Overview
The city tour in Cusco, is a tour around the city and to know its archaeological centers and history of more than 6 centuries, it is a perfect start to be able to acclimatize and your visit to Machu Picchu to be able to interconnect with the Andean culture.
Qoricancha
According to the Inca conception, the “Qorikancha” was the main religious, geographical and political center of Cusco. The temple of Qorikancha, was the place where the Inca god “sun” was paid homage to the maximum Inca god.
The stories tell that when the Spaniards arrived at the temple of the Coricancha they never found so much gold together, the walls of the temple were covered with a layer of gold that illuminated the entire enclosure and in its extensive gardens were representations of animals and cornfields made of pure gold .
Most chroniclers agree describing the majesty of the Qoricancha temple, its walls made of calcite and andesite stone have a perfect finish and prevail over time, despite having endured 3 earthquakes (1650, 1749 and 1950).
According to chroniclers like Luis e. Valcarcel the “Inca Huayna Capac”, son of Tupac Inca Yupanqui and grandson of Pachacutec, was in charge of giving special importance to the temple and tried to centralize the empire of the Incas in this place, so he ordered that all the riches of the empire be taken to the Coricancha, unprecedented fact that favored some revolutionary movements within the Empire.
After the death of Huayna Capac, it was not clear which of his sons (Huáscar or Atahualpa) had to hold power, which led to the decline of the empire and the easy conquest of the Spanish.
Saqsaywaman
Sacsayhuaman was built between the 14th and 15th centuries. The work lasted more than five decades, required the work of 20,000 men who gathered as tribute (mita-community work in favor of the state)
Sacsaywaman is a Quechua word that etymologically means Saqsay = “Saciarse” and Huamán = “hawk” that is to say “Place where the hawk is satiated”. The strength of Sacsayhuaman was the greatest architectural work that the Incas did. The construction was carried out by 3 important rulers, started during the government of the Inca Pachacuteq (the ninth Inca), then continued with his son Tupac Inca Yupanqui and was completed by Huayna Capac around the fifteenth century.
Legend has it that in this place one of the biggest battles took place among the “Chancas” who came from the area of the current department of Ayacucho and the “Incas”. The battle lasted for several days, with the Incas triumphant.
Historically in the pampas of Sacsayhuaman the “Inti Raymi” or festival of the Sun takes place. Every 24th of June at the winter solstice the Inca offers a sacrifice to the God “Inti” Sol. The ceremony has lasted in time and until the present is practiced in Cusco.
Qenqo
Qenqo was possibly used by the Incas as a center of worship, the passages that resemble a labyrinth have on their flanks several channels in the form of “Amarus” (serpents) where the blood of the animal sacrifices, which were usually the more beautiful and unique, maybe that was the reason why black animals were the chosen ones. Some chroniclers like Juan de de Betanzos describe as: “a savage act that the Incas committed by sacrificing not only animals, but also newborns who had special beauty, according to the Incas these beings were born beautiful in order to join the Gods ”
Qenqo has a sacrificial room in one of its underground chambers, where a large rock protrudes, which according to the chroniclers was covered with gold, in the upper part of the chamber you can see a hole, which was exactly above said rock, the light of the moon penetrated through this hole and thus radiating over the layer of gold, illuminated the whole place. Some historians affirm that in Qenqo is the tomb of the Inca Pachacuteq, the most important of all.
Pucapucara
Pukapukara is a Quechua word meaning “red fortress” because the sun’s twilight changes the color of the rocks to red. The traditional information indicates that, when the Inca was about to visit the Baths of Tambomachay, the formidable group of soldiers, dancers and others stayed in Pukapukara, which was a barracks and tambo (resting place). It is said that “the chincana” (cave located in Sacsayhuaman) communicated precisely Pukapukara with Tambomachay, which is not proven.
Tambomachay
Tambomachay was a center of adoration and cult to the water, the Incas asked the Gods that arrive the rains for their cultures and these became fertile, reason why some also know this place as the “temple of the fertility”, is impressive that, despite the passage of time, crystal water flows through its aqueducts. The Incas used their ingenuity to channel water from a small waterfall and divide it into two waterfalls. Legend has it that if women drink from its waters they can conceive easily, if the water comes from the fall on the right side they will have a male child and if a woman is from the left side. Tambomachay had restricted access to the town, only the Inca and his entourage could use their facilities.
Day 1
Day 01: Qoricancha – Saqsayhuaman -Qenqo – Pucapucara – Tambomachay
Pick up from the hotel at 08:30 a.m. or 12:50 pm (2 schedules available) to take it directly to the temple of Qoricancha, a religious center known as the “Temple of the Sun”, a very important temple from the Inca period, what stands out here is the impressive Inca engineering that was used during its construction.
Then we will approach our mobility to continue with the visit of the second place, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, located 3 km away. outside of Cusco. This is an impressive fortress with excellent architecture.
Sacsaywuaman is currently the place where the “Inti Raymi” (festival of the sun) is celebrated every June 24, at the end we will continue with the visit of the archaeological sites of Qenqo (ceremonial and religious center), the control place of Puca Pucara, (Place of rest and control for the entrance to the city of Cusco, and they used to be found along the different roads of the entire Tahuantinsuyo)
And finally we will visit Tambomachay (ceremonial center of worship to water), where it is currently also known as sources of water of eternal youth. At the end of the tour we will drop you off near the main square.
Inclusions
Includes:
- Pick up hotel.
- Professional guide.
- Transportation in a Mini Van.
Not Includes:
- Parcial tourist ticket ($ 25.00 – Qoricancha Temple, Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay)
- Food and drinks.
Our Recommendations:
- Passport
- Cap, sunscreen, rain poncho.
- Water.
- Camera.
Pricing
Group Service Cost:
Adult Price US$ 25.00
