Cusco City
Cusco is located in southern Peru, at 3300 meters above sea level, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is known as the navel of the World, these are some of the nominations it has received.
Cusco is the most important tourist center of Cusco, it was the capital of Tawantinsuyo in the government of Pachacutec for what made great architectural constructions, among which highlight Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, among many other citadels and sacred enclosures that today are the cultural heritage of Peru.
Cusco not only has archaeological zones but also has natural tourist attractions such as the Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake, Salkantay, Ausangate and
Maras Moray Salt Mines:
The town of Maras is a small town located on the outskirts of Urubamba, 1 hour away from the city of Cusco, here you will find 2 of the most visited archaeological centers; the platforms of Moray and Salt Mines
The Moray platforms are located, 7 km from the Maras district, and are made up of 3 holes; 2 small and one large, the big one is the busy since it has 16 built platforms and each has different microclimates so it is considered to be used as an agricultural laboratory.
Maras salt mines, are a set of small holes that were built to store salt water that filters from a manant, this water is distributed in each of them so that with the action of the sun can evaporate and solidify and then be extracted.
The extracted salt is very used in the kitchen to prepare a meat on the grille, also with this salt can be made medicinal baths.
Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The sacred valley of the Incas, in the Inca period had an important role, since it was carried out great constructions like the archaeological center of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, and is known to be the best producer of white maize, which are exported to countries abroad.
The sacred valley is surrounded by mountain and snowy chains between the most important Veronica and Pitusiray, and is considered the main access point to Machu Picchu and the jungle.
The extension of the Sacred Valley extends from the district of San Salvador to Ollantaytambo, the capital being the province of Urubamba, throughout the Valley it travels along the Vilcanota River, where you can perform canoeing activities.
The southern valley of Cusco.
Within the southern valley of Cusco we will find pre-Inca and Inca archaeological centers as well as religious constructions.
Tipon: Located in the Community of Choquepata, 27 km southeast of Cusco, Tipon is included as one of the 16 most important archaeological visits for the tourist visiting Cusco
Piquillacta: Piquillaqta means in Spanish “the village of fleas”, it is located at 3250 meters above sea level in the district of Lucre province of Quispicanchi, it is made up of preInca remains of ancient Peru.
Andahuaylillas Temple: The Church of San Pedro Apostle of Andahuaylillas known as “The Sistine Chapel of America”, is Architecture is one of the most amazing and beautiful religious expressions of religious art.
Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca.
The 7-color Mountain of Vinicunca or Winicunca Rainbow mountain is located southeast of the City of Cusco in the Vilcanota The Rainbow Mountain altitude of 5200 meters above sea level, so the walk becomes tedious.
The origin of colors according to expert is of geological origin accumulated over time for the mixture of marine, lake and river elements. This mixture of minerals carried by the waters, humidity and wind have caused the oxidation of the soils giving the tonality of their colors.
Before it was discovered the mountain of colors was covered with ice, and when it melted the colors of this Andean wonder appeared.
Machu Picchu
The archaeological center of Machu Picchu, is located 80 km northeast of Cusco, where the Urubamba or Vilcanota river flows, surrounded by a mountain range.
The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu is considered a masterpiece of architecture, was declared a Historic Sanctuary in 1981, as a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO since 1983.
Machu Picchu is part of the 7 wonders of the modern world since July 7, 2007, along with other wonders among the main ones that are part are:
- The citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru.
- Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
- The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
- Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The Great Wall of China.
- Taj Mahal, India.
- Petra: the Stone City, Jordan.
