Best of Cusco

Q'orikancha (Templo de Santo Domingo)

Q'orikancha was the most sacred and famous temple of the Andean World. It was dedicated to Sun, which was the main God in the Inca Empire. The name Q'orikancha means “golden field” in “Quechua” or “Runa Simi” (the official language of the Inca Empire ), the temple was named thus; because its walls were completely covered with sheets of gold; besides, the temple saved a impressive number of statues which were made in silver and gold. They represented all deities of the Empire. These statues were brought to Cusco from the new territories conquered by the Incas; who took the main Deity from each town as a kind of kidnapping, to ensure the loyalty of the people. The temple had also a great golden Sun disc which reflected the sun and illuminated the main hall of the Q'orikancha.

Unfortunately, almost all treasures were stolen and destroyed by the Spaniards led by the barbaric Francisco Pizarro. The most of the golden and silver pieces were melted to make coins. Because of this fact the most part of the Andean sculptural art was lost forever.

The Q'orikancha was the place where the main religious activities were made. Here it celebrated the “Inti Raymi” (Sun’s feast), which it celebrated every year during the winter solstice (June 24). The Q'orikancha had around 4000 priest who lived inside the temple. This temple also was used as astronomical observatory.

After Spaniards arrival, the “Santo Domingo” convent was built over the former Q’orikancha and now both architectural styles (Inca and Spanish) coexist together, creating a wonderful and unique blend. The Christian church saves inside it many works of art amongst sculpture and paintings; which belong to the “Escuela Cusqueña de Arte” (Art School of Cusco), the main school of art in America during the colonial period. The Q'orikancha is located in “Plazoleta Santo Domingo” in the Downtown of Cusco and you can visit this amazing place from Monday to Saturday between 8:30 and 17:30 and Sundays from 14:00 to 17:00. Admission costs S/.6 ($2) for adults and S/.3($1) for students.

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is without doubt the most important archeological complex near Cusco city. During the Inca period Cusco was designed with the shape of Puma (wildcat) and the temple of Sacsayhuaman was the head. This amazing temple with form of zigzag was dedicated to the Ray or Lightning known in “Quechua” as “Illapa”, that was a important Deity in the Inca Empire; since it believed that the ray brought rain which is very important by the agriculture, the main economical activity in the Inca Empire.

During many time, it believed that Sacsayhuaman was a fortress because in XVI century, “Manco Inca” the last Inca leader fight against Spaniards and used this temple like fortress.

The main side of the temple is composed by three zigzagging ramparts, which represent to ray and the three levels of the Andean religion, the underground stage (Uhu Pacha represent by the snake), the earth’s surface stage (Kay Pacha represent by the puma), and the sky stage (Hanan Pacha represent by the condor). These ramparts are composed by giant stones, some of them measure over 8 meters high and weigh 361 tons. Even more amazing is the fact that many of these stones were brought to Sacsayhuaman from over 35 Km away and they are fitted together so perfectly without cement or any blend, even engineers wonder at how the Incas managed such a feat. 

The nice time to visit Sacsayhuaman is on June 24; since here every year it celebrates the “Inti Raymi” (feast of Sun) a wonderful show that represents the former Inca celebration. 

This amazing archeological complex is located to 3600 meters over sea level; therefore you must be careful, since you could be victim of altitude sickness known in Cusco as “Soroche”. You can arrive to Sacsayhuaman by taxi for about S/.5($1.7 approximately), by bus (known in Peru as “combi”) for S/.1($0.4) or walking. Entry is free with the “Boleto Turístico” (tourist ticket) a ticket that allows you to enter to several tourist attractions in Cusco.

Plaza de Armas or Huakaypata (Main Square)

The Plaza de Armas of Cusco also known as Hukaypata is the center of the Downtown and the life of the city. It is a direct descendant of the Incan center city. The Incas considered Qosqo (Cusco) as the “Navel of the Universe” and the Hukaypata is the center of it. In the Incan period the square was bigger and it extended until the actual “Plaza de San Francisco” (St. Francis square). It belief, that Manco Capac founded the Inca Empire in this place following the orders of his father the Sun. The square has been scene of many important events in the history of the city and the country like the murder of Túpac Amaru II, one of the most important personages of the Independence fight.

Huakaypata is a Quechua word without a definite meaning but some people translate it as square of the warrior or square of regrets.
The impressive square is surrounded by 8 colonial “portales” (arcades), the beautiful Cathedral and the “La Compañía” church. Each arcade has a commercial name like “Portal de Panes” (arcade of bread), “Portal Confituría” (arcade of candies), “Portal de Harinas” (arcade of flours), “Portal  de Carnes” (arcade of meats), etc.

Around the square, there are also many Incan palaces which were constructed by the three main Incas (kings) of Tawantinsuyo (the original name of the Inca Empire), who were Pachacuteq, Tupac Inca Yupanqui and Huayna Capac. These amazing buildings are located at Loreto street , one of the streets that are near the “Plaza de Armas”. The square is now a amazing place, where you can meet people of all the world; it is very amusing to hear in one place Spanish, English, French, German, Quechua and many others languages of the thousands of visitors that walk in the former square.

Besides, the square is scene every year of the procession of the “Señor de los Temblores” (Christ of the Earthquakes) an impressive religious event that show the religious fervor of the local people. This procession leaves to the streets each Holy Monday at the week of easter.  
In addition to every Sunday there are military and civil parades in the square.

