Category: Travel Guide

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is between May and October, the dry season. During November and December many do not recommend it because it tends to rain intermittently. I went on December 24 and although it was drizzling for a while in the morning, the sun came out at noon and the day was unbeatable. From January to April, it is not advisable since it is the rainy season. Generally, the whole month of February the park is closed for refurbishment and conservation.Travel to machu picchu

Tickets to Machu Picchu:

Very important fact! Tickets are not sold at the entrance to the ruins. If you get there without them, you are in big trouble because you are not going to get them.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased at the following points of sale:

Tourist agencies, if you hire a complete and programmed excursion.
Online at www.machupicchu.gob.pe, via credit card.
At the Dirección de Cultura de Cusco (Casa Garcilaso – Calle Garcilaso s/n), with credit card or cash. You can pay in dollars. I bought them there and it was great because it was cheaper!
In the town of Aguas Calientes, only with cash and in Soles.

There are three types of tickets, depending on what you want to visit.

• Inca City of Machu Picchu: It gives you access to the ruins of the citadel.
• Inca City of Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain: It also includes access to climb the Mountain and the Sun Gate.
• Inca City of Machu Picchu + Wayna Picchu: The most coveted, includes the ruins and access to Wayna Picchu Mountain and the Temple of the Moon.
• In all cases, you must take them in advance. I recommend you do it a few days in advance, especially if you want to visit the “Wayna Picchu” option, as it is the most required and there is an entry quota of 200 people per day for better conservation.

Entrance fees to Machu Picchu

Updated – March 2021

Foreigners:

• Machu Picchu Ruins: 152 soles. Students: 77 soles.
• Machu Picchu Ruins + Machu Picchu Mountain: 200 soles. Students: 125 soles.
• Machu Picchu Ruins + Wayna Picchu Mountain: 200 soles. Students: 125 soles.

Peruvians:

• Machu Picchu Ruins: 64 soles. Students: 32 soles.
• Machu Picchu Ruins + Machu Picchu Mountain: 112 soles. Students: 80 soles.
• Machu Picchu Ruins + Wayna Picchu Mountain: 112 soles. Students: 80 soles.

Discounts for Students: As you will see, students have a very convenient price to enter Machu Picchu. To access it, they are required to present the international ISIC card. This is mandatory, it is not useful the passbook of your university, or the certificate of regular student, or any other paper. You will only receive a discount with the ISIC card (they also have discounts for many other places in Cusco and Peru).

None of these tickets include a guide. There are many at the entrance to the park with whom you can reach an agreement and negotiate time and price.

Access Hours:

The sanctuary opens at 6 am and you can enter until 4 pm. The park closes at 5 pm. Within these hours you can stay as long as you want, you can even leave and re-enter as many times as you wish.

I recommend you to get up early in the morning and go early in the morning to see how the early morning mist dissipates as if the curtain is drawn on the most awaited postcard. It is undoubtedly a magical moment!

Geographically Machu Picchu would be something like the border between the Andes and the jungle. That is why it is a tropical mountain range, jungle, full of green and therefore, among so much vegetation was hidden for hundreds of years. It is located on top of the mountain, surrounded by two peaks: Wayna Picchu (Young Mountain) and Machu Picchu (Old Mountain). Several meters below, flows the Vilcanota River, which tends to be very fast-flowing during the rainy season.

There is a myth about the altitude. It is generally believed that Machu Picchu is very high and among travelers there is usually some concern about altitude sickness or “soroche”. The reality is that the ruins are at approximately 2,400 meters above sea level, which is still a considerable altitude for those who are not used to it; but the most serious problem occurs when one arrives in Cusco (3,399 meters above sea level). Throughout the trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you do nothing but go down in altitude. In any case, it is important to be forewarned.

How to combat altitude sickness? It is advisable to spend the first few days in Cusco, adapt and then go to Machu Picchu (we do not want to ruin that experience between vomiting and dizziness by anxious). Also, eat lightly, drink plenty of water and coca tea to alleviate the symptoms.

The climate varies according to the time of the year in which you visit. It can range from humid heat to intense cold, but the biggest problem to avoid is rain.

Cusco, known as “the navel of the world”, is one of the most visited destinations in Peru. Although many suffer from altitude sickness when arriving to this place, this symptom is not an impediment to enjoy the benefits it offers. Undoubtedly, the trip is worthwhile because it has several very important archaeological centers in the culture of the country. Here are the 11 most valuable tips for you to make the most of your trip. Take note!

1. Hydration is important

In Cusco it is very important to stay hydrated, you can drink water or coca tea to help you counteract altitude sickness. You may feel a lack of oxygen and probably your digestion will be a little slower but this is normal due to the altitude. If you prefer to be safe rather than sorry, you can have pills like Sorojchi Pills or Gravol within your reach.

