Cuzco has many sights to see for many days and is also an embarkation point for the trek to Machu Picchu. Cusco has a beautiful landscape that conjugates with the blue sky, white clouds and incredible mountains. The city is unmistakable with its Inca period magical aura. It offers visitors great churches, museums, archaeological places and many other sites. Machu Picchu has ruins that are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. Machu Picchu is located high in the Andes Mountains in modern Peru and lies 43 miles northwest of Cuzco at the top of  a ridge. The Inca people used the Andean mountain top to erect many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400’s, however, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time.

See:

• The Inca Walls – enormous granite blocks carved to fit together perfectly without the aid of mortar beds. Located at an altitude of 3,360 metres above sea level, Cusco was referred to as the ‘Navel of the world’. 
• Santa Catalina Monastery – this is a cloistered convent located in Arequipa, Peru. Built in 1580 and enlarged in the 17th century. Over 20,000 square metres is predominantly of the Mudejar style which is characterised by the vividly painted walls. Approximately 20 nuns still live in the northern corner of the complex while the rest of the monastery is open to the public.
• The Plaza – was once flanked with Inca palaces. The remains of the ancient walls of Inca Pachacutec’s palace can still be seen on the North West side of the square. The northern and western sides of the Plaza are now lined by arcades and shops.
• The Central Plaza Machu Picchu – dissects Machu Picchu into two sections. One half being the more important sites such as the Temple of the Sun is to the west. To the east are the prison group residential sections of the ruins.

Experience:

• The Inca aura in Cuzco with its original buildings in their exposed walls.
• Amazing long and interesting history dating back to 1200 AD and linked to the first Inca ruler Manco Capac.
• Thin clear mountain air due to the Cuzco’s high altitude. Take a while to acclimatize before any serious trekking.
• The Inca Trail on the way to Machu Picchu is a must.

Secrets of the Area:

• History and culture like nowhere else in the world.
• Exhilarating and breathtaking sights.