CUSCO

TOURIST PLACES

Mystical sacred city, considered the capital of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire with a great
historical and architectural legacy. Surrounded by green valleys with imposing tourist attractions,
culture, tradition and faith still dormant. Known as the navel of the world for being the political and
territorial center of the Inca Empire, the department of Cusco shows a striking geographical variety
from natural mountain ranges and reliefs, to rivers like the Urubamba.

The city of Cusco, located in the Andes mountain range at 3 399 m.s., was declared the
Historical Capital of Peru, being an impressive sample of high Inca engineering whose main tool was
stone. As well as places like Choquequirao, Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Tambomachay, Ollantaytambo
and especially Machu Picchu, architectural jewel built with the wisdom of the ancient Incas that
served as political, religious and administrative center of the time.

It has many tourist places to visit, but this time we will name seven:

1. The neighborhood of San Blas

Within the city of Cusco you will not find a more traditional and beautiful place than the
neighborhood of San Blas. It is reached through the Hatun Rumiyoc street, where you can
see the spectacular "Stone of the 12 angles", until you reach the slope of San Blas, a narrow
street that opens between colonial mansions and craft shops, which will take you to the
square of San Blas, there you can see its temple, which has a beautiful pulpit carved in
baroque wood, in addition there are the workshops of the most renowned craftsmen from
Cusco. In the whole neighborhood you will find many hotels, restaurants, pubs and mystical
centers, a place to rejoice and get lost in time.

Streets of the traditional neighborhood of San Blas

2. Sacsayhuamán

The strength of Sacsayhuamán is one of the most amazing constructions that the Incas did.
Located 2 km from the city of Cusco, its incredible cyclopean walls stand out very well; also
stand the towers located on the walls that are zigzag and the huge trapezoidal doors. You
can spend a fun time slipping through the Suchunas (rodaderos) or crossing the Chincanas
(tunnels). In Sacsayhuamán every June 24 the Inti Raymi or fiesta of the Sun takes plce.

Walls that can be found in the fortress of Sacsayhuamán

3. Pisac

Already in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac will surprise you in two ways. First with its
world-famous traditional market, with innumerable stalls between the streets of the town
to reach its main square, in this market you can find crafts of all kinds, ceramics, fabrics and
silverware that stand out. Already behind the village, on top of a mountain, you can find the
Inca buildings, the best preserved that exist, with magnificent structures such as the Temple
of the Sun or its spectacular andenería.

View of the archaeological complex of Pisac

4. Ollantaytambo

the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Ollantaytambo is the obligatory point of passage for all
visitors to Machu Picchu, and not just because the train station is located there, but because
of the spectacular archaeological complex that is there, an incredible place, as well as its
spectacular Temple of the Sun which is a Monolith of 6 huge rocks that fit exactly and is
located at the top of the complex. The town itself is also a delight, with its houses and streets
that seem to be stopped in time.

Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

5. Choquequirao

Choquequirao is a spectacular Inca city, located in a remote place near the snowy Salkantay.
It is considered the sister city of Machu Picchu and it surprises as much as this one. There is
no way to get to Choquequirao with mobility, so you must do a 60 km walk and it lasts 4
days. It is not a simple route, but full of adventure, with amazing mountain landscapes,
abundant Andean flora and fauna. The Inca city of Choquequirao will pleasantly surprise
you, it is a place that you can enjoy more quietly, as the visitor traffic is much lower than in
Machu Picchu. It is a unique place in the world, a formidable place molded by the Incas
themselves and that time has preserved almost intact to this day.
 Landscape of the Inca city of Choquequirao

6. The Mountain of 7 Colors

A multicolored mountain that has become known completely not long ago, a unique natural
spectacle in the world. The Vinicunca mountain, which is about 4200 m.s. is the protagonist,
also known as the "Rainbow Mountain", this spectacular geographical feature belongs to
the Ausangate, which is the highest in the Vilcanota mountain range, has become one of the
most popular destinations in Cusco. When you arrive at the mountain of 7 colors, in one of
the many daily tours that go there, you will not believe your eyes before this singular show,
only the photos that will be taken will make this amazing experience credible. Definitely a
place that you should not miss.

Incredible view of the mountain of 7 colors or also called rainbow mountain

 7. Macchu Picchu

And finely the Inca jewel, Machu Picchu. A trip to Cusco would not be considered as such,
but goes to the wonder of the world. The Inca city stands imposing between the Andes and
the jungle, showing the world as one of the greatest works of man and that can be enjoyed
intact even today. Despite its difficult location, getting to Machu Picchu is relatively easy
and you can do it in many ways, whether you like comfort or adventure. There is no excuse
for not visiting the masterpiece of the Incas, the obligatory place to visit of all those who
arrive in Cusco.