2. Always carry cash

Most restaurants and hotels in the city accept payment in US dollars and cards such as Visa or Mastercard. However, for activities outside the city, it is preferable to use cash, preferably in soles.

3. Rest is the key

If it is your first day in Cusco, it is very important that you rest for at least 2 hours upon arrival. This will help your body to adapt to the altitude, but if you are one of those who do not want to waste a minute of the trip or you have a few days to stay, take the opportunity to visit places near the city such as: The Plaza de Armas, San Blas, the stone of the twelve angles, the white christ and much more.

4. The kit that can not miss in your backpack

What can’t you leave without? In the sun you will feel hot, but if you go to the shade you will feel the cold wind. This is very normal in Cusco, at some point during the day it will be cold so it is very important to bring a good coat. In addition, it is advisable to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, good walking shoes and lip balm.

5. Great diversity of lodgings

If you still do not know where to stay, we tell you that in Cusco you can find accommodations of all prices and for all tastes. It is important to find the balance between price and quality according to your budget. You can contact Costamar Travel to help you find the best rate according to your travel dates for lodging, tours and much more.

6. The best plans for all tastes

In Cusco there is a lot to do but here apart from the “conventional” tours you can dare to do other activities such as:
Mountain 07 colors: remember that you must have a good acclimatization and good physical condition.
Via Ferrata: it is a route to climb mountains with a permanent security system installed, which provides security and facilitates the experience for people who have never done this activity.

Rafting: you can go canoeing in the Urubamba River, it is super exciting!

ATVs: going to a lagoon on an ATV will be an unforgettable experience.

7. Get ready for Machu Picchu

It is best to travel in the dry season, from April to October, because from November to March is the rainy season and you will not have a clear landscape to enjoy the beautiful view. Of course, it will depend a lot on the weather you like, but you should always travel prepared, since it can rain at any time of the year.

8. You can’t miss the nightlife

Going out dancing or having a few drinks is something that many people do and if you feel in perfect physical condition, go ahead and enjoy it! They say that the nightlife in Cusco is one of the most varied because you can find everything with different musical styles.

9. Important to take into account

In every tour/guided tour you take, take only what you need. Try not to carry objects that will prevent you from enjoying your tour. Don’t forget to dress according to what you plan to do.

10. Souvenirs of all kinds

You can’t leave this beautiful city without taking a souvenir. Something that shows the local culture and reminds you that you were in one of the main tourist attractions of Peru.

11. Attitude above all

You should go with the best attitude in the world to recharge your energy. This is the perfect destination to disconnect from routine, work and any stress. Believe us after your first visit, you will want to come back again and again!

Every year thousands of travelers visit the beautiful city of Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca empire, all of them with the purpose of knowing the beautiful Machu Picchu, to make adventures in the mountains and venture through Inca trails. The whole trip can be spectacular if you take into account some cusco travel tips, or you may experience some inconveniences that may not be so pleasant on your trip.

Train schedules to Machu Picchu.

Perhaps the most important tip is to take into account the train travel schedule to Machu Picchu. Taking into account that visitors will travel to Machu Picchu, you should inform yourself very well about the most convenient and accessible travel schedules.

For the trip to Machu Picchu by train you have two options, which start from two stations such as: Poroy station and Ollantaytambo station. The second option (Ollantaytambo) is the most recommended, because it has more schedules available, from that station trains depart to Machu Picchu at various times, in the early morning, morning, midday, afternoon and evening.

On foot you can discover so many things that otherwise would pass you by.

Don’t worry, in Cusco you are safe during the day, just follow the normal precautions, so you won’t be an easy target for a pickpocket! Also, keep in mind that Cusco is a tourist city and the security of the city is paramount. You will find tourist police or citizen security always attentive guarding the safety of its visitors.

Take a map of the city that shows more than the center and start touring places! You should know that the best archaeological centers are outside the city of Cusco, generally located in nearby communities or towns, to reach them it is not necessary to spend a lot of money. In fact, you can do tours on your own as long as you have the entrance tickets to archaeological complexes.

If you need more information about Cusco tickets you can enter the page cosituc.gob.pe, there you can learn about the attractions that can be visited with the ticket, or simply ask the travel agency of your choice to buy the tickets for you.

Culture, adventures and nature.

In cusco you will find the best one day adventures and very economical as the trip to Machu Picchu 1 day. Enjoy hiking on trails that lead to beautiful places like the Humantay launa, the rainbow mountain and biking in the sacred valley.

