MAIN TOURISTIC ATTRACTIONS
MACHU PICCHU
Machu Picchu is the most important Inca site in America and one of the architectural jewels of the world. The archaeological complex is a total 110 km. from Cusco and Access to it is only possible through the railway that reaches the town of Aguas Calientes or after a long walk lasting several days.
This Inca city was “oficially” discovered to the world by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, although its existence had been known long before by the local peasants who worked in that region.
Archaeological Complex
Machu Picchu is located at the height of the canyon formed by the Urubamba River as it enters the edge of the tropical jungle where the city of Aguas Calientes is located, 8 Km away. from it and at an altitude of 2,350 meters above sea level.
Architecturally, within the extensive enclosure of the complex, two main clearly differentiated sectors can be observed: the agricultural sector and the urban sector.
The agricultural sector of the city is constituted for the most part by a series of platforms located at the foot of the so-called Surveillance Gate, on the south side of the city. The urban sector is made up of a set of squares, fountain, ceremonial baths, houses, palaces mausoleums and religious buildings, among which the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Temple of the Condor stand out.
Other Places of Interest in the Site
In the surroundings of the city it is possible to carry out different route whose duration varies between one and three hours, the best know being the ascent to the Huayna Picchu Mountain, from whose summit the best panoramic views of the site can be seen. Other options are to visit the Temple are to visit the temple of the Moon, the Door of the Sun or the Inca Drawbridge.
In a complementary way to its impressive cultural and historical attraction, Machu Picchu is also a perfect place for the contemplation of diverse plants and animals.
SACRED VALLEY
It is known as “Sacred Valley of the Incas» to an extensive area located northwest of the city of Cusco and between the towns of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo.
The Sacred Valley is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Andean region due to its impressive landscapes, its imposing snow-capped mountains, its pleasant climate, its fertile lands and its significant cultural manifestations; another of its great attractions is that of offering diverse possibilities for the practice of adventure tourism.
This valley is irrigated by the Vilcanota River and since pre-Hispanic times it became an ideal place for the construction of human settlements. The Incas were the ones who made the best use of these lands by establishing themselves along the river, carrying out important hydraulic engineering works and building numerous stone buildings: urban and religious centers, palaces, fortresses, temples and places of ritual importance typical of Andean mysticism.
Among the main places of interest within the Sacred valley are the Taray viewpoint, the towns of Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, the Moray archaeological site and the Maras salt mines.
Mirador de Taray
Situado antes de la población de Pisaq, desde este lugar es posible contemplar una buena panorámica del Valle Sagrado y el río Vilcanota.
Pisac
The small town of Pisaq is a picturesque town located 32 Km. from Cusco, at an average altitude of 2,972 meters above sea level. This nucleus marks the beginning of the Sacred Valley and is famous for its colorful traditional markets and the impressive Inca citadel built on top of the surrounding Andean foothills.
The Inca archaeological complex is located at 3,300 meters above sea level and is 10 Km away. From town; it structure is made up of six different sectors, including housing groups, military complexes, religious areas, tombs, terraces and platforms. Among the main constructions, the Intiwatana stands out, due to the fine finish of its structure.
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is located 95 km. from Cusco following the route that runs through Pisaq and 78 Km. along the Chinchero route. The town is built on Inca foundations, being one of the few vestiges of urban structure that are preserved from that time.
The fortified enclosure of Ollantaytambo is one of the most impressive Inca archaeological complexes due to its imposing constructions, the layout of terraces that protect the fortress and that can be admired from outside the complex being especially relevant.
Important hydraulic structures, fountains, squares, quarries, walls and temples (Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Ten Niches) are preserved at this site. The surrounding snowy landscapes and views of the Sacred Valley, any of the town at the base of the fortress, are one more reason to visit this place.
