Cusco City

Sacred Land Of The Incas - World Heritage Site- UNESCO

Cuzco is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba valley (Sacred Valley) of the Andes mountain range. Cuzco was the capital ofInca empire. Many believe that the city was planned to be shaped like a Puma. The city had two sectors: the urin and hanan, which were further divided to each encompass two of the four provinces, Chinchaysuyo (NW), Antisuyo (NE), Contisuyo(SW), and Collasuyo (SE). A road led from each of these quarters to the corresponding quarter of the empire. Each local leader was required to build a house in the city and live part of the year in Cuzco, but only in the quarter of Cuzco that corresponded to the quarter of the empire he had territory in. According to Inca legend, the city was built by sapac Inca Pachacuti, the man who transformed the Kingdom of Cuzco from a sleepy city-state into the vast empire of Tahuantinsuyu. But archaeological evidence points to a slower, more organic growth of the city beginning before Pachacuti. There was however a city plan, and two rivers were channeled around the city.
The first spaniards arrived in the city onNovember 15th, 1533. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, officially discovered Cuzco on March 23 th, 1534, naming it the "Very noble and great city of Cuzco". The many buildings constructed after the spanish conquest are of Spanish influence with a mix of Inca architecture, including the Santa Clara and San Blas barrios. The Spanish undertook the construction of a new city on the foundations of the old Inca city, replacing temples with churches and palaces with mansions for the conquerors. During the colony, the city of Cuzco was very prosperous thanks to the agriculture, cattle raising, mining as well as the trade with spain. This allowed the construction of many churches and convents, and even a Cathedral, university and an Archbishopric. Often, Spanish buildings were juxtaposed atop the massive stone walls built by the Inca.

Schedules

9am or 2pm
DURATION: 4 Hours

Places We Visit

Main Square
Cathedral
Qoricancha = Sun Temple
The tour drives along the outskirts of the city up to famous fortress of Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

Included

Official English speaking guide
Private tourist van
Multi-day Tourist Ticket ($52 valid for entrance to many museums and ruins in Cusco and the Sacred Valley)
Tour price include government sale taxes (19%)

TOUR SCHEDULE & COST 2008
DATE	TOUR	COST
Any day (Contact us)	CUSCO COMPLETE GUIDED TOUR Sacred Land Of The Incas - World Heritage Site- UNESCO	Backpacker service (Join a group) 1 to more participants US$105 each Private VIP service (private guide) 2 participants US$165 each 3-4 participants US$155 each 5 to more participants US$145 each
Discount 5%: South American Explorers Club Members Discount 10%: Tour Operators or Travel Agencies Only Students: US$25 discount only with valid green ISIC card
Organized Groups: We offer private trekking at any time departure
Group size: 8-12 participants per 2 guides
Booking: We highly recommended to book space prior you arrive to Peru

Departures

Daily departures are available all year.

Tourist Titcket (Cusco)

Officially known as the Boleto Turistico Unico (BTU) this ticket is valid for 10 days. It is sold at the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC). The ticket allows you entry to the following sites:
Cusco Cathedral
Religious Art Museum
Church of San Blas
Regional History Museum
Sacsayhuaman
Qenko
Puca Pucara
Tambo Machay
Pisac
Ollantaytambo
Chinchero
plus a few other sites
This ticket does not include the Koricancha-Santo Domingo complex - separate entrance fee of 6 Soles (about US$2).