Cusco offers you a lot on the cultural scene: There are many archaeological sites to discover, and not only from the Inca period – even cave paintings can be found in the most remote parts of the Sacred Valley route! In small specialized museums you can learn more about the coca plant, modern and ancient Peruvian art, the natural history of the region or Peruvian musical instruments. But culture is also alive here: In Cusco there is still a lot of traditional handicraft to discover and some workshops are located in the city center.

Restaurants in Cusco and its delicious typical gastronomy.

Visit the markets! if you want to know about the Cusquenian seasoning, we advise you to visit the markets near the square of Cusco such as San Pedro, San Blas and Cascaparo. there is the real Cusquenian food.

Maybe you have already noticed that Peru is slowly becoming more and more famous for its cuisine? Here in Cusco you can find and taste everything from food in the market to food in the most famous and luxurious restaurants located around Cusco’s central square.

If you are visiting Cusco for the first time you will notice that the restaurants are located around Cusco’s main square. There are a variety of fast food services, vegetarian and especially typical food of the Cusco region.

In Cusco you can also enjoy various street food stalls, regional specialties and rarities up to noble restaurants of the novo-Andean cuisine! The potato has been domesticated in the Andes and the native Andean cereals are grown here, which are in increasing demand all over the world: Quinoa, Kiwicha and Canihua. Here the famous corn beer is freshly brewed or the dark purple corn is made into a refreshing drink! In the surroundings of Cusco you will find the town of round breads, guinea pig restaurants or chicharronerias (fried pork chops), in the local markets you can buy freshly pressed juices of all flavors and colors.

In Cusco it is close to the clouds.

Acclimatization is very important, do not take this advice too lightly. It is very important that after arriving in Cusco you take a couple of days to acclimatize your body before any trip or adventure. If you do not take this advice seriously you will see that the consequences of altitude sickness will spoil the whole trip.

Cusco is located at 3400 meters above sea level, which has its good and not so good sides: On the one hand, altitude sickness can be a problem for you if you reach high altitudes directly, but it is even better if you plan a little more time, because acclimatization needs more than one day! But even if you make it, the Sacred Valley is only an hour away and more than 500 meters lower, which makes the adaptation process easier!

Living at 3400 meters also has the side effect that in extreme cases you can experience all four seasons in one day, 20 degrees difference between day and night is not unnatural and even a step from shade to sun is noticeable here – where else can you experience something like that?

Keep those Cusco travel tips in mind and you will enjoy your vacation without inconveniences and trails, multi-day tours, mountain hikes and mystic tourism like the San Pedro retreat if you overlook those small but important facts, you will see that your whole plan can be very uncomfortable.

 

The famous ancient capital city of the Incas, Cusco is the oldest inhabited city in the Americas and one of the World Heritage Sites named by UNESCO. There are great tourist attractions in Cusco, built on the archaeological foundations of the ancient Inca city that became the basis of the Spanish architecture that can be seen today, and many of the stone walls that line the streets were built by the Incas.

Most visitors who come to Cusco aim to see Machu Picchu on tours, either by train or the Inca Trail, as well as to enjoy tours of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and other nearby Inca centers, but it is worth spending some time exploring the city to see many other attractions.

Most of the city’s attractions are located around the Plaza de Armas and the surrounding streets, where you will also find restaurants, hotels and service stores. Follow the streets uphill from the Plaza de Armas to the cobblestone streets of the beautiful San Blas neighborhood. In this picturesque neighborhood, you can find small artisan stores and restaurants of all categories.

1- the famous Inca walls.

Walking along the paths that line the narrow streets of Cusco is like walking through an open-air museum. These magnificent Inca walls are the foundation of modern Cusco, and although they are found in every corner of the city, some areas stand out among so many others.

The two best places to see the walls are Loreto and Hatunrumiyoc streets. The Inca walls are lined up on both sides of Loreto Street, which runs southeast from the Plaza de Armas. The south wall is Amarucancha, where the Palace of Huayna Capac is located, and on the north side is the wall of Acllahuasi, one of the oldest in Cusco.

Hatunrumiyoc is located on the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, and is very famous for the 12-sided stone (12 angles) that is located along the east wall.

2- Santo Domingo and Coricancha.

The beautiful church of Santo Domingo is built on the foundations of the famous Inca site of qoricancha, also called the Temple of the Sun. Coricancha (Q’orikancha in Quechua) means “golden courtyard”. It is said that statues and gold ornaments decorated the interior and a large golden disk reflected the sun inside the hall. All this was extracted by the Spaniards shortly after their arrival in Cusco. Today, only the fine Inca stone of what was once the glorious Coricancha can be appreciated.

3- Sacsayhuaman.

unforgettable tour-from-cusco-to-machupicchu-sacsayhuaman – city tour cusco

The fortified complex of Sacsayhuaman is the most important archaeological center of Cusco, and it is close enough to the historical center to be reached on foot. It is usually visited on a city tour and sometimes visitors stop to see it on their way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Sacsayhuaman has a military and religious significance.

