The City of Cusco
Cusco,
cultural heritage of the Americas, can call itself lucky that, despite
centuries of cultural imposition by the West, many inca elements have
been kept alive. The city offers an idyllic vision of the history of Peru
and during the Inca Empire it was considered the navel of the world. Believe
us … it still is!
The city possesses a special atmosphere: combines pre-Hispanic and Spanish cultures and takes on a surpisingly cosmopolitan lifestyle at nightfall when bars and discos become the "temples" of the city. Its a place known for the richness of its land and people. A place that combines as well natural beauty as an immense archaeological treasure. There is no doubt … it should be explored by every traveler!
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Special events:
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Cusco
offers a wide range of arts and crafts, including fine alpaca textiles,
ceramics, musical instruments, colonial objects and paintings. In the
neighbourhood San Blas live the most distinghuished popular artists of
the city.
But not only the city itself is worthwhile to visit. There are countless tourism alternatives in the surrounding area. Join us at a closer look.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas
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The spectacular valley, named sacred because of its imensely fertile area irrigated by the Wilcamayu river, is truly admirable. Here you can see how incan architects believed in the importance of not divorcing men from their surroundings. They combined human necessities with what earth, air, landscape and nature offered.
At the entrance of the Sacred Valley you find Pisac. A pitoresque mestizo colonial town whichs shows perfect how incas were able to grow crops on the steep mountainsides by building terraces. Pisac is famous for its indian market and for the ancient cemetry in the mountains above the town.
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Passing through Lamay, Yucay, Calca and Urubamba we reach Ollantaytambo, a living inca city with its straight streets, its trapezoidal doors and its walls carved with delicate designs. People overhere have adapted to the modern era without losing their identity. To get to the inca ruins above one must climb a series of well laid out steps. But once above you will admit that it was worthwhile.
<foto De heilige vallei in kaart>
Returning to Cusco, between Ollantaytambo and Chincheros, lies Moray. Here you find a big amphitheatre which once by the incas was used as an experimental research station to study the performance of different crops planted in different micro climates. At the end of the town you might see mules loaded with sacks of salt from the natural salt pans in Maras.
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Places to stay: Wide variety from 5 star hotels to cheap hostals. |
Going on we pass to Chinchero , an example of architectural mixture between Andean and Spanish styles. Like in Pisac, the main square in Chinchero has a handicraft market on sunday.
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Places to eat: Next to the culinary tradition, which is very rich, you can find a wide variety of restaurants for every taste and budget. |
Next to the impressive cultural side, the Sacred Valley is a paradise for people with a hang for adventure. In the impressive valley with its snow capped mountains , its gorges and river you can do activities like e.g. mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, parapenting, climbing, hiking and horse-back riding (El paso horses).
Machu Picchu
Nearly
100 kms from Cusco, in the depths of the Sacred Valley, rose a series
of extraordinary stone constructions. A priveledged location on the saddle
of a mountain with steep sides and surrounded by the Urubamba river.
Machu Picchu, city of magic, with an atmosphere of mystery and strange beauty, peace and silence. A city in a dreamlike landscape, where time has stopped, where reality and fantasy mix together. Its an amazing ancient archaeological masterpiece; a work of man made with devotion and respect of nature; a balance in everything …
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Ever since it was discovered for the world in 1911, Machu Picchu has never failed to spark interest and admiration across the world. Many books have been written, but non was capable to capture the sensation one feels when visiting the sacred city. Many theories were developed, but her secrets still remain. Many people have already seen it and many will see it in the nearby future, but despite this all,
THE SITE REMAINS IMPRESSIVE AND IS DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT OF ANY TRIP TO PERU!
