The Archaeological Capital
of America";
it constitutes the biggest tourist attractiveness in Peru, and the
most visited one. Cusco, was the biggest city and capital of the
Inka Empire “Tahuantisuyo” (that reach great part of Ecuador,
Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile) and then taken by the
Spanish conquerors; today it has an architecture that fuses the Inka
with the Spanish style. Their town conserves with pride its customs
and traditions. It is also the forced step to know the mystic and
enigmatic sacred citadel of the Inka Machupicchu that the Spaniards
never knew and was discovered by the occidental culture in 1911.
Cusco, as well as Machupicchu, for its historical value, and for its
beauty is considered Cultural World Heritage Sites.Post-Columbian
Cusco
Plaza de Armas
The first Spanish soldiers arrived in the city on November 15, 1533.
Spanish conquistador, or conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, however,
officially refounded Cusco on March 23, 1534, naming it the "Very
noble and great city of Cusco". The many buildings constructed after
the Spanish conquest have Spanish influence with a mix of Inca
architecture. The Spanish made a new city on the foundations of the
old Inca city, replacing Incan temples with churches and palaces for
the Spanish. In the colony, the city of Cusco was very rich, thanks
to the agriculture, cattle raising, mining and trade with Spain.
Many churches and convents were built, and even a Cathedral, and the
Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco.Koricancha temple
and Church of Santo DomingoThe major earthquake that hit Cusco in
1950 badly destroyed the Dominican Priory and Church of Santo
Domingo, which were built on top of the impressive Koricancha
(Temple of the Sun). The city's Inca architecture, however, survived
the earthquake. Many of the old Inca walls were thought to have been
lost after the earthquake, but the granite walls of the Koricancha
were exposed, as well as many walls throughout the city. While some
wanted to restore the buildings to their colonial splendor, some of
Cusco citizens urged city officials to retain the exposed walls.
Eventually they won out and now tourists from around the world enjoy
looking at these ruins within the living city. The 1950 earthquake
was the second time that the Dominican Priory had been destroyed,
the first being in 1650 when another major earthquake struck Cusco. |
Program |
Duration |
Highlights |
RAFTING IN
URUBAMBA RIVER 2 DAYS (private service) |
2 Days and 1 Nights |
Cusco, Rafting in
Urubamba River, Camping, Chuquicahuana |
HORSEBACK RIDING
TO TIPON FULL DAY |
Full Day |
Full day horseback riding to
Tipon ruins. Oropesa, Cusco |
CUSCO CITY TOUR
HALF DAY |
Half Day |
Cusco, archaeological centers
and museums |
SOUTH VALLEY TOUR
HALF DAY |
Half Day |
Tipon, Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas
|
MACHUPICCHU TOUR FULL DAY |
Full Day |
Cusco, Sacred Valley of Urubamba, Aguas
Calientes, Ciudadela of Machu Picchu |
Peru Vacation Packages has
for you really good offers.
|