The impression caused by this archaeological center is due to the size of the stones with which it was built, and the complexity of the stonework (stone carving). Some of these stones are more than eight meters high and weigh 360 tons. Despite the size of these stones and their irregular shapes, they fit together very perfectly.

4- Inca Museum.

Named as the best museum in Cusco for those who want to learn more about the Incas, the Inka Museum is located in the ornate 16th century Spanish Admiral’s House, a place worth visiting on your own.

The house, which belonged to Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado and was built on the magnificent Inca foundations, is one of Cusco’s most impressive colonial houses. The collections focus on the Inca culture, dating from the emergence of their culture until the Conquest.

The Inca museum exhibits ceramics, textiles, metallurgy and gold work, jewelry and mummies. The most interesting are the 450 carved and painted wooden vessels (queros), the largest collection in the world.

5- Church of the Society of Jesus.

The beautiful church called La Compañía de Jesús, usually called La Compañía, is a Jesuit church, it was rebuilt and finished in the late 1660s, after the earthquake of 1650.

The impressive and beautifully ornate baroque facade of La Compañía continues to rival the cathedral. It is particularly beautiful when illuminated at night and on Cusco’s city festivals. La Compañía is built on the foundations of the palace of Huayna Capac, the last ruler of the Inca Empire, today it features a magnificent gold altarpiece dotted with polychrome statues.

6 Plaza de Armas.

The Plaza de Armas has always been the heart of Cusco since the time of the Incas, when the square was called Huacaypata (Plaza de los llantos). The cathedral, on the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, presents the magnificent beauty to the eyes of the world. On one side of the cathedral is the church of Jesús María and on the other the Triunfo.

On the southeast side of the Plaza de Armas is the church of La Compañía, which is easily confused with the cathedral because of its beautifully ornamented facade. However, it is smaller. The center of the square is a place to rest and admire the fountain in the center while observing the daily life of the Cusquenian people.

7- Cathedral.

Something very important to take into account is the construction of the cathedral of Cusco that began in 1559 and was finished in 1669. It is built on the foundations of the place where once stood the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The three naves of the Renaissance style church are supported by 14 massive pillars. The main altar is made of solid silver, which according to information weighs 400 kilograms, and the choir stalls are carved in cedar.

You can find many tourist attractions in Cusco, known places as well as little known, but what is certain is that a trip to the imperial city is unforgettable.

Cusco the ancient capital of the Inca empire presents a lot of mysticism and stories that often surpass fiction, but all visitors take the best memories and lived great adventures in Cusco. Living this incredible adventure in a city with an ancestral past becomes the best memory you can have.

If in your plans is to visit Cusco, enjoy its wonderful architecture and impressive mountains, we invite you to live the adventure sports that can be practiced outside the city. These activities are for all visitors, adrenaline lovers or not, what is worth are the unique experiences that you can live during your visit.

The best adventure sports.

The geography of Cusco presents endless possibilities for extreme sports. In addition, Cusco presents beautiful landscapes with great mountains, virtuous climate and powerful rivers. All its geography combined with its landscapes offers scenarios for activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, paragliding, mountain biking, canoeing and many more sports.

The excitement and adrenaline is not only suitable for sporty people, you can also enjoy adventures with the family. In fact, most adventures in Cusco are done by families or groups of friends.

Safety is always guaranteed because in Cusco there are organizations that regulate and control the guarantees and security provided by tourist agencies.

The following are just some of the most important adventures in Cusco.

rafting on the Urubamba river.

One of the emblematic sports that can be done in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Rafting is the best option for all those who have an adventurous spirit and love water sports. The beautiful Urubamba and Apurimac rivers are ideal places for canoeing or rafting.

The traveler often does not need to have extensive knowledge of rowing, as there are sectors of the river with very calm currents ideal for inexperienced people.

There is a lot of adrenaline in this sport and it is so popular that nowadays there are tours of several days in which anyone who wants to live and experience this great sport can participate. The distances covered are zoned – for safety reasons – and generally last from 1 to 1.5 hours.

For more experienced navigators, the Apurimac River is the best option. Its incredible and rapid waters are the best for this activity. All adventures must be done with safety equipment, in this case you must have: vest, helmet, appropriate footwear, rescue ropes, dry bags and first aid kit.

Mountaineering.

Mountaineering, the best of Cusco, adventures in the heights of the Andes is the best option for adventure-loving travelers.

Cusco offers the best of everything to all its visitors, and to mountaineering lovers it offers its green mountains and spectacular landscapes. Among the most visited scenarios are the Vilcabamba, Vilcanota and Urubamba, are perfect for visitors from all over the world who can make excursions to the most emblematic mountains of the region.

