Tourist Places in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Pisac
Located 30 Kms. From the city of Cusco, about 45 minutes away by bus. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays there are crafts fairs main town square, with the participation of artisans from all the people who maintain their productive activity on an ongoing basis throughout the year. A 9 Kms. From the village of Pisac, high in the mountains is the complex of terraces or terraced fields and Inca buildings grouped in six towns that make up a stunning architectural and historical landscape of the area.
The main square of Pisac is an entertaining place full of color and various items for sale. This village is famous for its astronomical observatory. Písaq is a mestizo village built on indigenous remains by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo (the same that approved the dismemberment of Tupac Amaru. In Písaq, you can attend a mass in Quechua among indigenous and varayocs or regional mayors. Likewise, You can see how the Inca agronomists solved the problem of planting on the slopes of the hills.
While it is very difficult to know the native names of ancient cities, Pisac, is one of the few known examples of original names.
This derives from the Quechua word pisaq or p'isaqa, which means partridge (a type of gallinácea abundant in this area).
Like all cities belonging to Cusco, Pisac is an important archaeological site that combines mystical Inca constructions and natural richness of the Valley of Urubamba. As was customary in Inca architecture, cities were built based on figurative designs of animals. Pisac was partridge-shaped, as indicated by its name.
Location
Pisac is a district of the province of Calca, located 32 km. Northwest of Cuzco. Its altitude comprises 2,950 masl.
Mythology
Pisac does not escape the famous Inca legends. The city presents a statue that has a very particular: it is said that the chief Huayllapuma had a daughter named Inquill, which had to marry the man who could build in only one night, the bridge over the river Vilacmayo (one Bridge of great importance for the defense of the place). Despite the hard work, Asto Rimac, a handsome prince decided to accept the challenge and ask the hand of the princess. The authorities of the place arranged everything so Asto Rimac could start the work, while the princess had to climb a hill without turning; because, otherwise, she and her fiancé would turn to stone. Almost at dawn, the prince finished the work, but Inquill could not take any more, turned and was turned into stone until today.
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Urubamba
The province of Urubamba is located north of the city of Cusco, along the Vilcanota River, in an area known as the "Sacred Valley" because of its mild climate, fertile soil and abundant streams which make this valley one of the most beautiful on the planet.
Along the riverside, you can find towns founded by the Spaniards seem frozen in time, as well as numerous pre-Columbian ruins of temples, forts, water systems and palaces, some easily accessible as it is only necessary a short walk to access them, while others require, because of the distance, walking for a few hours on trails that are sketched into the mountains.
The scenery offered by the "Valle Sagrado" is unique and incomparable. On both sides of the Vilcanota River (or Urubamba, as it is called from Pisaq) you can see the impressive mountain range rising to touch the clouds, displaying their eternally snow-capped peaks.
The colors of the valley, where the gray of the mountain with the wide range of greens, reds and yellows of the varied vegetation and its intense blue sky with clouds pompous mingle, make this magical landscape a perfect place for appreciate the beauty of nature.
Bounded on the north and west by the province of the Convention, the east with the province of Calca and south by the province of Cusco and the province of Anta.
Town of Urubamba
A 78 kms. northwest of Cusco, on the route to Pisac. The town is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley. In ancient times was an important agricultural center. Today, its economy is based on agriculture and tourism, as one of the most charming areas of the valley. Fertile and cozy area where you can stay overnight to start several excursions.
Town of Inca origin to 76 Kms .. (1 hr 15 min.) From Cusco via Pisac and 57 Kms .. (45 min.) By Chinchero. Located in the heart of the valley of Urubamba itself is surrounded by beautiful countryside, which include the Chicón and the countryside. He was one of the main agricultural centers of the Inca empire. In its place is a colonial church. It has several hotels, taverns and rural restaurants.
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Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is located at the opposite end Pisac and 80 Kms. From Cusco find the village of Ollantaytambo, a place where archeological complex design blends with the modern town. In this district of the province of Urubamba is reached by paved road Chinchero - Urubamba, and also by rail (68 Kms.). It is located at 2,700 meters high, and as we have noted, both the design and the foundation of most of its buildings correspond to the time of the Incas.
The ruins of Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center. The architectural scenario is of exceptional interest by the size, style and originality of its buildings.
