Pachamama
Journeys
the path of beauty
The sacred city of Cusco, capital of the Inkan Empire, was designed by the
legendary Inka Pachakuti in the physical shape of a Puma. At 10,900 ft. above sea
level (3,300 m), Cusco was the heart of the Tawantinsuyo, Peru's pre- Colombian
Empire.

Cusco today is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, a fascinating
and colourful paradox of the past and the present. When this ancient city was the
Tawantinsuyo's Capital it also must have been the biggest and most important
metropolis of the continent. Pedro Sancho de la Hoz, a Spanish soldier who acted
as Pizarro's secretary, wrote in 1543 that in the city were found a few thousand
houses. Santiago Agurto following relative population densities estimates about
100,000 persons for the urban zone and about 100,000 for the rural one, that is, a
total population of about 200,000 inhabitants.

Today Cusco is considered the oldest living city in the American Continent with a
continuous occupation of about 1,000 years until today. What is traditionally known
as the Inka civilization (empire or state) began approximately by 1200 A.D. in its
initial phase, and later around 1400 A.D. in its expansive phase. One of the most
difficult epochs in the city's life, begun in 1533 with the arrival and subsequent
Spanish invasion and ethnocide. November 15th 1533, Francisco Pizarro re-
founded it for the Spanish King following the Spanish tradition on March 23rd 1534;
with the name and title of: THE VERY NOBLE AND GREAT CITY OF Cusco. In 1535
Pizarro founded the new capital in Lima that immediately gained importance and
power even until today. In 1536 Manko Inka began a long and bloody war against
the Spanish invaders having a siege of 8 months over the city. Finally in 1572, after
a war that lasted 36 years, Tupaq Amaru I, the last emperor of the Inkan dynasty
was defeated, captured and executed cutting his head off in Cusco's Main Square.

In Cusco, we also find the Santo Domingo church, built over what once was the
most magnificent temple in the Americas, the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Its
courtyards were filled with life-sized gold and silver representations of all the flora
and fauna of the Empire. Pizarro's men looted the temple as part of Inka Atahualpa
royal ransom, who was held prisoner in Cajamarca by the Spaniards and later killed.
An earthquake destroyed the Santo Domingo church in 1950 revealing the Inka
walls that were hidden or plastered over. These walls of the Temple of the Sun are
some of the finest example of Inka stonework in existence.

The Plaza de Armas, called Wakaypata by the Quechuas, signifies cry or moan,
and originated in the expressions of reverence and celebrations with which the
priests or military ceremonies were carried out in this place. It existed different solar
meters at all those places and the Andean masters used as observatories to have
the control of the time.

The terrain in Cusco is steep, combining fertile inter-Andean valleys with impressive
mountains that descend to the rim of the jungle where the temperature rises and
the landscape is transformed through a variety of vegetation.

The city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, was placed on the World
Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983, and is without a doubt one of the
destinations in Peru. There are Inkan buildings waiting for you to discover them
among its cobble-stoned streets, ones like the Korikancha and the palace of Inka
Roca. In addition, you can visit the picturesque neighborhood of San Blas where the
artisans in the department have set up their workshops. This magical city also has
an exciting nightlife with cafes, restaurants, and bars for all tastes. Just ten minutes
away from the city, there are the massive walls of Sacsaywaman, and a few
kilometers from there, you find the archeological sites as Q’enko, Puka Pukara,
Tambomachay, Pisac, Maras, Chinchero, and Ollantaytambo.

From Cusco, it is possible to catch the train to Machu Picchu. Another way of
getting to the Sacred City is by following one of the Inka Trails, a spectacular
network of pathways that snake their way among the mountains and overwhelming
countryside. This is one of the best trekking routes in the world, since scattered
throughout it, you find remarkable archeological sites and areas rich in flora and
fauna.