Ollantaytambo

It is a small and beautiful town which is to 75Km of Cusco (around 2.5 hours by car) at the road to MachuPichu. It situated to 2800 meters over sea level in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This town has been constructed over the original Inca foundations and is the best surviving sample of Inca planning town. Besides, the town is situated at food of an impressive Inca fortress; which was used to protect the entrance of the Urubamba Valley. The legend says that Ollantaytambo was the place where the general Ollantay was revealed against Pachacuteq (the greatest Inca); when Pachacuteq denied to Ollantay the hand of his daughter (the princes Cusi Colyllor). Nevertheless, this romantic legend is born in XVIII century, in the colonial period.

Inside the ceremonial sector of the archeological complex is the “Baño de la Ñusta” (bath of Ñusta) which is a beautiful carved stone font made in a single piece of granite. The main archeological monument inside the fortress is “la Casa del Sol” (Royal House of the Sun) which is a wonderful temple, whose architectural style is unique in the world. It is composed by 17 superposed terraces (known as Andenes) made with large carved stones; besides, the walls of the temple are composed by 6 large blocks of stone with small coupling stones amongst them, which are part of the main Altar. You can enter to Ollantytambo with the “Boleto Turístico” which costs $10.

Moray

It is one of the more unusual Inca places. Moray is basically a set of series of great circular terraces (circle Andenes). It seems such as sunken amphitheater, but   really Moray consists of two sets of concentric changes in altitudes, which create variety of climatic conditions, allowing as assortment of crops to be planted in one place. Moray was an Incan experimental farm. This ingenious technology allowed the Incas to study the effect of altitude on different plants and to experiment with different varieties of plants to improve their crops. The temperature difference between the ground at the bottom of the circles and the highest terrace is 15ºC (59ºF).

The Incas conquered different regions; they brought back different fruits and vegetables which grew at different altitudes and in different climates. For these to slowly adapt to their local climate, they would then plant them in the center, in the lowest and warmest level. Little by little they would move the plants up a level, and other, and other until the plant was thus completely adapted to its new environment. This site shows the advanced culture and technology that had the Andean man. This fascinating place is located at road to Urubama in the Sacred Valley of Incas.

El Valle Sagrado de los Incas (The Sacred Valley of the Incas)

The Sacred Valley is one of the most important tourist destines in the country. It is the valley formed by the Urubamba River. The lands in the valley are the most fertile in the world; therefore the Incas built many of their main cities in this valley. Cities like Pisaq, Calca,Huchuy Qosqo, Yucay,Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero and   Machu Picchu are located along this beautiful valley which has a great climate all the year.

The valley offers a great number of activities to the visitors, in addition to the impressive archeological sites; it can do trekking, rafting, glider touring, horse riding, climbing, jumping, swimming and much more.
The valley is located to 30 Km (around 10 miles) of Cusco to 40 minutes driving by an asphalted road in good conditions. It offers a great number of high quality hotels and restaurants. If you are in Peru , you must go to the Sacred Valley.

Pisaq

This town is located in the Sacred Valley, this city is known by its handcraft market on Sunday and by its archeological complex, which one is of the best preserved in the country. It highlights the “Intihuatana” (Sun Clock) which is a single stone piece beautifully carved, that served to astronomical observations. Besides, the complex has many farming terraces which are used until today and several religious and military structures. In addition to near to Pisaq is the Sanctuary of the “Señor de Huanca” (Christ of Huanca) a famous Christian pilgrimage center, where every year in September arrive thousands of pilgrims of all the world look for a miracle. Pisaq is located in the Calca province to 32 Km to northeast of Cusco city (1 hour in car).

Tipon

It is an Incan city located to 23 KM southeast of Cusco in the province of Quispicanchis. Tipon is considered by the scientists as a marvel of the hydraulic engineering. It has beautiful rooms and big and amazing water fonts, which irrigate the endless farming terraces. Tipon is a good example of the impressive level of knowledge in agriculture that reached the Incas.

Tambomachay

Tambomachay also known as “Baños del Inca” is an amazing temple dedicated to the water, which is located to 8 Km to Cusco city and 1 Km of Puca Pucara y Qenko. Tambomachay was also a relaxing place by the Incan aristocracy and a defense point of the Cusco. It was constructed with the classical Inca architectural style. It is composed by buildings finely carved, aqueducts and beautiful water falls. Tambomachay is another Incan masterpiece of hydraulic only comparable to the Roman aqueducts, or the current works.

Calle HatunRumiyoq (HatunRumiyoq Street)

In one of the walls of this walkway is the famous stone of 12 angles one of the greatest symbols of the Incan architecture. The stone is part of one of the walls of the Inca Roca’s palace, which now hosts the archiepiscopal palace in the neighborhood of San Blas.  But in addition to this symbol, the walls of the street has many others beautiful polished stones of 8, 9, 10, 11 angles which match perfectly amongst them without any space. The street is a masterpiece of art itself. 

Cusco has an endless list of incredible places to visit, some of them are:

• Qenko, wonderful Inca temple
• PucaPucara, amazing archeological complex
• Chinchero, former Inca town
• Andahuylillas, the Sistine chapel of America
• Piquillacta, city pre-Inca
• Huchuy Qosqo, thermal pools
• Choquequirao, one of the lost cities of the Incas

There are many other places in Cusco like Machupicchu one of the 7 wonders of the world, a place so incredible that it deserves a review for itself in this same web site. Definitely you would need all the life to know completely that fantastic place named Cusco.

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