The name has several approaches. According to the Aymara, Ollantaytambo derives from ulla-nta-wi word, which means "place to see down"; the term dairy, is added subsequently. For the Quechua language, the name comes from the word Ollanta (which is the name of an Inca captain, whose story was saved as an oral tradition and written as drama by Antonio Valdez, a priest of Urubamba, the mid-eighteenth century) and the term, tambo, a Spanish derivation of the Quechua word tampu; which means "city that offers accommodation, food and comfort to travelers."
Ollantaytambo - El Pueblo
The village was divided into rectangular blocks with a well planned geometric pattern that gives the impression of being a town designed by modern architects. His thin streets open towards the Urubamba River. Each block or field consists of a housing with a shared door to the courtyard.
Originally, a suspension bridge made with braided ichu or maguey fibers, which must be renewed annually was used. Today, stone bridges crossing the river are built on two huge songs.
Agricultural activity in this area benefited by the presence of the stream of Patakancha, where large agricultural terraces that currently are deteriorated and looked abandoned.
Ollantaytambo - The ceremonial sector
It was dedicated mainly to the cult of "Unu" or "Yaku" (water deities). Therefore, there were a number of sources that were used for this purpose, as the Bathing Nusta, which is one of the fountains carved from a single piece of granite, 1.30 meters high and 2.50 meters wide. It is one of the most famous and water still flows inside.
This place is constituted by a short plain that leads to an enormous hill in whose sides various archaeological monuments are located. The main one is at the top and is known as La Fortaleza or Real Casa del Sol.
Inca Huatana or Intihuatana of Ollantaytambo
Located on top of the Temple of the Sun in an almost vertical slope, the Inca Huatana or Intihuatana consists of a high wall with niches, whose sides are holes up to 80 cms. deep. Against these there is a structure that is suspended over a precipice, why it is believed was used for the torture and execution of prisoners of war or criminals, although the function of observatory is the most accepted.
The Pincuylluna Center
Pincuylluna, which means "where the pincuyllo is piped." - Wind instrument incapable origin is located west of Patucancha River, opposite the Temple of the Sun is an architectural complex of buildings consisting of three identical and overlapping blocks. The base is rectangular blocks, have six windows on the facade and six on the wall facing the hill, providing adequate ventilation and lighting.
In the place are colcas most interesting (agricultural deposits) the Sacred Valley because of them left you can see a huge block of stone, for locals, represents the face of an Inca.
To visit the site, we show that the tour is three hours walk.
Ollantaytambo Museum site
The museum is the work of the Andean Center of Traditional Technology and Culture of the Communities of Ollantaytambo (CATCCO). We recommend you visit it presents didactic and modern way the history of the region.
It contains five rooms on the second floor of a house on an ancient Inca court, allowing visitors to learn more about the history, archeology, architecture, crafts and beliefs of the people of Ollantaytambo.
Moreover, this association organizes walks through seven ancestral routes: Yanacocha, Pincuylluna, Pumamesarca, Huilloc, Pachar, Cachicata and Ollantaytambo. The walks take from three to seven hours and have tour guides.
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Maras
Maras is a district of the province of Urubamba is possible to get through the paved road, it is 50 km by road Qosqo -. Chinchero - Urubamba. It is located west of Cusco at an altitude of 3300 mts. (10824 feet); above a plain that in prehistoric times was a large plateau where you can observe a mountain of snow Weqey Willka "Veronica" to 5682 meters (18641 feet) and "Chikon" 5530 meters (18143 feet). It seems that in Maras were pre-Inca payments. The town was founded in colonial times by Pedro Ortiz de Orue, occupation began when the Incas were dispossessed of the Inca palaces in Cusco and had to move to some other small towns like San Sebastian and Maras. Also during the war that began Manko Inka regained his Quechua nation, served as a stronghold for invaders that raided against the Ollantaytambo town was occupied by the Inka during 2 years. Many of its houses are emblazoned with the coats of arms of the Spanish nobility in your heads indicate the importance gained by the people in colonial times. By that time, it was mandatory for transporters and their herds of mule transport tropical species especially coca leaving the highest jungle and provide the markets of the city and the country. It was declared the "Villa de San Francisco de Asís de Maras" (Villa: city or town that had certain privileges). By that time Maras had much more importance Urubamba; but today is a town that languishes due to its isolation and development of modern life. It has a church made of adobe with typical religious architecture in the front yard is a cross carved in granite.
Inside the church there cusqueñas paintings depicting the Apostles and other good belonging to the Inca painter Antonio Sinchi Roqa, this was a native and contemporary of bishop Mollinedo y Angulo became famous in the mid-seventeenth century.