This kind of adventures are very common in Cusco, trekking for several days, always accompanied by an expert and experienced guide.

The hike through the mountains can not only be done by expert climbers, but also by everyone without exception, you just need to have a good acclimatization and a little physical preparation to overcome all obstacles.

Mountain biking.

When you take some tours such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas trip, you will see groups of young locals or visitors practicing this beautiful sport. Mountain biking is common and highly recommended for all visitors. If you are traveling with your family, you should try this experience and you will take with you beautiful memories riding through mountains and spectacular landscapes. The geography of Cusco shows very picturesque towns and archaeological sites scattered everywhere and the most spectacular way to know them is cycling through every place you want.

The most visited sites by bicycle are: Moray, Salinas de Mara and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Try this extraordinary adventure, you will not regret it.

Paragliding.

Can you imagine flying over the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas? Yes, it is possible thanks to the gentle wind currents in the sacred valley. Urubamba’s climate allows travelers to practice hang gliding and paragliding. This adrenaline-filled sport allows you to have the best panoramic view over the imposing mountains and villages located on the banks of the Urubamba River.

Every year thousands of travelers visit the beautiful city of Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca empire, all of them with the purpose of knowing the beautiful Machu Picchu, to make adventures in the mountains and venture through Inca trails. The whole trip can be spectacular if you take into account some cusco travel tips, or you may experience some inconveniences that may not be so pleasant on your trip.

No.1: train schedules to Machu Picchu.

Perhaps the most important tip is to take into account the train travel schedule to Machu Picchu. Taking into account that visitors will travel to Machu Picchu, you should inform yourself very well about the most convenient and accessible travel schedules.

For the trip to Machu Picchu by train you have two options, which start from two stations such as: Poroy station and Ollantaytambo station. The second option (Ollantaytambo) is the most recommended, because it has more schedules available, from that station trains depart to Machu Picchu at various times, in the early morning, morning, midday, afternoon and evening.

 No.2: On foot you can discover so many things that otherwise would pass you by.

Don’t worry, in Cusco you are safe during the day, just follow the normal precautions, so you won’t be an easy target for a pickpocket! Also, keep in mind that Cusco is a tourist city and the security of the city is paramount. You will find tourist police or citizen security always attentive guarding the safety of its visitors.

Take a map of the city that shows more than the center and start touring places! You should know that the best archaeological centers are outside the city of Cusco, generally located in nearby communities or towns, to reach them it is not necessary to spend a lot of money. In fact, you can do tours on your own as long as you have the entrance tickets to archaeological complexes.

If you need more information about Cusco tickets you can enter the page cosituc.gob.pe, there you can learn about the attractions that can be visited with the ticket, or simply ask the travel agency of your choice to buy the tickets for you.

No.3: culture, adventures and nature.

In cusco you will find the best one day adventures and very economical as the trip to Machu Picchu 1 day. Enjoy hiking trails that lead to beautiful places like the Humantay launa, the rainbow mountain and biking in the sacred valley.

Cusco offers you a lot on the cultural scene: There are many archaeological sites to discover, and not only from the Inca period – even cave paintings can be found in the most remote parts of the Sacred Valley route! In small specialized museums you can learn more about the coca plant, modern and ancient Peruvian art, the natural history of the region or Peruvian musical instruments. But culture is also alive here: In Cusco there is still a lot of traditional handicraft to discover and some workshops are located in the city center.

No.4: restaurants in Cusco and its delicious typical gastronomy.

Visit the markets! if you want to know about the Cusquenian seasoning, we advise you to visit the markets near the square of Cusco such as San Pedro, San Blas and Cascaparo. there is the real Cusquenian food.

Maybe you have already noticed that Peru is slowly becoming more and more famous for its cuisine? Here in Cusco you can find and taste everything from food in the market to food in the most famous and luxurious restaurants located around Cusco’s central square.

If you are visiting Cusco for the first time you will notice that the restaurants are located around Cusco’s main square. There are a variety of fast food services, vegetarian and especially typical food of the Cusco region.

In Cusco you can also enjoy various street food stalls, regional specialties and rarities up to noble restaurants of the novo-Andean cuisine! The potato has been domesticated in the Andes and the native Andean cereals are grown here, which are in increasing demand all over the world: Quinoa, Kiwicha and Canihua. Here the famous corn beer is freshly brewed or the dark purple corn is made into a refreshing drink! In the surroundings of Cusco you will find the town of round breads, guinea pig restaurants or chicharronerias (fried pork chops), in the local markets you can buy freshly pressed juices of all flavors and colors.

No.5: Cusco is close to the clouds.

