City Tour Cusco
Duration: Half day
Tour starts by visiting the Cathedral of Cusco, Sacred Family church, and the Triumph church.
Then we visit the temple of Qoricancha, the maximum expression of Incan architecture and engineering. The temple of the Sun or Qoricancha is nowadays the Convent of Santo Domingo.
We will also observe the astonishing fortress of Sacsayhuaman that was strategically built on a hill where from the whole of Cusco is visible. It is famous for its huge cut stones, some of which are found at a height of 9 metres or 30 feet and weigh more than 350 tonnes.
At four kilometres northeast of the city of Cusco, there are the archaeological groups of Q'enqo Grande and Q´enqo Chico.
Etymologically, it means labyrinth or zigzag, it had a purely religious function. At its external part it has a semicircular shaped amphitheatre with trapezoidal niches and a monolith that seems to be a puma that measures about six metres.
Puka pukara means "red fortress", because the calcareous stones it has been built with have acquired the red colour of the land, that has plenty of iron. It is thought that its function was to protect Tambomach'ay, a very important palace in the Inkario. At the same time, that due to its architectural arrangement and the existence of fountains, aqueducts and multiple facilities, it used to be an inn, that is to say, a group lodging that offered accommodation and food to travellers, and to the procession that had to accompany the Inka in its retirement in Tambomach'ay.
Finally, we will get to know Tambomachay, situated 8 kms. to the north of Cusco and very close to the ruins of Puka Pukara, it is an archaeological site that has been destined to the cult of the water and for the chief of the empire be able to rest. This place is also known as Inca’s baths. It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and several water cascades that run along the rocks. The surprising thing is that from a main cascade, the Incas created 2 secondary ones, that are exactly the same. Which means, if one puts two empty bottles, one in each cascade, both of them get filled at the same time.
Tour starts by visiting the Cathedral of Cusco, Sacred Family church, and the Triumph church.
Then we visit the temple of Qoricancha, the maximum expression of Incan architecture and engineering. The temple of the Sun or Qoricancha is nowadays the Convent of Santo Domingo.
We will also observe the astonishing fortress of Sacsayhuaman that was strategically built on a hill where from the whole of Cusco is visible. It is famous for its huge cut stones, some of which are found at a height of 9 metres or 30 feet and weigh more than 350 tonnes.
At four kilometres northeast of the city of Cusco, there are the archaeological groups of Q'enqo Grande and Q´enqo Chico.
Etymologically, it means labyrinth or zigzag, it had a purely religious function. At its external part it has a semicircular shaped amphitheatre with trapezoidal niches and a monolith that seems to be a puma that measures about six metres.
Puka pukara means "red fortress", because the calcareous stones it has been built with have acquired the red colour of the land, that has plenty of iron. It is thought that its function was to protect Tambomach'ay, a very important palace in the Inkario. At the same time, that due to its architectural arrangement and the existence of fountains, aqueducts and multiple facilities, it used to be an inn, that is to say, a group lodging that offered accommodation and food to travellers, and to the procession that had to accompany the Inka in its retirement in Tambomach'ay.
Finally, we will get to know Tambomachay, situated 8 kms. to the north of Cusco and very close to the ruins of Puka Pukara, it is an archaeological site that has been destined to the cult of the water and for the chief of the empire be able to rest. This place is also known as Inca’s baths. It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and several water cascades that run along the rocks. The surprising thing is that from a main cascade, the Incas created 2 secondary ones, that are exactly the same. Which means, if one puts two empty bottles, one in each cascade, both of them get filled at the same time.