About 7 km. (4.3 miles) southwest of Maras is Moray, unique archaeological site in the region. You can reach by car across the road that part of town. It has huge natural surfaces and hollows that the Incas used to build terraced fields.
What is surprising is the annual temperature difference between the top and bottom reaches approximately 15 ° C (59 ° F). Moray, due to weather conditions and many other features, was an important center for domestication, acclimatization and hybridization of wild species that are adapted for human consumption. Therefore it was a prototype greenhouse or experimental biological station very advanced for their age who helped the old American man to consume about 60% of species of vegetables; and three thousand different varieties of potatoes, corn, and many other species.
There are many enigmas amounting on this site due to the lack of serious scientific research could clarify these doubts. The structures found here are typically Incas; although some authors suggest that these are recent. One of the enigmas is the way how to drain water flowing through the aqueducts worked; says that there must be underground channels built to lead the fund to allow water. It also says it is above a formation of highly porous natural stone that enables water seepage into the ground. To the northwest of the town of Maras are the "salt works", which is possible to walk or drive through a road. The Maras "salt works" that some people call "salt mines" are constituted by about 3000 small pools with an area of 5 m² (53.8 ft²). People fill the pools during the dry season every 3 days with salt water that comes from a natural rebirth located on top of the resort, and when the water evaporates the salt is left. That process will take place for about a month until a considerable volume of solid salt about 10 centimeters (4 inches) high. This salt is ground and is immediately bagged for shipment to markets in the region; today this salt is treated with iodine and its consumption does not hurt.
Following the road works "salt works" to the northwest along the small valley to Pichingoto located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Pichingoto is a Quechua community living at the base of the mountain "Qoriq'aqya" houses have walls made of adobe (mud bricks dried in the sun), small caverns or caves inhabited even today type; at present occupants have a level of education and by having a small Catholic chapel and electricity in their homes. Some authors suggest that the name comes from "pichinco" (bird), and "q'oto" (goiter). It has been argued that goiter (is an enlargement of the thyroid gland seen as a swelling in the neck to lack of shortage of iodine) disease was common among people who consumed untreated for which manufactured the village of Marthas salt.
It is also said that the name comes from "pichinco" = bird, and "T'oqo" = the hollow. Its inhabitants believe they are descendants of birds and apparently until the first decades of this century they lived in caves on the other side of the mountain and at a higher level where they climbed with the help of ropes and ladders. The origins of this community are unknown and it is believed that some time ago they lived in Maras.
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Moray
The arrangement of their platforms produces a gradient of microclimates taking the center of the concentric circular terraces higher temperature and gradually decreasing outwards at lower temperatures, thus being able to simulate up to 20 different microclimates. It is believed that Moray could have served as a model for the calculation of agricultural production not only the Urubamba Valley but also from different parts of Tahuantinsuyo. The huge circular terraces of Moray are located 53 Km. From Cusco by road to the valley of Urubamba. Moray is 7 kilometers from Maras, in the Sacred Valley.
In these formations, nature has created an environment, conditions or micro climates that in modern man believes in invernaderos.Moray, due to climatic conditions and other characteristics, was an important center of domestication, acclimatization and hybridization of wild plant species that were modified or adapted for human consumption. It is therefore a prototype greenhouse or experimental biological station quite advanced for its time that helped the American man of antiquity mankind inherit 60% of plant products consumed, the Andean man consumes a thousand and a half several varieties of potatoes, one hundred and fifty corn, and many other rich products.
There are still, however, many enigmas about the place, enigmas that result from the lack of serious scientific studies to clear the current doubts. The structures here are typically Inkan found, however, some suggest that it is above structures, at least in the lower decks. One of the enigmas is the way that was used to drain the water that ran through the channels; argues that there must be underground channels built in the bottom of the depressions that allow the drain. It is also estimated that the fund is over a very porous natural rock formation that facilitates filtering into the ground.
The reality is that even today, at the bottom of the depressions no floods occur in the rainy season. It is essential the need to conduct studies of serious palynology, ie, various analyzes of samples of pollen found in Moray order to establish the nature, kind, quality and other characteristics of the products grown here.
