CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU
CUSCO, ARCHAEOLOGICAL CAPITAL OF AMERICA
| Altitude: |  |
3,399 m (11,152 ft) above sea level |
| Area: | 617 sq km (238.2 sq mi) | |
| Population: | 367,791 (2007) | |
| Access routes: | Air, land, train | |
| Weather forecast: | Sunny days and chilly nights |
High in Peru's southern Andes, Cusco was the former capital of the Inca's great empire. Today the "Archaeological Capital of America" combines great beauty and charm with a wealth of archaeological and architectural remains. You can visit the great ruins of the Inca fortress at Sacsayhuaman, the Kenko amphitheatre and the Koricancha Temple and many other sites throughout the city, which even today still bear witness to the Inca's remarkable architectural and engineering skills.
Cusco's colonial heritage is also rich in fine churches -many of which are built on top of former Inca temples- such as the town's cathedral, the Church of La Compañia and La Merced Convent. The area around San Blas, now the base for many of Cusco's fine artists and craftsmen, has remained unchanged for centuries. Admire the recently opened Pre-Columbian Art Museum –MAP–, with a collection of 450 master pieces dating from 1,250 B.C to 1,532 A.D., selected among 45,000 objects located at the storages of the Larco Museum in Lima.
But of course, Cusco is also a marvellous base for many possible excursions: along the course of the Urubamba River, through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to the spectacular Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo or to the colourful mountain villages of Pisac and Chinchero with their ruins and famous Markets. Other beautiful and interesting villages near Cusco include Andahuaylillas with its fine Colonial church, and Piquillacta with its pre Inca remains. As a result of the development of tourism, Cusco offers now a variety of cultural and leisure activities like first class restaurants, bars and discos.
MACHU PICCHU, THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS
| Altitude: | |
2,450 m (8,038 ft) above sea level |
| Area: | 10 Ha. (24.7 Acres) | |
| Access routes: | By train from Cusco | |
| Weather forecast: | Sunny and warm with occasional rain between December and March |
High on jungle-covered hilltops, Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanish conquerors and many parts of the ancient city remain to be discovered. Energetic visitors can climb the heights of the nearby Huayna Picchu for fine photographs of the archaeological wonder and surrounding countryside.
To reach Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, visitors take a train journey through the spectacular scenery of the Urubamba Valley. The even more energetic can hike the four-day Inca Trail connecting Cusco with Machu Picchu.