Chinchero
The town of Chinchero is of Inca origin, being located at an altitude of 3,762 meters above sea level and 32 km. from the city of Cusco. Chinchero houses one of the most colorful colonial churches in Peru, built on Inca walls in the year 1607. In the town there are also other Inca remains, mainly walls and terraces.
The church stands on a high square, with views of the Andean mountains (Nevado Chicon, Nevado Veronica), where one of the most colorful and traditional markets in the region is located on Sundays: the community members of the area still practice bartering as a means of commerce, the interior of the churches is of baroque style, standing out for its decoration based on paintings, mirrors and carved silver plates
Maras
The town of Maras is a total of 48 Km. from Cusco and is located at 3.380 meters above sea level. The main attractions of Maras are the salt mines, an artisan salt exploitation complex that is located 4 km. of the population.
Inside the town it is possible to appreciate the colonial portals that adorn various buildings. Nearby is the Tiobamba church, with two bell towers and a valuable collection of canvases and colonial imagery.
Moray Archaeological Complex
Moray, located 7Km. de Maras is a point of archaeological interest that was used by the Incas as a field for agricultural experimentation. In its concentric terraces, made up of platforms of almost 2 m. high, different types of crops were tested.
CHOQUEQUIRAO
The Inca city of Choquequirao is located in the District of Santa Teresa, near the border between the Departments of Cusco and Apurimac, in a warm climate zone at the floor of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range.
The fascinating archaeological attraction of this lost city, built on a precipice and competing in beauty and mystery with Machu Picchu, is completed by the great variety of ecosystems found on the paths that lead to it and by the satisfaction of walking through some of the most beautiful places in Peru.
The route that must be taken to reach the archaeological complex runs through nature and requires a great effort for the visitor, due to the deep slopes that must be crossed and the continuous changes in altitude on the route.
To get to know Choquequiro it is necessary to make a trip of several days, starting from the small Andean town of Cachora or from Santa Teresa. On the way you will descend the steep slopes of the imposing Apurimac River Canyon, reaching the very shore of the river, to later ascend the steep 1,500 in different stages. Of unevenness that separate the Apurimac from the Inca city. The trip to Choquequirao is one of the most demanding and complete adventure routes of all that can be done in the Andes, it attractives being enhanced with the knowledge of some of the main Andean traditions and beliefs (Apus, payment to the Land), and with the visit of other places of interest such as the archaeological sites of Saywite and Tarawasi, or the thermal baths of Cconoc.
Arqueológical Complex of Choquequirao
This beautiful and solid archaeological complex is located at a distance of 47 Km. of the population of Cachora, in a site of difficult access at 3,008 meters above sea level. The construction of the city is attributed to pachakuteq, the ninth Inca of the Empire, and at its peak it must have been an important religious, political and administrative center. The complex is made up of a set of multi-level buildings, a main square, stairways, walls and towers, an elevated circular viewpoint, numerous canals, fountains and aqueducts, and a series of well-preserved platforms. All these constructions stand out for the high architectural perfection achieved in their design and execution.
Along the Path leads to the city there are numerous places to stop to contemplate the beautiful surrounding landscapes, especially at the Capuliyoc and Cocamasana viewpoints.
Saywite
Inca archaeological complex located at 3,500 meters above sea level, on the route that connects Cusco with Abancay. It was possibly a ceremonial center linked to agriculture and livestock. Its main attraction is a carved monolith that represents an entire city in miniature and on whose surface it is possible to observe different perfectly sculpted geometric and zoomorphic figures; at 300 m. from this engraved stone there are other small archaeological remains with stairways, canals and an astronomical observatory: Rumihuasi and Intihuatana.
Tarawasi
Inca archaeological site located in Limatambo, 77 Km. from Cusco and at 2,550 meters above sea level. It was a ceremonial center and one of th main tambos (resting places) on the road to Cusco. Its approximate extension is one hectare, highlighting within the complex its trapezoidal niches and the fine finish of its inclined walls; the walls are built with stone blocks placed in the form of rosettes, imitating the appearance of a flower, which is why the palace is called La Margarita de los Incas.
