Trip Style: Culture – Archeological
Altitude:
Peru does not have one climate. Because Peru is close to the equator, the seasons are hardly effected by changes in the state of the sun. However there can be observed some differences between the months November to April and April to November. Due to the very diverse landscape that Peru has, there are several distinct climate zones. The climate depends on the geographical location, altitude and sea currents, so we can divid Peru in three climatic zones:
From Lima: 1h20 min
From Arequipa:0h45 min
From Puno, Juliaca: 0h45 min
From Lima: 21h30 min
From Arequipa: 16h00 min
From Puno: 08h00min
Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. In 1983 the historical capital of the Inca Empire was declared World Heritage Site. Today the city is a jumping-off point for the Inca Trail and famous Inca Site Machu Picchu. Cusco got his name in a very special way; legend tells that in the 12th century, the sun god Inti looked down on the earth and decided that people need organizing, so he created the first Inca, Manco Capac, and his sister-wife, Mama Ocllo. They came to life on Isla del Sol (Sun Island), way over in Lake Titicaca, with a long walk ahead of them. Inti gave Manco Capac a golden rod and told him to settle the spot where he could plug it into the ground until it dissapeard; this would be the navel of the earth, Qosq´o in the Quechua language, Cusco.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Urubamba Valley is a Valley in the Andes of Peru, close to the Inca capital of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The valley was formed by the Urubamba River. The star attractions are the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is known for its craft market, by far the biggest one in the region. You can visit the market daily but official market days are on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Ollantaytambo is an archeological site and dominated by two Inca ruins.
Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca site located 2.430 meters above sealevel. It is also called ¨Lost city of the Incas¨ and declared by the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the ¨New Seven Wonders of the World¨.
Puno is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the mountains surrounding the city. The city is known as a jumping-off point for Lake Titicaca Tours. Puno is Peru´s folkloric capital due to its wealth of artistic and cultural expression, particularly dance.
Lake Titicaca is a lake on the border of Peru and Bolivia and also the largest lake of South America. It is notable for a population of people, who are living on the 42 self fashioned floating islands called Uros. These islands are definitely worth visiting as well as the Island Taquile.
After breakfast your guide will meet you at your hotel and will go with you to the Machu Picchu. Our guide will give you a guided tour of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, visiting the Inca Terraces, The Agricultural Sector and Urban Sector. Then you will be able to have plenty of time to explore this mysterious city by yourself.
Things to do:
In the afternoon, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes in order to catch the train back to Cusco. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo´s or Cusco´s train station we will pick you up and take you to your hotel.