Perfect Cusco

The Coricancha was the most important religious temple of the Inca Empire. It is located in Cusco City. The word Coricancha can be broken down into two separate words: Qori (gold) and cancha (walled temple). The temple of Coricancha was where the Incas paid homage to “Inti”, their supreme God.

Touted by Garcilaso de la Vega (a Peruvian chronicler) as “the best architectonic construction the Incas realized during their apogee”.

In 1536, Manco Inca, the leader of the resistance of Vilcabamba, battled the Spaniards at this location. Due to the destruction caused by the Spanish conquistadores during that battle, one can only see about 20% of the original architectural complex.

Q’enqo is located 4 kilometers northeast of the city of Cusco. The word Q’enqo means ‘labyrinth’ or ‘zigzag’.

This archeological site strictly served a religious function.

In Puca Pucara you will find interior courtyards, baths, aqueducts and an ancient, well-known trail. Unlike other archeological ruins, the buildings were made of small and medium size stones with rough surfaces. The urban layout of this site is adequate and functional for its use as a control and administration post.

Tambomachay in Spanish, or Tampumachay in Quechua means ‘place to rest’. This archeological site was a place to worship water and a place where the Inca could rest. This site consists of a series of aqueducts and channels and several waterfalls built within the stone walls. The Incas designed a main waterfall with 2 secondary falls that are exactly alike. It is said that if one were to place 2 empty bottles under the secondary falls, at the same time, they would fill up in exactly the same amount of time.

The City of Cusco is full of unexpected beauty and loaded with history. Its cobbled stone pedestrian sidewalks, and its unique architecture, set the stage for some intriguing walks. The juxtaposition of the locals, some in typical outfits, and the happy tourists create a scene like no other. There is no shortage of excellent restaurants, handicraft stores, plazas, cafes, bars, travel agencies. But, where should you go? We will take you around to the best places. We got you covered!

This town has 2 areas: one is Incan style and the other one is colonial style. Its main plaza is a colorful and entertaining place with a sizeable outdoor handicraft market. The architecture of Pisas shows Incan stonework walls used as foundations to colonial buildings. In this town, one may attend mass in Quechua together with indigenous residents, varayocs (an authority of Incan origin in charge of the administration of justice in local communities) or regional mayors. In this town, one can see how Inca agronomists used what is known as ‘andenes’ to increase the useable surface area of the mountain sides for farming.

One of the last living Inca Cities. This jewel of a village boasts one of the most monumental archeological complexes of Inca society. Commonly known as a ‘fortress’ due to its monumental walls, this village was a ‘tambo’ or a city for lodging. It was strategically located to protect and control the Sacred Valley. Its architecture, as well as the quality of stonework (each stone individually worked) make Ollantaytambo a surprising and unimaginable work of art built during Inca times. You will discover the ‘Temple of the Sun’ together with its gigantic monoliths, the Inca Baths, the Baths of the Ñusta as well as an irrigation system.

This is the city where we will stop for a buffet-style lunch that includes typical Peruvian food choices.

Machu Picchu, the highlight of your trip to Peru, is a full day tour that starts with an early pick up at your hotel in Cusco, a 2-hour trip to the train station of Ollantaytambo where you will board the train to the town of Aguas Calientes at the base of the ruins. At this point, you will board a modern bus that will take you 25 minutes uphill, to the entrance of the ruins of Machu Picchu. This is the only way to get to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was designed and built around the year 1450 during Inca Pachacutec’s reign. This project demanded the participation of specialists in architecture, engineering and astronomy besides the numerous laborers required to do the physical work. It was designed as a religious, political and administrative center, as well as a sacred space.

In this picturesque Inca town, one can enjoy views of the Andes Mountain Range with its majestic snow-capped peaks, as well as visit an archeological site and walk through colonial style houses that lead you to a colonial temple. This is the land of textiles and handicrafts.

A beautiful drive will take you to Moray, an immense agricultural laboratory with its own irrigation system. It is a place with numerous microclimates that allowed crops to adjust to different altitudes, sun exposure etc.

Since the pre-Incan times, people from Maras have been harvesting salt from the same mineral-rich stream. The patchwork of salt ponds creates an impressive view of the 3,000 ponds, each measuring approximately 53 square feet.

This moderate to difficult hike is a must-see experience for those with an adventurous soul. Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca is located at 5,200 meters above sea level (17,060ft) and can be reached by foot or horseback (for an additional fee) once you arrive at the entrance. Even the most unenthusiastic person will be left awestruck at the display of colors arranged by Nature.

The hike is about 1 hour and 20 minutes long each way (4.35 miles roundtrip and 1,318 ft elevation), an important consideration for those with serious health issues as the high altitude is considerable and the steep ascent is about 30 minutes long. The best way to avoid altitude sickness on this trip is to get used to the altitude in Cusco first.

** People with medical conditions exacerbated by high altitude or thin air are NOT permitted on this tour, as well as pregnant women and children 12 years of age and under.