Machupicchu and sacred valley

Culture and History tour in Cusco

Tour Price : $1000-6000 Duration : 3-5 days Languages: Spanish, English, Hebrew, Portuguese Discount: special prices for groups

Cusco
Cusco is the storied capital of the Inca dynasty and gateway to the imperial city of Machu Picchu. Stately and historic, with stone streets and building foundations laid by the Incas more than 5 centuries ago, the town is also remarkably dynamic, enlivened by throngs of travelers who have transformed the historic center around Plaza de Armas into a mecca of adventurers from all over the world. Cusco looks and feels like the very definition of an Andean capital. It's a fascinating blend of pre-Columbian and colonial history and contemporary mestizo culture.

Today you will enjoy a walking tour around Cusco and its highlights , San Blas Neighborhood : It is located few blocks away from the main square, you will enjoy walking around its narrow streets and plaza. White houses and blue balconies a nice touch on its beautifull colonial style, since inka times it was considerated as the neighborhood of the artist, and now we can find great Art Galeries as Mendivil, Merida, Olave, Rojas, famous for their religious figures and special style. Also paintings, alpaca clothes and jelwery stores, Twelve Angles Stone: The Inca stonework was incredible, actually so good that Spanish conquerors often used the old Inca structures as foundations for their own buildings. Hatunrumiyoc is a great place to have a closer look at their skills. Main Square: The inkas used to call it HUAYCAPATA which means the Square of the Warrior, withness of many important events on the history, as the anual Festival of the Sun, the revolution of Tupac Amaru II.
You can see the fusion of cultures, whith the stone arch, two main churches , The Cathedral and “La Compania de Jesus” , a watter fountain and beautifull houses.
KORICANCHA : Temple of the Sun: Inside you can see the CEREMONIAL FOUNTAINE, where the main Priest HUILLAC UMA offered the chicha to the god Sun. Also temples dedicated to the Thunder, Moon, the stars and other important gods on inka time.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is now a days the main touristic destination in Peru, with over 800,000 visitors a year that come from all over the world.

There are plenty studies about Machupicchu, nevertheless, even today scholars diverge in opinions about what was the purpose of it.
What is certain is that it wasn’t an isolated place or “lost city” like many believe. The valleys that converge formed a very populated area which increased the agricultural productivity since the Inca occupation in 1440. It is believed that Machupicchu had a moving population like the majority of the Inca llajtas, it had a population ranging 300 and 1000 habitants belonging to an elite (possibly members of the Panaca of Pachacutecor Acllas which were chosen women) It is demonstrated that the agricultural power was made because of the mitimaes, which were people that after being conquered use to come from the different regions of the empire to accomplish certain jobs.

We will enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological remains, including the Caretaker's Hut and Funerary Rock, which allows for one of the most spectacular views of Machu Picchu. The view includes the main entrance to the city, the Temple of the Sun (also called the Torren); the Royal Tomb; the Royal Sector, a still-functioning water canal and series of interconnected fountains; the Temple of the Three Windows, each trapezoid extraordinarily cut with views of the bold Andes in the distance across the Urubamba gorge; the Principal Temple, which has masterful stonework in its three high walls; the House of the Priest; the Sacristy, renowned for its exquisite masonry; the Intihuatana, popularly called the "hitching post of the sun." We will also enter the lower section of the ruins, separated from the spiritually oriented upper section by a central plaza. The lower section was more prosaic in function, mostly residential and industrial. We will view a series of cells and quarters, called the Group of the Three Doors and the Mortar District, as well as the Temple of the Condor.

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