Seen from above, Cuzco is a city
that has experienced different stages of splendor, fall, and reconstruction. As
living archaeological site that is continually changing shows the entrails of
human civilization in a clear and transparent way.
According to the Greek
Thucydides, history is an incessant start again. However, the difference
between Cuzco and that phrase is that the ancient capital of the Inca Empire
never stopped and instead of disappearing, it mutated again and again without
erasing an iota of its past.
Nowadays, Cuzco has so many
monuments of such diverse times, and for that reason and for much more it is
known by lovers of culture as the Rome of America.
But Cuzco is also the main
tourist destination of Peru due to an evolutionary decision that its
inhabitants took after the earthquake of 1950. They decided to turn the city
into an attraction for visitors from around the world.
The reconstruction began to bear
fruit in 1990 when tourism activity made changes in the economy of the city and
hotels of various types were built to accommodate travelers.
Although when you say the words
tourism and Peru, the collective imaginary immediately think of gastronomy. The
truth is that Cuzco offers adventure and culture (in all its forms) as the main
bet. The evidence is in the following unavoidable tours for any visitor.
The Path of the Incas to Machu Picchu
Traveling to Cuzco is also
traveling through time. In this Peruvian region, people wear outfits similar to
those of their most remote ancestors and eat in a very similar way. But to get
to the heart of the Inca wonder is necessary to take a trip of seven, six or
five days to Machu Picchu by the Incas' paths.
After a road that reconstructs
any spirit defeated by the excess of civilization, tourists find a place that
shows that man can live in perfect harmony with nature because the architecture
of Machu Picchu joins to the green of nature of every corner as it could never
be seen elsewhere on earth. Here is the resting place of one of the great Inca
emperors and a sacred space to connect with the universe.
Valle Sagrado Tour
In a single tour from Cuzco,
tourists can discover in one day the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas,
where they will find attractions such as the city of Pisac with its picturesque
local market and the ruins of Ollantaytambo.
What the Incas called the Sacred
Valley is the place where the best corn from all of Peru harvests. There, it is
possible to enjoy a flora that looks like fantasy and a very rich fauna that
never ceases to amaze locals and strangers alike. In Pisac, nobody can stop
admiring the market of its central square; but the most daring are encouraged
to participate in an authentic Quechua mass.
The tour to the Sacred Valley ends at the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo,
which is also the only Inca city that remains intact with descendants of native
Indians as the only inhabitants.
Trekking in the Lares Valley
The green as a companion. The
walk through the Lares Valley usually lasts seven days because it ends at the
top of Machu Picchu. It is a path drawn by beautiful lakes, a spectacular fauna
and a green that covers the view and fills the lungs with the desire to live.
It is an activity that allows you to experience Cuzco from the inside.
Walking to Salcantay
Cuzco also has snow, and the walk
through the Salcantay snow-cap demonstrates it quite well. This is an adventure
for brave spirits that do not give up and is crowned by beautiful views of
Machu Picchu itself and thermal waters.
Huchuy Qospo
The walk by the Huchuy Qosqo is a
delight to do as a family. It offers a beautiful view of the Sacred Valley and
a walk along an archaeological site that still shows the glory of the Inca
civilization.
A lot of stone and adobe
buildings, as well as an intelligent canal for the water supply, are some of
the architectural beauties that Huchuy Qosqo still shows.
Trekking to the Mysterious Citadel of Choquequirao
The Spanish Juan Arias Díaz
discovered the citadel of Choquequirao in the 18th century for the western
world, but it was not until 1909 that the archaeologist Hiram Bingham
elaborated a detailed description of its location and characteristics. Today
the place is visited by tourists and experts from all over the world trying to
understand its mysteries. The citadel is now known as The Sacred Sister of
Machu Picchu, and the four-day trip is well worth it to understand the
greatness of the Inca culture.
The wonders of Peru have their
strongest point in Cuzco, where history beats with a particular pulse while
each stone resists being under oblivion. That is why visiting this land of millenary culture results in an
exploration of what human beings did not know.