Machu Picchu, the jewel of the Inca Empire

FESTIVITIES OF CUSCO
There are unique dates that make the trip to the Capital of the Incas a magical experience:
Carnival, Holy Week, Corpus Christi, Inti Raymi, Christmas, New Year, are just some of the most
important festivals celebrated by the population of Cusco. Know the tradition and joy that radiates
the city 'Navel of the World' during those days.

1. The Carnivals

Is a celebration that is celebrated in generally in February (or principles of March) in all

the Cusco and Peru. The central days are Sundays in which the population plays with
each other spraying water and talcum powder. Another tradition is to dance around
the tree or 'yunza', adorned with different gifts that people collect when cutting and
falling. The carnivals are characterized by the overflowing joy during which you can
taste the delicious traditional dishes of the region.
 The party begins the first Thursday before the central day with the Day of the
Comadres. On that date, women celebrate their relationship of compadrazgo (religious
union of nature) with rich potions and funny rag dolls alluding to them. The following
Thursday, the Day of the Compadres, the males do the same with the females. These
celebrations mark the prelude to the Carnivals.

Carnivals in Cusco

2. Feast and pilgrimage of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i

One of the most fervent and ancient religious celebrations (more than 2 centuries) of
the Cusco region is celebrated in the village of Ocongante (province of Quispicanchis)
at the end of May or beginning of June. The pilgrimage of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i
(Brilliant Snow) is a religious ritual that gathers thousands of inhabitants and visitors
who travel several kilometers on foot towards the Sanctuary of Sinakara at 4600
m.s.n.m. and at the foot of the snowy Ausangate. During the pilgrimage the Christ of
that town is worshiped with dances, music and artificial games. On average this takes
5 hours of walking and reaches temperatures of -4 ° C.

This religious festival also has an ancient Andean component in which the mountains
are honored or 'apus' (ancient Inca gods). It is believed that the origin of this festival
took place many years ago in the vicinity of the Sinakara mountain where an indigenous
boy named Marianito Mayta became friends with another boy with blond hair. After
an intense search, the parish priest found them. One transformed into rock with the
image of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i in it and the other (Marianito Mayta) without life.
There are innumerable traditions around this religious figure. It ends with the
processions of Corpus Christi in the city of Cusco.
 Dancers on a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Sinakara
to see the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'i

3. The Corpus Christi

The most important religious festival in the city of Cusco is celebrated in June or the
end of May but always on a Thursday. The Corpus Christi consists in the procession of
the fifteen principal saints and virgins in the city. It is part of the jubilee festivities of
the city. This celebration had its origins in the Incas, when the Indians walked the
mummified remains of the deceased Inca rulers. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, they
replaced the deceased Inca rulers with the most representative images of Catholicism.

The Corpus Christi festivity begins one day before the central Thursday, where the
fifteen images, always accompanied by parishioners with music bands, make their
entrance to the Cathedral of Cusco. The central day, they travel the city of Cusco in
procession. The party ends with the celebration where there is no lack of food, drinks
and music. After seven days, each image returns to its church of origin. During this
festival, the traditional dishes of the region abound, especially the so-called 'Chiri
Uchu'.
 Images of the Saints and Virgins of the main cathedrals of Cusco in procession

4. Inti Raymi

The Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) is the festivity that worships the sun, the Inca god,
every June 24th during the beginning of the winter solstice. This celebration is
characterized by vindicating the ancient Inca tradition by representing their ancestral
rites in the sacred places by these, such as Sacsayhuamán, Coricancha and the Plaza de
Armas of Cusco. In addition to this ancestral representation, the population also
celebrates with music, dances and typical food. The sun was one of the greatest Inca
divinities.

Currently, the Inti Raymi takes its main stage at the Sacsayhuaman fortress. There, the
representation of the Inca is carried on a litter to the high altar where he will worship
the sun. Accompanying him are the representations of priests, beautiful ñustas, the
Inca nobility, his royal retinue and the natives of the time. Other places where the Inca
venerates the sun are the Plaza de Armas of Cusco and the Coricancha (Temple of the
Sun). This traditional festival has more than 70 years of existence. It is already part of
the culture of Cusco.
 The Inca the full celebration of the Inti Raymi

5. Christmas

The worldwide celebration of Christmas acquires a traditional nuance in Cusco. On

December 24, homage is paid to the child Manuelito (Andean representation of the
baby Jesus) with the Santurantikuy festival, the largest crafts fair in the region. In
addition, the streets of the city are tinged with the Christmas atmosphere. On the
central day, December 25, families gather around the table, tasting the typical cuisine
of the region.

The child Manuelito is the Andean representation of the baby Jesus created in colonial
times with the aim of evangelizing the Indians. The story tells that in 1975, the artisan
Antonio Olave created the image of this child suffering the wound of a thorn in the
foot, due to a story he heard about it. This child, who according to the people acquires
different attributes, is the main figure of the Santurantikuy (Venta de Santos), where
aside from the crafts that are offered, the births or representations of the nativity stand
out.
Andean representation of the child Jesus also known as the thorn child