CUSCO PLACES AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Cusco places and tourist attractions is located in the southeast of Peru, the city is located at 3,400 m (11,154 feet), with majestic houses that are the living portrait of two cultures, Inca and Spanish, and that are now monuments and tourist attractions of the immense wealth that the city has. Cusco has a variety of climates and landscapes, the city is located in a transition zone between temperate and cold zones, so any time of the year is good to visit the city, since it has a consistently dry climate throughout the year. year: sunny during the day and cold at night. The rainy season is from December to March.

are known as the heart of the largest empire in the history of South America, Cusco was the capital of the great Inca culture. Due to its majesty it has been considered the "Archaeological Capital of America" ​​And it is also considered as a cultural heritage of humanity. Its name probably comes from a Quechua word that means "navel" or in a figurative sense "center", in reference to an extensive network of roads that lead from the capital of the Inca Empire called Tawantinsuyo of the four suyos or regions, which form the four parts of the world view of the Incas.

Its tourist attractions, without a doubt the most fascinating city in the Andes. Its Colonial architecture blends admirably with the majestic stone foundations of the Inca buildings. In the regions of Cusco there are different and impressive tourist attractions of Cusco such as:

Sacsayhuaman, Religious place

Sacsayhuaman is an attraction of the great feats of Inca engineering, the complex had a great ceremonial significance, in addition to its religious functions. Its name means "satisfied hawk" in Quechua, Sacsayhuaman is located 2.5 km (15 min) from the center of the city through an asphalt road, Sacsayhuaman is known for its huge blocks of calcareous stones, many stones were carved with a astonishing precision in forming the exterior walls. Some of these stones exceed 9 m in height and weigh more than 120 tons. Sacsayhuaman is the most important temple of the Hanan Qosqo or Cusco de Arriba could have been located there, to be dedicated to the Andean cosmology and for the worship of the Inti (sun), the keel (moon), etc. This site had to be built around 100 years. It is one of the largest megalithic structures in the New World.

Qenko, Ceremonial Center

Qenko, which means spiral or snail in Quechua, is a central Inca ceremonial place and attraction, Qenko is on a natural rock formation that has been carved with designs. It also features a large rock inside an altar that is inside a semicircular amphitheater and 5 meters (18 feet) of stone blocks said to represent a puma. Most interesting is the large limestone outcrop that has been carved with complex mythical figures related to the cult of the land (Pacha Mama) and the series of meandering canals, for ceremonial use that must have given the place its name. < / p>

Tambomachay, the Inca baths

Tambomachay is a series of finely worked stone structures. Tambomachay is a marvel of hydraulic engineering, its aqueduct system still works to this day, feeding a series of enclosures where rituals were carried out in honor of the water source of life by the sun worshipers, the Incas. It is likely that it was used for the cult of water and also in a utilitarian way for agriculture in the area since water is one of the most important elements in the Andean worldview.Tambomachay as its name means in Quechua "resting place", it is said that it has been a resource for the Inca, Peruvian historians say that it was used by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui as a hunting lodge, in addition to being a sanctuary

Tourist Attractions of the Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is home to many of the tourist attractions that are so frequently visited by tourists from all over the world. The Sacred Valley is located at 2,850 meters and is 27 km (1 hour by car) northeast of Cusco, this valley is longitudinally along the Vilcanota River. The valley is located between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In the Sacred Valley of the Incas we will see a succession of picturesque villages, Inca terraces and other Inca archaeological sites, as well as sweet white corn farmland blessed with an exceptional climate, a visit to this valley should be a must. for all those who come to Cusco. Now we will see some of the cities and recent Incas along the Sacred Valley of the Incas:

Pisac:

Pisac is an important and picturesque archaeological site, Pisac is located 30 km northeast of Cusco, it is a fantastic place, the climate is pleasant, the people are friendly, the construction of agricultural terraces is wonderful. Pisac is the gateway to the Urubamba valley, it has an Inca archaeological site in the mountains considered one of the best examples of Inca architecture, and a city of colonial origin on the slopes of this mountain which is characterized by its traditional market and fairs.

Ollantaytambo:

Ollantaytambo is a fantastic city, of Inca origin, It is located in the western part of the Sacred Valley, 78 km northeast of Cusco. The city takes the name of Ollantaytambo at the rate of a legendary general who revealed himself to the Incas as Ollantay. Ollantaytambo is divided into two sectors, one that is the part of the town or city and the other is the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo itself. Both the urban design and some of its constructions date from Inca times. The streets still have their Inca design from the time that the city was a military, religious and agricultural center.

Chinchero:

Chinchero is a town of Inca origin, it is located 30 kilometers north of Cusco, from the town of Chichero one has spectacular views of the Vilcabamba and Vilcanota mountain ranges. In the main square there is a huge Inca wall that contains 10 large trapezoidal niches in perfect condition. The square also features one of the most important colonial churches in the region, with baroque-style altars and numerous wall paintings.

Maras, Las Salineras and Moray

Maras is located 53 km northwest of Cusco, Maras was the home of the descendants of the Incas from Hurin Cusco Panaca, the city contains a large church and several colonial houses with the coat of arms of the noble families these shields are located in the main portals of each house for this reason Maras is considered the city of portals. Near Maras, in the peasant community of Pichingoto, we find the salt mines, known locally as salineras and that have been exploited since pre-Hispanic times.In colonial times, it was the first salt production center in the central highlands. from Peru.Moray is perhaps one of the most mysterious places because the site consists of a large irrigation system and a series of concentric agricultural terraces but when one visits this place it is arid and the only water supply one could have would be from the rains but at the On the other hand, it is believed that Moray was an agricultural adaptation center or a large agricultural laboratory in which the Incas purposely created various micro-climates in which they grow a variety of crops