Acclimatization is very important, do not take this advice too lightly. It is very important that after arriving in Cusco you take a couple of days to acclimatize your body before any trip or adventure. If you do not take this advice seriously you will see that the consequences of altitude sickness will spoil the whole trip.

Cusco is located at 3400 meters above sea level, which has its good and not so good sides: On the one hand, altitude sickness can be a problem for you if you reach high altitudes directly, but it is even better if you plan a little more time, because acclimatization needs more than one day! But even if you make it, the Sacred Valley is only an hour away and more than 500 meters lower, which makes the adaptation process easier!

Living at 3400 meters also has the side effect that in extreme cases you can experience all four seasons in one day, 20 degrees difference between day and night is not unnatural and even a step from shade to sun is noticeable here – where else can you experience something like that?

Keep those Cusco travel tips in mind and you will enjoy your vacation without inconveniences and trails, multi-day tours, mountain hikes and mystic tourism like the San Pedro retreat if you overlook those small but important facts, you will see that your whole plan can be very uncomfortable.

The Inti Raymi (festival of the sun) is a religious ceremony that takes place in the highlands every winter solstice in honor of Inti (deity of the sun) when the sun is at a greater distance from the earth. This famous festival is celebrated at the end of June.

In Inca times

At the time of the Incas, the Intiraymi was one of the most important festivities celebrated in Cusco where generals, princes, rulers and the Inca emperor himself participated, all finely dressed, holding their shields and scepters.

In the darkness, the crowd awaited with great respect and deep silence, the appearance of the sun god.

The Inca priests and the people paid homage to the Sun God for the harvest, thanking him and asking him again to fertilize the earth and continue giving comfort to the children of Tahuantinsuyo.

This game became sacred and the Inca emperor offered the sun also a flame was sacrificed and his internal organs were used to predict the future.

With the arrival of the Spaniards the festival was banned by the Catholic Church, and was only celebrated again in 1942.

Nowadays

Today, Inti Raymi is one of the biggest festivals in all of South America. It is celebrated on June 24 each year and is staged at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, just outside Cusco.

The celebration takes place in the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and represents the ceremony as it would have taken place in the Inca state, but now in the eyes of the thousands of tourists who travel to Cusco and the surrounding area.

Participants wear feathers, scarves, masks and carry spears. They form figures with rhythmic jumps, shouting in praise of the sun, to the rhythm of flutes and drums. It is a great show, full of energy.

The main character is the Inca, who is chosen through a contest of dexterity and his appearance is striking, in a litter carried by eight subjects, wearing a costume with the colors of the Tahuantinsuyo, gold bracelets and a feather ornament on his head.

The contemporary ceremony repeats, in every detail, the rite of the Inca period. And it gives us a spectacular vision of how it was and the meaning of this magnificent celebration.

Recommendations

Bring warm clothes, since in the month of June it is very cold in Cusco.

If you want to witness closely the ceremony and rituals of Inti Raymi, buy your box on the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, well in advance.
Before going up to the Sacsayhuaman esplanade, make sure to bring your camera, and make sure your belongings are safe.
secure your belongings.

Cerenomy Schedule

9:00 Hrs Qorikancha: Beginning of the staging. It lasts 30 minutes.
11:00 Hrs. Auqaypata (Plaza de Armas): The Inka and his royal retinue enter through K’ijllu Inti Street. Duration 45 minutes.
13:30 Hrs. Central ceremony. 90 minutes.

Services

To attend the Inti Raymi ceremony, the Municipality-EMUFEC Celebrations of Cusco, will implement the necessary services: fiberglass seats, portable toilets, information center and tourist assistance, first aid and security (Incident Command System), allowing you to enjoy the event with all the necessary guarantees.

How to attend the Inti Raymi

The sequences of the Inti Raymi, the Koricancha and the Plaza de Armas are of free access for the general public. It is recommended to go early in order to have an adequate visual perspective. Admission and location in the stands installed in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman are through the purchase or prior reservation of tickets and numbered according to the areas specified in the Table of Rates and location map.

Reservation procedure

To request the number of seats or spaces through the Inti Raymi 2012 Reservation System, customers can choose their preferred seats on the website:

In this post we share with you Tips for traveling to Cusco: How to get there, when to go, how to move around, what to visit, where to sleep, and some more tips to make the most of your stay in the Peruvian city.

Tips for traveling to Cusco

Tips for traveling to Cusco: How to get there

Teniente Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport or better known as Cusco Airport is located in the city of Peru with the greatest tourist attraction. It receives domestic flights and some international flights. It is the second most used airport in Peru, after Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: When to go

Cusco’s high season goes from June to August so the prices of tickets, hotels, excursions have much higher prices. In addition, you will have to book accommodation or tours much further in advance. The low season is during the rainy months, from October to March. At this time it is worth mentioning that the rates are cheaper in terms of accommodation and tours, and there is less presence of tourists in the city.
As for the climate, due to its location, Cusco has a climate divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season (between April and October with warm days with an average temperature of 17 ° C) and the rainy season (from October to March).