The enigmatic complex of Machu Picchu, the most important and beautiful legacy of
the Inkas, is part of the Historic Sanctuary of the same name, which is also one of
the few places in the Americas placed on both the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage Lists by UNESCO. It is located high on a mountain and complements the
exuberant nature that surrounds it.
CUSCO - QOSQO
(NAVEL OF THE ANDEAN WORLD)
WEATHER: The city has a semi-dry and cold climate. The annual average maximum
temperature is 19.6ºC (67.3ºF) and the minimum is 4.2ºC (39.6ºF). The rainy season
starts in November and ends in March, and it is the time when the mountains are covered
in green. Between June and August is the time of the intense cold even with occasional
snowfalls.

ACCESS ROUTES:
*By land: Lima – Arequipa – Cusco: 1650 km / 1025 miles (26 hours by car)
*Lima – Nasca – Puquio – Abancay – Cusco: 1131 km / 703 miles (20 hours by car)
*Puno – Cusco: 390 km / 242 miles (6 hours by car & daily services)
*By air: Daily flights to Cusco from Lima (1 hour) and Arequipa (30 minutes)

DISTANCES FROM DE CITY OF CUSCO:
-Acomayo (Province of Acomayo) 104,5 km (65 miles) / 2 hours
-Anta (Province of Anta) 26 km (16 miles) / 30 minutes
-Calca (Province of Calca) 50 km (31 miles) / 1 hour and 15 minutes
-Sicuani (Province of Canchis) 138 km (86 miles) / 2 hours
-Quillabamba (Province of La Convención) 210 km (130 miles) / 6 hours
-Paucartambo (Province of Paucartambo) 109 km (68 miles) / 3 hours
-Urcos (Province of Quispicanchi) 46 km (29 miles) / 40 minutes
-Urubamba (Province of Urubamba) 78 km (48 miles) / 1 hour

AIRPORT: Alejandro Velasco Astete. Av. Velasco Astete, Cusco. Phone: (084) 22-2611

HEALTH CENTERS:
-Regional Hospital: Av. de la Cultura, Cusco. Phone: (084) 22-3691
-Hospital Antonio: Lorena. Plazoleta Belén 1358, Cusco. Phone: (084) 22-6511
-Hospital del Seguro

LOCAL POLICE: Tourism Police: Calle Shapy 510, Cusco. Phone: (084) 24-9654

CRAFT MARKETS:
-Craft Market: Corner of Av. Tullumayo & Av. Pachacuteq, Cusco
-San Blas Art Market: San Blas neighborhood.
-Pisaq People’s Market: District of Pisaq.
-Chincheros Market: District of Chincheros.

POSTAL SERVICES: Av. El Sol 800, Cusco. Phone: (084) 22-4212 / 24-8352. Attention:
Mon. – Sat. 7:30 A.M. – 7:30 P.M. and Sun. 7:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Tourist Attractions:
-Main Square, Cusco. During the Inca Empire, the square was called Wacaypata, a
Quechua word meaning “plaza of cry or moan” or “sacred place.” It was an important
ceremonial spot where the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun was celebrated every year. It
is also the place where Franciso Pizarro proclaimed the invasion of Cusco. After the
Spanish arrived, the plaza changed. They erected stone arches and built the structures
that surround it today.

-Cathedral of Cusco. Visit in the name of god.
The building went through two construction stages: first, the Chapel of the Triumph was
built on top of what used to be the temple Suntar Wasi (An Inka observatory); later, the
cathedral itself was built over the Temple and palace of Inka Wiraqocha. A Renaissance
building in its majority, the interior decoration is in cedar and alder woodcarvings. A
Christian collection of paintings and silver wrought pieces are also kept there.

-Compañía de Jesús (Church of the Company of Jesus Christ). Main Square. The
original building was raised in 1571 on the grounds of the ancient palace of Inka Wayna
Qhapak, the Amarukancha. After the earthquake of 1650, it was rebuilt around 1688. The
design and the façade are examples of Christian imposing art. The retable style entrance
is decorated with medium size towers and the stonewalls are carefully worked. Once
inside, the triple bodied upper altar with salomonic columns, the wooden pulpit, and
numerous Baroque, Plateresque, and Churrigueresque shrines catch the eye. The most
remarkable work of art is “El matrimonio de Martín García de Loyola con Beatriz Clara
Coya“ (The Wedding of Martín García de Loyola with Beatriz Clara Coya).

