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Blog - Jim's Thoughts

Peru Tours and Travel

Suggested Packages / Amazon / Cusco / Lima / Lake Titicaca / Arequipa / Nazca
Trujillo & Chiclayo / Chachapoyas / Trekking / Multisport / Rafting / Biking

Cusco Tours

Cusco lies in a region of exceptionally beautiful Andean scenery at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level. Most of central streets are lined with massive stone walls built by the Incas and now form the foundations of the Colonial Cusco. There are many places to visit; the Plaza de Armas, The Cathedral, numerous colonial churches much more ornate and better preserved than in other cities, museums, workshops and numerous Inca sites.

Cusco is also the starting point for many adventure tours such as

CITY TOUR AND RUINS OF SACSAYHUMAN-half day
Visit the Cathedral built from 1560 to 1654 at the site of Viracocha Inca palace. It is the best example of the European art done by natives of Cusco and has the high altar plated with silver, contains masterpieces of woodcarvings and painting. The Koricancha, which displays the best Inca stonework in Cusco. Explore the ancient Indian sanctuary of Sacsayhuaman with magnificent Inca walls with massive rocks weighing up to 130 tons fitted together with absolute perfection. The amphitheatre of Qenqo, the fortress of Pukapukara and the spring-shrine of Tambomachay where water still flows by a hidden channel out of the masonry wall are also visited.

Private tours can emphasize Colonial Art and History or Incan Archeology.
Can organize a City tour of Cusco only and separate Sacsayhuaman Archeoogical Park, including other sites of interest.

THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (on Sun Tue and Thu)
Colorful morning markets are open, where you can purchase Peruvian weavings, jewelry, and pottery, and see a traditional Indian market where goods are traded and get an introductory view of the local diet. The Inca town of Ollantaytambo is clearly seen as a fine example of the traditional Inca City planning of Canchas or blocks, which are almost entirely intact and still occupied. The tour includes a visit to the village, terraces, temples, irrigation systems, granaries, the fortress and the temple of the Sun built by Pachacuti Inca, using Colla Indians from Lake Titicaca. We may visit the village of Chinchero if time permits. You will return at about 6-630pm

MACHU PICCHU
guided tour of the complete city set on the mountain with terraced slopes falling away to the Urubamba river. This place for centuries was buried in jungle, until Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911. The tour includes visit to the, temples, palaces, towers fountains and after the tour you will have free time to explore on your own. The visit requires at least one day, but we highly recommend two or more days. Includes transfers in Cusco, vistadome train tickets (departs Cusco at 6am and departs Machu Picchu at 330pm), bus services in Machu Picchu up/down, lunch, guide, entrance fee.
New, deluxe tour on Orient Express includes later departure from Cusco (9am), later return from Machu Picchu (630pm) brunch, afternoon tea buffet and cocktail and dinner catered by the Monasterio Hotel.

Other Interesting sites:

Moray - Inca Sophistication Challenges Nature.
To the south of the Urubamba River, between Chincheros and Ollantaytambo, lies the plain of Maras, some 3500 meters above sea level. Here, just 6 Km from the village of Maras, and 33 Km from Cusco, one finds a group of earthworks built on different levels, which together resemble an amphitheater. Each of these circular structures has a diameter of 150 meters, and is built from concentric agricultural terraces which diminish in size from each level to the one below. The largest structure at Moray is 150 meters deep, and is formed by seven of the above-mentioned concentric rings. These are help in place by retaining walls linked by stone steps. Irrigation channels cross the site at different levels. Moray was a center for agricultural experimentation and control for the Incas who built it. Recent scientific experiments have shown that Moray's terraces are organized into sectors, each representing a characteristic microclimate. Investigations have confirmed that widely differing temperatures are found on each platform. The difference of average annual temperature between the top and the bottom reaches about 15C. (59F) in the main depression that is about 30 m. (100 feet) deep. Due climate conditions and many other characteristics, Moray was an important center of domestication, acclimatization and hybridization of wild vegetable species that were modified or adapted for human consumption. It is clear that Moray was used as a sort of experimental research station to study the performance of different crops planed in different microclimates, enabling the Incas to develop new strains to improve crop yield.

Maras
The Maras "salt works" to which some people call "salt mines" are constituted by about 3000 small pools with an average area of 5 square meters, constructed in a slope of the Qaqawiñay mountain. People fill up or irrigate the pools during the dry season every 3 days, with salty water emanating from the natural spring located on the top of the complex, so that when water evaporates the salt contained in it will slowly solidify. That process will be carried out approximately during one month, until a
considerable volume of solid salt is obtained, about 10 cms. (4 inches) high from the floor. That solid salt is beaten thus granulated, then packed is plastic sacks and send to the region's markets; today that salt began being treated with iodine, thus, its consumption is not harmful.

Piquillacta / Andahuaylillas
This is the only major pre-Inca ruin in the Cusco area. It was built by the Wari culture. There are several square kilometers of ruins to explore, a group of Adobe walls with some reconstruction in progress that looks like an ancient religious complex can be visited.

We continue to Andahuaylillas to visit one of the most extraordinary temples of Cusco region. Inside the one-nave church there are two different sections corresponding to the two stages of its construction; the present interior main arch separates them. The oldest and most adorned of Mudejar style (architectonic style mixing Arab and Christian elements, developed between the XIII to XVI centuries) is found deeper inside. The baptistery has a unique writing " I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen"; in five languages spoken at the time when the church was built: Latin, Spanish, Quechua, Pukina (an extinct language)and Aymara

Raqchi (Temple of Wiracocha)
It is 125 Km. from Cusco on road towards Puno. At and altitude of 3500 m. Raqchi is found on the right Bank of the Vilcanota River. Raqchi was a complex village with multiple constructions for various purposes; including farming terraces, Qanchas (groups of houses), Wayranas (building having only 3 walls) Colcas (storehouses), shrines, religious water fountains and other buildings, Raqchi was the most important Tambo on route to Collasuyo (today Bolivia). The main building is the Wiracocha temple is a grandiose construction for its era. Architecturally it is classified as Kallanka; that is, a large building completely covered with a thatched roofing (wood and ichu or grass); it is outwardly 92 m. (302 ft) long and 25.25 m. (83 ft) wide. Its central wall is made with very well carved stones in the base for a height of about 3 m. And adobes (sun died mud-bricks) on upwards. Today the wall has 12 m. of height but originally must have reached 16.60

Most Popular Traditional Packages:

Day 1 - arrive Cusco, transfer to hotel, afternoon group city and nearby ruins tour
Day 2 - breakfast, then full day group tour to Machu Picchu, including lunch
Day 3 - breakfast, then transfer to airport

Price per person in US$ for 2010:

Day 1 - arrive Cusco, transfer to hotel, afternoon group city and nearby ruins tour
Day 2 - breakfast, then full day group Sacred Valley tour, including lunch
Day 3 - breakfast, then full day group tour to Machu Picchu, including lunch
Day 4 - breakfast, then transfer to airport

Price per person in US$ for 2010

Prices include roundtrip airport transfers, hotels with breakfasts, group tours mentioned. We can also quote for private tours and with new deluxe train service. (We have many other hotels that we can use. The above are just examples in each price range)

2009 Prices per person for hotels for added overnight at or near Machu Picchu

Prices include breakfasts

Add $70 per person for 2nd day entrance to Machu Picchu and roundtrip bus ticket from Aguas Caliente