Terra Quechua Peru Info

The tour starts at the impressive Colonial Cathedral in Cusco that contains over 400 paintings from the Cusquenan School, several altars. After that we go to visit the Temple of the Sun, main religious center of the Incas dedicated to the Sun Cult. According to the chroniclers, the walls of this temple were entirely covered with gold.

From here we go by bus the visit the four ruins at less than 8 km from Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, famous for its enormous carved rocks and Q´enqo y Tambomachay.

Active

• DAY 1 CUSCO CITY TOUR
• DAY 2 FULL DAY SACRED VALLEY TOUR
• DAY 3 FULL DAY MACHUPICCHU TOUR
• DAY 4 TRANSFER OUT

The Cathedral
Built between 1560 and 1664 out of large slabs of red granite taken from the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Cathedral is one of the most imposing structures in the city. Its faade, built in Renaissance style, contrasts with the Baroque and silver of its lavish interior. It also houses one of the most important collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period, elaborately engraved wooden altars and a beautiful collection of oil on canvas paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña. On either side of the slabs of red granite are two small auxiliary chapels. One of these, the Del Triunfo church, in fact Cusco's first Cathedral, was built in 1539 on top of the palace of Inca Wiracocha.
 

Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo
The convent was built on the spectacular Koricancha ("site of gold"), the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and whose walls were plated with sheets of gold. The convent was built on a foundation of smoothened stone structures -the most finely crafted in Cusco- taken from the Inca sanctuary. The faade of the convent is an excellent example of Renaissance art and its distinctive spire, built in Baroque style, stands out over the thatched roofs of the Cusco skyline. Like the two churches mentioned above, it houses an impressive collection of canvas paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña.

Sacsayhuaman
An imposing example of Inca military architecture, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman was built using large slabs of granite to safeguard the city from attack by Antis, or invading forces from the East. Sacsayhuaman ("satisfied falcon" in Quechua) is made up of three large terraces which overlap in a zigzag formation surrounded by enormous stone ramparts of up to 300 meters in length. Its elevation and proximity to Cusco, as well as the dimensions of the stones -up to 5 meters high and weighing up to 350 tons-made Sacsayhuaman a quarry for certain structures in colonial Cusco.
 

Qenqo and Puca Pucara
Qenqo is a ritual site built on a sole outcrop of limestone, with underground galleries and a semicircular amphitheater. Puca Pucara (in Quechua, "red fortress"), was a military installation made up of stairways, terraces and large walls which once formed part of the capital's defense system. Both structures are part of the archaeological circuit near the city of Cusco.

Tambomachay
Also known as the "Baos del Inca" or the Inca baths, Tambomachay was apparently a site dedicated to the worship of water and a resting place for the Inca monarch. Among its most notable features are its system of aqueducts, canals and cascades carved in stone, designed to channel water flowing from a nearby spring. According to experts, Tambomachay was also a kind of royal garden, abounding in ornamental vegetation and fed by an intricate network of canals.

Upon arrival to Cusco Airport. Reception and transportation to the Hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea to stimulating for the height, will have the free morning to rest and also we suggest you have a light lunch in either your hotel or in one of the surrounded; in the afternoon we will depart on a City tour (entrance to the archaeological centers and museums including) we will visit the Main square, Cathedral, the Koricancha (temple of the sun) and in addition we will make a route bordering archaeological centers like Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, tour finishes 6:30pm approximately at the main square in order you can take dinner in one of the exquisite restaurants in the area, then overnight. (No meals included)

NOTES:

• City tour: from 1.45pm to 6:30pm approx. (Pickup from the hotel starts at 1:15pm)
• Optional Buffet Dinner with Folkloric Show: Adding $30 per person

Breakfast. You will be picked up at 8:15 am. Full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley visiting: the colorful Indian market in Pisac where a mixture of color and tradition will be able appreciated besides will have a good opportunity to try our bargain skills on the free time to interact with the local craftsmen to purchase their hand-made souvenirs. The Valley has a distance of 31 km (19 miles) of Cusco, and an altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p), Pisac is located to the entrance of the Sacred Valley and followed by Ollantaytambo, the older town continuously occupied of the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their channels that have not varied from the time Inca, evoke their ancestral inheritance, lunch in a typical restaurant and then the last visit will be to Chinchero market.

Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market which is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. At the end, return to Cusco main square at 6:30pm approx.
The night is free for you to eat in a restaurant of your choice; although we always have plenty of suggestions for you should you require them.

Note: Take this tour on market days: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
Bilingual Guided tour on different days.

Early breakfast and pickup to go the train station to depart to Machu Picchu, the trip takes about 4 hours. During the trip we will have an amazing view of the landscapes of the Sacred Valley of Urubamba and the Amazon rainforest providing you a small hint of how much Peru has to offer. Upon arrival to the little town of Aguas Calientes you will have to approach the bus station towards the “Ciudadela of Machu Picchu” (Only 20 minutes ride) to receive a professional guided tour by this Huge Historical Sanctuary follow by some free time to explore the zone on your own and then take your buffet lunch (included), an according time, we will go down to the Aguas Calientes town to return to Cusco City. Reception at the train station and transfer to your accommodation.

Breakfast and according time, transportation will be provided to go the airport.

END OF THE SERVICES

IMPORTANT: For a better service, the company informs you that it has autonomy to change the Hotels mentioned in the itinerary with another one of similar category if therefore sees it by advisable taking into account justifiable availability of spaces or other reasons, if this it is the case you will be notified ahead of time.

International and domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal nature.