As always, we say everything will depend on your tastes, interests and budget but a great option to travel to Cusco is between the months of April and May, just after the rains, but before the high season. Besides finding cheaper rates, you will be able to enjoy the different attractions with less people and take advantage of the warm weather.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Entry requirements

• Peru is a country of basically free access. Most countries in America and Western Europe do not require a tourist visa to enter the country, and the maximum length of stay granted by the authorities is 183 days (it cannot be extended).
• For a longer stay for other purposes (business, study, work, etc.) it is necessary to previously request the corresponding visa at the Peruvian consulates.
• To enter Peru it is an indispensable requirement to present a valid passport. Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela and Chile can enter with their national identification document.
  Tips for traveling to Cusco: What to visit
• Four days are enough to visit Machu Picchu, the most famous archaeological site in the area and even explore some of the Sacred Valley.
• For a basic tour and to know a little of the Inca legacy, include places like Pisac, Moray and Saqsaywaman, a few kilometers from the center of Cusco.
• One of the must-see places in Cusco is walking and touring its Historic Center, proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. It is the testimony of the mixture of Inca and Hispanic architecture. Through a walk through its streets and architectural jewels you will be able to observe the confluence of two very different cultures.
• There are several routes that can be done on foot and are well signposted. We recommend taking some time to walk through each of the streets of the historic center of Cusco and walk through its narrow cobblestone streets. However, in order to enter some of the main places you must buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
• Among the most important attractions of the Historic Center of Cusco are: the Main Square, the Cathedral, the Church of the Society of Jesus, the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun in Cusco) and Convent of Santo Domingo, the Church and Convent of La Merced, the neighborhood of San Blas and its temple, the Church and Convent of San Francisco, the House of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and the House of the Admiral.

To find more activities in Cusco, book excursions or tickets we recommend you to enter here.

Surroundings of Cusco: Just 170 kms southwest of Cusco, it seems that the land was taken as a canvas and the colors of geology created a masterpiece. It is that until recently -less than two years ago- and as a result of a thaw, Vinicunca, also known as the Rainbow Mountain or Seven Colors, was uncovered.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Where to sleep

The best area to stay in Cusco, without a doubt, is a place near the Plaza de Armas as it has a central location with several tourist attractions, restaurants and businesses.

There is a wide variety of accommodations ranging from hostels and budget hostels to boutique hotels. The months of June, July and August are very busy months in the city so if you plan to travel at this time it is best to choose a lodging in advance.

To find accommodation in Cusco we recommend you to visit here.

Another alternative that we recommend is the AirBnb site. It allows you to rent unique accommodations from local hosts. It is a very good option for couples or families as they are usually cheaper than hotels and have many amenities (washing machine, kitchen, etc).
It is always a good idea to read the references of people who have already stayed there. Tip: If you subscribe through this link you get USD$ 35 credit for your first reservation.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: What to buy and where to buy

If you want to buy something very autochthonous you can take with you some products related to textile art with embroidered designs inspired by Pre-Columbian Andean art. Among the finest alpaca and sheep wool items are gloves, ponchos, chullos (hats), blankets, scarves, vests, backpacks and bags of excellent quality. You can also find a great variety of tapestries made with sheep wool. Cusco is also well known for its gold and silver work. You can find figures with Inca motifs in silver in the form of charms, pendants, earrings and rings.

Some places where to buy: in the neighborhood of San Blas, located just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas where many artisans and artists live, in the Handicrafts Market in Pisac (30 minutes northeast of Cusco) or in the San Pedro Market two blocks from the Plaza de Armas.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: What to eat and where to eat

Peru’s gastronomy is considered one of the best in the world for its great variety of flavors and aromas, as authentic as ancient, as well as for its richness in food.

We recommend 5 typical dishes of Cusco to try:

Caldo de Gallina: A soup with a piece of chicken, white moraya and chopped Chinese onion, rice and seasonings that give it a pleasant flavor.
Sanchochado / Puchero: It consists of boiling a cow’s breast, a lamb’s head, bacon and potatoes, and then adding whole cabbage leaves, moraya, chickpeas, sweet potato, peaches and rice. The broth is served on its own and all the parboiled ingredients are served separately.
Chuño Cola: It is a spicy broth based on dehydrated and sun-dried potatoes, called chuño. It is served with chickpeas, rice and various meats.
Olluquito con charqui Cusqueño: This is one of the most representative dishes since it has two ingredients that are exclusively Peruvian: olluco, a type of potato that grows in the Andes, and charqui, which is dried llama meat.