VILCABAMBA
Located in the Region of la Convención, within the Department of Cusco, the city of vilcabamba, also called Espiritu Pampa, is a gigantic Inca archaeological complex that sits at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, covering an approximate area of 12 hectares.
Part of the city is still partially covered by vegetation, since it has remained abandoned and semi-hidden in the jungle for many years. Vilcabamba is considered to have beeb the refuge of the last Inca ruler, Manco Capac, until his capture by the Spanish in 1544. In this area there also other Inca remains such as the citadel of Vitcos and Nusta Hispa’na ceremonial center.
Vitcos
Inca citadel located at 1,500 meters above sea level, it is also known by the name of Rosaspata. It is entirely built in stone and has a huge rectangular plaza, around which more than 200 semi-destroyed buildings are distributed, in addition to conserving platforms, irrigation canals and other infrastructure that cover a total area of more than three hectares
Ñusta Hispana
Great Inca ceremonial center, also called Yurac Rumi, located at 3,500 meters above sea level. In the complex you can see a series of liturgical baths and ceremonial fountains, a set of rooms, a main square with a large irregularly shaped central rock and a group of terraces.
CHAN CHAN Y HUACAS OF TRUJILLO
The city of Chan Chan is a Chimú archaeological complex declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. Located in the Moche Valley, 5 Km. from the city of Trujillo, it was the religious and administrative center of Chimu civilization and the largest adobe citadel in pre-Columbian America.
Built around the year 1300, the city was almost 20 square kilometers in area. It has square kilometers in area. It has huge and solid walls decorated with geometric reliefs, zoomorphic figures and mythological beings. In its labyrinthine composition you can see: paths, ceremonial plazas, reservoirs, aqueducts, ditches, walls, houses, pyramids and other buildings, including nine palaces. The best preserved remains of the Palace are found in the so-called Tschudi Enclosure.
In the surroundings of Trujillo there are other Chimú and Mochica archeological remains of great interest, such as: Huaca of the Sun, Huaca of the Moon, Huaca Esmeralda, Huaca Arco Iris or Huaca Dragon.
Huacas of the Sun and the Moon
Ceremonial centers of the Moche or Mochica Culture. They are located south of the Moche River, 10Km. of Trujillo.
The Huaca of the Sun is one of the largest pre-Columbian buildings in Peru. Its shape resembles a stepped pyramid that fulfills ceremonial functions and, possibly, also administrative and housing functions. It is estimated yacht its approximate dimensions were: 342 meters in maximum length, 159 meters in width and 43 meters in height. The Huaca of the Moon, located 500 meters from the Huaca of the Sun, is a monument made up of several superimposed temples built in different periods. Six levels have been identified so far, the oldest from 400 AD. On its walls and walls you can see remain of large polychrome murals where the highest Moche divinity is represented: Ai-Apaek
Huaca Esmeralda
Located 3 Km. from Trujillo, it is a temple of the Chimu Culture that was erected at the same time as its capital Chan Chan. It is made up of several superimposed terraces that are accessed by going up ramps. It has adobe friezes in which it is possible to distinguish figures of fish, seabirds, waves and fishing nets.
Huaca Arco Iris or Huaca del Dragón
Chimú archaeological site located 5Km. of Trujillo. It is one of the best preserved temples of the Chimú civilization. The complex is made up of an enclosure, about 3,000 square meters and surrounded by a defensive wall more than 2 meters wide, in which there is a two-level construction connected to each other by ramps. The temple has a total height of 7.5 meters and its walls are decorated with rainbow representations and polychrome anthropomorphic figures.
SEÑOR DE SIPÁN
The tomb of the Lord of Sipán is the first intact funerary complex that remains of a Ruler of Ancient Peru.
