Machu Picchu, the lost city in the clouds is familiar to everyone. But what still, should there come the actual adventure in a still more fundamental place? You should visit its ancient capital: Cusco, before you ever step a train on the trip to the renowned citadel. It is not a mere stopover; it was the political and spiritual centre of the Inca Empire. Your key to the secrets of this amazing world is the Cusco tour of the city.
It is the most popular half-day tour and the only most efficient one to visit all the most important places in the city to answer the question of what to visit in Cusco on the first day. It is the best thing to do as a first-time visitor, as the old guides will explain, as it will get you used to the altitude, as well as find the history of the place and its roots. This is why it cannot be compromised in any well-considered Peru itinerary.
Not a mere list of places to visit, the tour also provides the history of the stones. You will get to know how to distinguish between Inca and Spanish architecture, and the reason why one race constructed the buildings on top of the foundations of the other. It is this background that will make your visit more than a sightseeing trip and when you finally do get to Machu Picchu, your experience will be much more rewarding and worthwhile.
In case you are wondering what to see in Cusco in half a day, then the traditional City Tour is the answer. Consider it a best-of reel of the Inca and colonial history of the city, all condensed into one afternoon. The travel tours start at approximately 1:00 PM and last about four to five hours making it a perfect, stress free, way of sightseeing as you acclimatize with the altitude.
It is a trip to the five major places that recount the history of Cusco. You will nearly always follow your itinerary through:
The experience has a logical course. It will start with a walking tour of the historical center of Cusco. Then you will be taken in a short bus ride up into the mountains to have a fantastic view.
The historical center of Cusco has its first significant destination: a place that used to be the actual center of the Inca universe: Qorikancha (ko-ree-KAHN-cha). It is called the Courtyard of Gold, in the Quechua language spoken there, but rightfully so. During its time, it was the holiest and richest temple in the whole empire with the worship of Inti, the sun god. Its walls will be told you were adorned once with sheets of solid gold. Will have in the courtyard statues of gold corn, llamas, and flowers.
Once the conquistadors, Spanish, came to conquer it, they despoiled the temple of its inconceivably rich treasures and, in a very strong symbol of subjugation, erected the Santo Domingo Convent on the very bases of the temple.
What you are seeing at Qorikancha now is something you can reach and touch with your hand, and you can touch it literally. It is a beautiful, and even sad, lesson about how another culture was founded on another one.
It takes only a few steps to get to the heart of the city, the Plaza de Armas. This big square surrounded by colonial arcades and gardens was the ceremonial core. The tower of Cusco Cathedral imposes the plaza, and this is a gorgeous display of the colonial art. The perfect example of the cultural experience you had in the sun temple. The construction of it took almost 100 years, and its stone walls bear in themselves an intriguing secret.
It takes but a brief motor journey into the hills above Cusco to take you to the base of a genuine wonder. The fortress-citadel of Sacsayhuam some distance above, that is, that which is so pronounced in the Andes, Sacsayhuam 8. In this case, you do a swap of the fineness of colonial art with the coarseness of pure Inca genius. It is all bricks and stones; these walls are constructed of the kind of stones that belong to a race of giants. It is megalithic architecture on such scale that it becomes hard to believe. There are individual rocks that are 120 tons, which is more than a hundred cars.
In addition to the size of Sacsayhuamán, the city tour will show three smaller, more specialized archaeological sites that give the full picture of life beyond the Inca capital. These are the other ruins which are generally grouped together. In fact having their own individual characters, displaying various aspects of Inca strength.
First, there is the enigmatic Q’enqo whose name translates to Labyrinth in the local Quechua language. Having been hewn out of a huge outcrop of limestone, the place seems to be a natural shrine. You may creep off down its cold underground avenues, to discover a stone altar. Some historians suppose it to have been a mummy shrine, or a sacrifice to the earth mother, Pachamama. It is an interesting and somewhat creepy look at the spiritual life of the Inca.
The atmosphere changes to a military one in a short drive up to Puka Pukara, the Red Fort, a few minutes down the road. It is so named because of the manner its rocks are reddish in the evening sun. This less-formal building, still in its strategic location overlooking the Sacred valley. Would have been used as a military checkpoint.
The most significant part of knowing what to do prior to your tour is the Boleto Turistico or Tourist Ticket. Rather than purchasing individual entrance passes on a one-by-one basis at the individual ruins, the region sells this ticket as a one pass. The four ruins of the city tour (Sacsayhuam, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay) are obligatory. It is an additional ticket, and is nearly never included in the cost of your actual tour.
Unless you are intending to spend a longer time at the place, you do not necessarily have to purchase the entire, 10-day super-pass. To get around the city, you will be interested in the Partial Ticket Circuit I (Saqsaywaman). This ticket will be valid one day and will be used on the four Inca ruins on your itinerary. Most guide books will sell it to you at the first archeological site, so bring money. S/70 (approximately 20 USD) is the cost. Which is a significant element when calculating the overall figure of the tour.
This ticket does not include two of the city stops. Qorikancha and Cusco Cathedral are run separately and charge their own little entrance fees which you will pay on the door.
Partial Ticket Covers: Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puka pukara, Tambomachay.
Excludes: Qorikancha, Cuzco Cathedral.
Being aware of this difference will make sure that your day is going fine, and you are not shocked about some costs.
Having your tickets in hand, the remaining choice you have is on the manner in which you wish to enjoy the sites. The decision on whether to take a group or an individual tour is dependent on your budget and touring preference. Do you want to find a cheap historical summary or a more in-depth, intimate view of Inca history?
A group tour is the most popular and the cheapest option. At a low cost, it is usually only a small fee of about 10 -15 USD to purchase the guide and transportation. You get a ready prepared itinerary that will cover all the principal sights. It is an awesome experience to visit the places to be visited without emptying the wallet and have the opportunity to interact with other travellers. The trade-off to this is that you have a tight schedule. Traveling with a crowd and have less one-on one time with the guide.
Conversely, a personal tour is a custom-made one. You can spend approximately 60-80 USD on a personal guide and have the opportunity to spend more time at the places that interest you or ask questions. This would suit photographers, families or history lovers who would prefer a closer relationship. An authoritative personal guide indeed can enhance your knowledge of the Inca world.
Smart first day: The tour as a way to get rid of altitude sickness.
Coming to Cusco is a landing on an awesome 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) and the best way to enjoy it is letting your body adapt. This is known as acclimatization, and the city tour is an excellent approach to the same. As the tour implies short and mellow walks and comfortable bus service. You need not work too hard to see the world-class ruins.
In order to make your adaptation just a little more comfortable. Some local advice will do wonders to prevent altitude sickness. It is best to listen to your body and relax.
By adhering to this humble suggestion, you will have the luxury to concentrate better on the wonderful things of history that surround you and not on a throbbing headache.
Cusco is also considered by many to be a stop and a compulsory one on the road leading to Machu Picchu. Following this tour though, you will be able to see the city as it really is, the heartbeat of the Inca empire. In fact you will see that the history of Peru is etched in these very stones.
Your next step is simple. Choose between a cost-effective group tour and an individualized personal tour and book it to your first full day. This is not only a great introduction to the history of the place.
That being the case, a visit to Machu Picchu will be revolutionized. Therefore you will not fail to notice the exquisite stone masonry at Sacsayhuamán, and know its role in a great empire. This is the perception that transforms an ordinary visit to a real journey.
