CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 PSCDE4 - LIMA- CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU SUMMARY DURATION AND PERIOD 07 Days / 06 Nights LOCATION Department of Cusco TYPE OF TOURISM Archaeological Tourism ATTRACTIONS Archaeological and Historical complexes: Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Tipón, Pisac, Pikillaqta, Ollantaytambo, Moray , Maras, Chinchero, Living culture Andean Living Culture – traditional techniques of weaving, Community of Chinchero. Museums in Cusco Natural Reserves: Andean Flore and Fauna TYPE OF SERVICES Private GUIDE – TOUR CONDUCTEUR English, French, or Spanish. Its presence is important because it allows to incorporate your journey in the thematic offered, getting closer to the economic, institutional, and historic culture and the ecosystems of the circuit for a better understanding. RESUME This circuit offers to get closer to the Andean culture and to understand its world view, its focus, its technologies, its mixture with the Hispanic culture, and the fact that it remains present in Indigenous Communities today. In this way, by bus, small boat, plane or walking, we will visit Archaeological and Historical Complexes, Communities, Museums & Natural Environments that will enable us to know the heart of the Inca Empire - the last heir of the Andean independent culture and predecessor of today’s mixed world. CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 CONCEPT The circuit that we offer named the four sides of the Inca Empire invites you to discover the reality of the 6 oldest civilizations of humanity, with a fully endogenous and autonomous development. When the conquerors came to the country they called Peru, they found a confederation of about 200 kingdoms, brought together by the Inca people, or "ENQA" (in Quechua, they had the strength power or energy). It was built in about 170 years, and the last people were invaded by the Incas only 60 years before the Spaniards came. This is why for many local lords, the Spanish conquest was a chance to be released from this supervision, because the Tawantinsuyo nation or Land of the Four Regions, lacked unity. This country went from Pasto (Colombia) to Mendoza (Argentina) with a road network of more than 12,000 km. Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador are 4 of the 12 mega diverse countries in the world, and Peru is, by far, the most diverse country of all, with more than 10% of the planet's biodiversity. Crossing the South of the Inca empire, we offer you to discover the essence and history of a unique civilization, of which the Inca culture was only the last heir; as well as a mega diverse country with one of the richest seas and the driest deserts, where the sky becomes confused with the horizon, beautiful Andean valleys and the high jungle. CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 ITINERARY Day 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA Arrival at the airport of Lima BEGINNING OF THE SERVICES Reception and transfer to your hotel Dinner not included Night in your hotel Day 2: LIMA – CUSCO Breakfast Transfer to the airport Flight Lima - Cusco Arriving in Cusco, reception and transfer to your hotel City tour of Cusco and visit of the following archaeological and religious attractions: MUSEUM OF PRE-COLUMBIAN ART The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is dedicated to the art of the ancient Peruvian cultures. Located in La Casa Cabrera (Cabrera House), it is found in one of the most peaceful and welcoming parts of Cusco, la Plazoleta de las Nazarenas (the Little Plaza of the Nazarenas), located one block from the main square. The history of the imperial city’s urban architecture is synthesized in this extraordinary historical monument; from the portions of the still- standing Incan wall to the balconies of the Republic, which open into the inside patio. The house served as a seat of Santa Clara until the 17th Century when it was bought by Don Jerónimo Luís de Cabrera and la Cerda, whose nobility can still be seen in the shield of arms on the stone gateway. Its pieces are famous icons of pre-Columbian art and have been exhibited in the most important collection of ceramics, gold and jewels in the ancient culture of Peru; its rooms teach us about 3000 years of archaeological splendour in our country including the unique and famous selection of erotic pieces. Typical lunch CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 CATHEDRAL Religious colonial monument of extraordinary artistic value, where one can appreciate canvases from the 17th Century, beautiful indigenous carvings, the