excursion to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". Over night at Machu Picchu.
• DAY 3 / MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
  Early wake up to see the sun rising over Machu Picchu. Enjoy the ruins and watch the mist rise over this mountain-top citadel at dawn. Afternoon return to Cusco and Hotel.
• DAY 4
  Transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)
  * Daily departures.

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MACHU PICCHU AND THE SACRED VALLEY 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

• DAY 1 / CUSCO
  Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour of the city and surrounding ruins.
• DAY 2 / URUBAMBA VALLEY
  Visit the colourful Indian market in Pisac to see a blend of colour, tradition and people. At a distance of 30 km. (19 miles) from Cusco, and an altitude of 2,970 meters (9,700 ft.), Pisac is located right at the entrance to the Sacred Valley. After lunch, continue to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas. Ollantaytambo's narrow streets, complete with canals unchanged since Inca times, recall its ancient heritage.
• DAY 3 / MACHU PICCHU
  Full day excursion to Machu Picchu, the "lost City of the Incas". Afternoon return to Cusco and hotel.
• DAY 4
  Transfer to the airport for departure flight.
  * Daily departures.
  * Pisac Market take place only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
  * Optional overnight in the Urubamba Valley.

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H/D CUSCO WALKING TOUR

• Experience the mystery of the Cathedral, Temple of the Sun, the famous twelve sided stone, narrow streets with the finest walls as example of Inca Architecture, and the San Blas suburb, the residence of the best artists since the colony.
  * Daily.

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H/D CHINCHERO

• Located 35 km. (22 miles) northwest of Cusco, the town of Chinchero lies on the foundations of an important Inca site built in late 1400s. Brightly dressed, the people of Chinchero gather in the main plaza to barter foodstuffs and offer visitors an array of crafts from the Cusco region against a scenery of breathtaking beauty.
  * Market only Thursdays and Sundays.

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H/D PISAC RUINS

• A scenic drive along the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to visit the Inca ruins that lie above the town of Pisac 31 km. (19 miles) from Cusco overlooking the Vilcanota river. Fortresses, urban complexes, temples and well preserved Andean terraces built by the Incas all make up an imposing and unforgettable sight.
  * Daily.

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H/D TIPON

• Located 17 km. (10 miles) southeast of Cusco, Tipon boasts some of the finest agricultural terracing ever built in the Cusco area.
  * Daily.

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H/D MORAY AND MARAS

• Huge circular agricultural terraces at Moray, built by the Incas in natural sinkholes on a limestone plateau overlooking the Urumbamba valley. It has been suggested that they have a cosmological meaning, but their function, other than agricultural, remains a mystery. Nearby, age-old terraced salt mines and ponds sit below the colonial town of Maras.
  * Daily.
  

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DINNER & FOLK SHOW

• Enjoy a delicious typical dinner at a local restaurant with a picturesque folklore show.
  * Daily.