The Lord of Sipán was the highest authority in Moche society, over wich he exercised triple authority: as a political leader, as a military leader, and as a religious leader. The discovery, in 1987, of the tomb of the Lord of Sipán in the archaeological complex of Huaca Rayada brought to light an impressive funerary ensemble that today is exhibited in the museum of the Royal Tombs of Lambayeque.
The Museum, planned as a cultural, scientific, educational and tourist center, shows all the magnificent achieved by the Moche culture in terms of its levels of development, social structure, economy, organization and religious thought.
In its modern facilities, the finds discovered in the archaeological site of Huaca Rayada are exhibited, distributed on different levels: the tombs of the Lord of Sipán and his ancestor, called the Old Lord of Sipán, belonging to the 2nd and 3rd AD. These funerary chambers, consisting of several floors, contained the remains of the Governors with all their clothing and jewelry: pectoral, nose rings, bracelets, scepter of command, etc. Funeral attire was made up of numerous fine pieces of gilded copper, gold, and silver, including precious stones such as turquoise, lapis lazuli, and shells from northern Ecuador.
In addition to the tombs of the Lord of Sipán, the Museum also shows a third burial: the so-called tomb of the Priest.
KUÉLAP
Huge city nestled in a mountains and jungle environment in the North of Peru, within the Department of Amazonas. As with other archaeological remains located in the northern highlands, almost everything related to the civilization that Kuelap built is unknown: the so-called Chachapoyas or Sachupoyas Culture.
Both Kuelap and other cities of the same Culture are walled and built on top of a mountain peak; the ashlars of these cities are coarser than those of the Incas, but unlike these, they are embellished with drawings and bas-reliefs.
The city of Kuelap, oval shape and with more than 400 buildings (most of them semicircular in structure), extends over 600 meters, is surrounded by an enormous defensive wall between 6 and 12 meters high, and in its accesses it presents narrow fortified alleys. The appearance of rhomboid friezes with niches is characteristic on the walls.
NAZCA LÍNES
The Nazca Lines, declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1994, constitute ne of the most disconcerting enigmas of world archaeology. This impressive network of lines and drawings, located between kilometers 419 and 465 of the South Pan-American Highway, is made up of more than 70 gigantic figures and some 10,000 lines marked on the desert floor.
The observation of the Nazca Lines must be done from the air, although it is possible to partially contemplate them from a viewpoint that is installed at kilometer 420 of the Pan-American Highway.
Both in the city of Nazca and in its surroundings it is possible to make other visits of interest such as the María Reiche Museum, the Chauchilla Cementery and the Cantalloc Aqueduct.
Maria Reiche Museum
Monographic exhibition on the Nazca Lines. It is located at kilometer 417 of the South Pan-American Highway and collects part of the material, related to the mysterious figures of Nazca, which was gathered by the German research Maria Reiche-Grosse Newman over more than 50 years: photos, maps, plans, and models.
Chauchilla Graveyard
Necropolis located 30 Km. of Nazca where it is possible to find numerous tombs, mummies, ceramic remains, personal tools and fragments of fabrics belonging to communities that lived between 1,000 and 1,300 AD.
Cantalloc Aqueduct
Hydraulic infrastructure of the Nazca Culture. Its state of conservation is admirable since it still works, supplying irrigation water for the nearby crop fields. It is constituted by s set of pools, channels, underground galleries and vents.
CHAVÍN DE HUANTAR
Archaeological complex declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1985; It is located in the Alley of Conchucos, in the Department of Ancash, at 3,180 meters above sea level. The archaeological zone covers an approximate surface of 17 hectares, being possible to visit different squares, temples and other constructions; Greater Pyramid, North Pyramid, Rectangular Plaza, sunken Circular Plaza and Old Temple.
The average age of the constructions of the place is calculated around the year 1,200 BC. The main attractions of this city of the Chavin Culture are the bas-reliefs that adorn some of its lintel and columns, the Cabezas Clavas that protected the outer wall, and the famous Lanzón of Chavin, a carved stone 5.53m high.