-Barrio de San Blas (San Blas Neighborhood), 4 blocks from the Main Square. It is one
of the most picturesque areas in Cusco. It is called T’oqokachi or Salt Hole and is
characterized by narrow, steep streets and Colonial houses. It is also known as the
Artisans Neighborhood. In San Blas many families accommodate guests in their homes.

-Church of San Blas. Plaza San Blas. Founded in 1560 during the Christian invasion, it
features a masterpiece in its wood carved Baroque pulpit, attributed to the Indigenous
artist, Diego Quispe Tito.

-Church and Convent of La Merced. Calle Mantas. The Baroque church was built
between 1657 and 1680. The sacristy holds an impressive gold and gemstones encrusted
monstrance, 1,3 meters / 3 feet high and of 22 kilos. It is crowned with one large mermaid
shaped pearl.

-Church and Convent of Santo Domingo/Korikancha. Plaza Intipampa, corner of Av.
El Sol and Calle Santo Domingo. The Korikancha was one of the most impressive
buildings of the Inkas, the glowing gilding of the interior walls illuminated what used to be
the main temple dedicated to the Sun. The christians built the church and Dominican
convent on top of the original structure around 1534 but these collapsed during the
earthquake of 1650 and were rebuilt around 1681.

-Church and Convent of Santa Catalina. Calle Santa Catalina Angosta. These two
buildings were raised in 1605 on what used to be the Acllawasi or House of the Chosen
Women (acllas were women designated as special and experts in different arts of the
Inkas). The architecture is late Renaissance and is characterized by the Roman arches.
Inside, you can still see traces of the original construction. There is also an exhibition
room for murals, metal works, textiles, sculptures, and altarpieces. Here they exhibit
paintings, textiles, woodcarvings, and Colonial altarpieces. The best among them are
Diego Quispe Tito’s paintings, the Arcade carpet, and religious ornaments made of gold
and silver threads.

-Church and Convent of San Francisco. Plaza San Francisco. Founded in 1645, it has
two façades and a single, old Spanish style stone tower. The monumental painting, 12 x 9
meters / 39 x 30 feet, by Juan Espinoza de los Monteros relating the genealogy of the
Franciscan family is the highlight of the convent.

-Inka Roca - Palacio Arzobispal y Piedra de los Doce Ángulos. (Archbishop’s House
and the Twelve-Angle Stone). Intersection of Calle Hatunrumiyoc and Jiron Herrajes. This
Vice-royal building with Arabic influence was raised on the foundations of the palace of
Inka Roca. Presently, it is the main centre of the Museum of Christian Art. On Calle
Hatunrumiyoc, you can see an Inka wall that was part of the Inka Roca palace and
demonstrates the admirable construction skill of the Inka in terms of polished and perfectly
placed stones. The most remarkable part is the “Twelve-Angle Stone”, famous for the
perfect work and assembling of its angles.

-Palacio del Almirante (Admiral’s Palace). Calle Cuesta del Almirante 153.
It is an old mansion, which today is the site of the Inka Museum. It contains an important
archeological collection that includes ceramic, fine metal, and textile pieces as well as
mummies.

-House of the Inka Garcilaso de la Vega. Calle Heladeros. Born on April 12, 1539, Inka
Garcilaso de la Vega was the son of the Spanish Captain Garcilaso de la Vega y Vargas
and the Cusco princess, Chimpu Ocllo. He is the author of two works, “Comentarios
Reales” (Royal Commentaries) and “La Florida del Inca” (The Inka Flower), both
motivated by the necessity to recover the history of the Inka Empire. The house is the
current location of the Regional Historical Museum that contains a collection of canvasses
from the Cusco School.

-Larco Museum of Pre-Colombian Art. Plaza Nazarenas 231. Phone: (084) 23-3210.
The mansion that shelters the museum was Kancha Inka in 1450, the house of the invador
Alonso Díaz in 1580, the home of Count de la Cabrera in 1850, and was completely
restored to become the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art in June 2003. In its 11 rooms, 450
works of art are displayed that date from 1250 B.C. to 1532 A.D. These were selected
from a group of 45.000 objects belonging to the collection of the Larco Archeological
Museum in Lima.