Cuy Chactado Cusqueño: The guinea pig is prepared with herbs and seasonings and cooked in a clay oven. When it is crispy, it is just taken out of the oven and served with baked potatoes and plenty of chili.

The usual places to eat the typical dishes are traditional restaurants called picanterías or chicherías. The best ones are located around the Plaza de Armas and some offer peñas, that is, live music with folkloric dances.

Some restaurants where you can try the typical dishes of Cusco are Inka Grill (Portal de Panes N°115, Plaza de Armas) Kusikuy (Calle Plateros N° 348) and the Chicha Restaurant of the renowned Chef Acurio, located in Plaza Regocijo 261, 2nd floor (reservations are required).

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Transportation

Cusco has numerous points of interest but they are very distant from each other.

On foot you can visit the attractions that are in the center of the city but to visit the archaeological sites in the surroundings you can travel by bus (the cheapest way) or who can spend more in cabs or renting a car or hiring travel agencies for tours.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Health

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Peru.

In Peru it is recommended to ascend gradually to prevent altitude sickness or the so-called “soroche” and take some time to rest upon arrival for a good acclimatization. It is best to rest the first day of arrival, eat lightly, drink plenty of fluids and drink coca tea. If you suffer from heart disease, consult your doctor before traveling.

We recommend drinking bottled water and avoid eating food from street food stalls to avoid food poisoning.

It is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance to travel to Peru to cover medical expenses in case you need it to prevent a mishap from ruining your vacation. To get a quote and contract a travel insurance we recommend you to enter here.
Tips for traveling to Cusco: Time Zone

The default time zone is GMT-5 (2 hours less than in Argentina).

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Communications & Internet

To stay connected in Peru we recommend the HolaSim Flex prepaid chip, the new HolaSim product (Only for data, i.e. only for Internet use). In this post we tell you what it is all about.

TIP: Once you register and have the product in the shopping cart, where it says Apply coupon, enter the word VOLEMOS and you will automatically have USD10.00 discount, that is, the chip is free).

We share with you a post with useful applications for traveling that you can easily download to your cell phone.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Money

The Nuevo Sol (S/.) is the official currency of Peru. There are bills with denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 soles. There are coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1, 2 and 5 nuevos soles.

Major businesses accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) and there are numerous ATMs in the city for cash withdrawals. Popular businesses only accept cash, in local currency and dollars in some cases.

It is possible to exchange foreign currency at banks and exchange houses. There are also street money changers, but transactions are not recommended.

The usual opening hours of currency exchange establishments are Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays until noon.

Tips for traveling to Cusco: Electricity

Electricity and voltage has an intensity of 220 volts (v) and a frequency of 60 Hertz (Hz).
As for the plugs in Peru, three types of plugs are used: type A, type B and type C like the ones in the picture.

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The Queshuachaca bridge is located in the department of Cusco, over the Apurimac river at 3,700 meters above sea level. About a thousand people from different communities near the bridge gather for four days to renovate it. Solid thatch of vegetable fiber that grows in the Andean highlands for the reconstruction of the Queshuachaca bridge.

Description

To reach the Queshuachaca bridge from the city of Cusco we must travel by tourist bus, for about 4 hours to the town of Quehue in the course of the road we will find what is Andean agriculture the Q’eswachaka bridge is located on the Apurimac River at about 11,811 feet above sea level in the province of Canas about 160 km south of Cusco. Known as Q’eswachaka

Your measurement of the Queshuachaca Bridge

The Queshuachaca Bridge is 33 meters long and 1.20 meters wide and rises 15 meters above the river. It is rebuilt every year as a community effort. About 1000 farmers from the communities of Winchiri, Ccolana, Quehue, Chaupibanda and Choccayhua are involved in the construction of this unique Inca suspension bridge.

Meaning of the Queshuachaca bridge

Q’eswachaka, comes from the Quechua letters “Q’ESWA” which means Braid and “CHAKA” which means Bridge, that the Incas also used this bridge as well as the peasants of the community still use it today.

The bridge of Queshuachaca, is made every year in the month of June of each year, the villagers of the community are those who are responsible for collecting materials such as straw which means in Quechua ¨ ichu ¨ the villagers are dedicated for 4 days to braid the straw for construction, which are guided by craftsmen experts in techniques of tranzados, which is done every year is like a seremonia for the villagers of the place.

The modality that they continue to use is the minka, in this way the villagers are creating the braiding for the bridge of Queshuachaca.

The renovation of the bridge of Queshuachaca culminates with a ceremony, which the villagers celebrate in a big way in gratitude to their Apú of their high Andean.