exuberant choir, and main silver-coated altar. Located in the Plaza de Armas, in what was once the palace of the Inca Wircocha (Suntur Wasi), Cusco’s main cathedral was erected in 1560 and finished in 1654, having taken 132 years to build. In renaissance style, the cathedral occupies an area of 4000m2, and its floor, with 3 naves and 10 side chapels, takes the shape of the Latin cross. Nowadays, Cusco’s cathedral has 11 chapels, 1 sacristy, 1 meeting room, 7 altar pieces, 1 bass choir integrally carved from Cusqueñan cedar, and inside, contains more than 300 paintings and different carving and sculptures. QORICANCHA Later we will visit Qoricancha, a religious centre known as “the Temple of the Sun”. The impressive engineering used in this construction and its fine finish clearly demonstrate the mastery of Incan architecture. SACSAYHUAMAN Located 3km from the city of Cusco, this impressive fortress is made of monumental stones weighing up to 12 tons, and using remarkable architectural techniques. Return to your hotel in Cusco Dinner-show Night at the hotel Day 3: THE BELT OF PACHATUSAN: TIPON- PIKILLAKTA – PISAQ CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 Breakfast Pick up at your hotel Transfer to TIPÓN According to the people of the area, this great open- roofed temple, dedicated to water, corresponds to the Wari (6-8thC), an important pre-Incan Empire civilization. The experts will recognize many elements of this culture which was later assimilated to the Inca Empire. In Tipón, the principal protagonist is water. There are terraces but they don’t appear having been used for intensive agriculture. We can also appreciate smaller constructions: bedrooms, a giant kiln, and aqueducts that stretch for kilometres and bring water from a high mountain lake. A lot of silence, wind and majestic landscape, and the sound of waterfalls, frame this very special site. PIKILLAQTA Visit of the pre-Inca town. Twelve kilometres from Tipón, the archaeological reserve of Pikillaqta (3350 m) is a combination of pre-Hispanic constructions and was strangely baptized with the Quechua name meaning “village of fleas” towards the end of the colonial time. The reason for this denomination is unknown, and we don’t know the original name either. Pikillaqta was originally a satellite city of the Wari, who, with great mastery, learnt the feats of the Nazca and Tiahuanaco cultures. After an unavoidable debacle, the Wari were replaced by the Chancas, tough people that had to face the emerging Inca Empire. They were finally defeated. Since then, the people of the Tawantinsuyo took over the city that was inhabited by “mitimaes” at that time. In this complex, a number of Wari constructions still exist. More than 700 buildings, 200 patios and several houses of up to 3 levels are still visible. They are distributed in blocks and straight streets. It is thought that at its height, the town of Pikillaqta was inhabited by around 10,000 people. Westwards, we can admire the impressive gate of Rumicollqa, where visitors used to make an offering they had prepared throughout their lives, because the “village of fleas”, was something like a waiting room for the capital of the empire. Lunch in Pisaq PISAQ Visit of Pisaq - This great archaeological complex is located in the P’isaq district, Calca province, 33km to the West of Cusco. The Spanish word “Pisaq”, is derived from the Quechua “p’isaqa”, “gallinacean”, a bird that is very common in the area, and very similar to the CUSCO LAMBAYEQUE Email: [email protected] Av. Manco Cápac 515 – Wanchaq Ca. M. M. Izaga 740 Of. 207 - Chiclayo www.chaskiventura.com T: 51+ 84 233952 T: 51 +74 221282 partridge or lluthu. According to one theory, the Inca city of P’isaq takes the form of this bird, which was a tutelary deity of the tribe that lived in the region before the Incas. At first glance, surprise is inevitable. Later another sensation emerges: a deep respect for the creators of these 100-year-old buildings which are silent witnesses of the greatness of an empire. The beauty of its walls made from great blocks of polished stones with an extraordinary symmetry puzzles the visitors. P’isaq is composed of constructions such as houses, aqueducts, trails, bridges, a cemetery, walls and huge areas of great platforms. Dinner not included Night in the hotel in Chinchero Day 04: THE ROAD OF THE INCA KNOWLEDGE Breakfast Visit of Checoq The site of Cheqoq is challenging in more than one way. You will find stairs, platforms, rectangular buildings with roofs that may be covered with thatch, or “ichu” straw and which seem to be mainly warehouses or more precisely, Inca refrigerators.