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Chincheros
Corresponds to the district of the same name in the province of Urubamba, 30 km. Northwest of Qosqo, at a height of 3780 m and on a high Andean plateau frigid mornings and dusk. It was one of the most important Inkan towns in the region where today still traces of its glorious past are appreciated. The original meaning of his name is lost, although today the tradition knows this town as the "Land of the Rainbow" because the K'uychi (Rainbow) has frequent presence in the rainy season, as it was already known a special deity in the Inkario; had a temple in Qosqo Qorikancha, and still today in many sectors of the Andes people respect, fear or even worshiped. Alfonsina Barrionuevo on the behavior of the people against the rainbow says, "You can look at K'uichi say superstitiously, without covering your mouth because it rots your teeth. Nor can point it because it eats finger bones. The maids shun because if surprised in the field have children with them. "
LOCATION
The district of Chincheros is the capital of the Province of Chincheros, department of Apurimac; the North West Province of Abancay, is to 1000-4438 meters.
The province of Chincheros is located on the banks of Chincheros river which is a tributary of the river Pampas.
Unfortunately, as in almost all the towns or temples near Qosqo, Chinchero was razed and modified by "stamping out pagan idols" (Catholic priests). Its destruction began when Manko Inka after his campaign in Qosqo decided to disband his soldiers to return to their land and care for their families, and headed Ollantaytambo then Vilcabamba via Chinchero which was burned to the invaders who chased did not have food or inn. Later in 1572 the Viceroy Toledo founded the "Doctrine of Our Lady of Monserrat of Chinchero" and ordered the construction of the current Catholic church that was culminated early seventeenth century, possibly in 1607, the year that is observed in the inscription on the arch toral. The church was built using as foundations the walls of finely carved limestone which corresponded to a grand palace; Inside the fine Inkan building was filled with soil brought from other sectors to the height of your ceiling to serve the church building. It was already in the 60s in this century when the Inka palace under the Catholic church was discovered; that Inkan palace must have been very important because on its facade that faces the southern plain presents openings triple jamb that by themselves indicate its category. Further south of the plateau are two "waka" or shrines carved limestone outcroppings known today as "Chinkana" and "Titiqaqa"; west there is another "waka" called "Pumaqaqa" which are observed in the crag "in situ" sculptures of two pumas which heads were mutilated. Further west of that plateau are also lots of agricultural terraces that are still cultivated in spite of having lost their aqueducts.
At the eastern end of the church is another great plaza that today serves to be the main square of the village; at its western end has a wall containing large trapezoidal niches that may well accommodate a person standing, they should be used to store inside mummies of nobles and idols that presided over ancestral ceremonies; that wall with niches has a carved cornice of igneous rock. In the middle of this square is a bust in memory of Matthew Garcia Pumakawa Chiwant'ito who was born at home in front of the bust (with a small arches and semicircular windows on the second floor); Matthew Pumakawa was Chief of Chinchero, Officer and Brigadier pay of the Spanish army, fought against the Tupac Amaru II Revolution contributing to his defeat in 1781; in his old age he wanted to compensate their negative action against his people and his race joining the Angulo brothers to fight the Spanish crown but was defeated and then hung on a bow -similar to those seen in Chinchero, in Sichuan in 1814 .
After the defeat of Tupac Amaru, Pumakawa sent fresh paint his victory over the door midpoint of the church; the middle is the Virgin of Montserrat, to his right for the victory celebration that coincides with the Thanksgiving procession and the presence of San Pablo and San Pedro carrying in his hands the keys of heaven; to the left of the Virgin is the battle representing chaos and Tupac Amaru Bando.
Additionally, icons representing Pumakawa symbolized as Pumas in fighting attitude or erect and triumphant observed; and others representing Tupac Amaru symbolized by Amaru (serpent-dragon) as a representation of disorder and chaos. Inside the church is a canvas with the same dark Virgin of Montserrat which are seen angels sawing the mountain, dated 1693 and painted by Francisco Chiwant'ito, artist Quechua Cusco School; Juan Carlos Estenssoro indicated on it: "This Virgin, although typically Spanish, is related to other Andean iconography clearly as the Virgin of the Tunnel in which Virgin and mountain are confused".
In Chinchero, every Sunday morning takes place the Indian market is one of the most typical and best in the region; still practiced barter seen to source various goods and mostly tropical products such as fruits, coca leaves or salt Maras are exchanged for local produce such as potatoes, beans, ollucos, etc. Also here is a market for tourists with different crafts highlighting local tissues very well made; Unlike other markets where merchants are foreigners, here merchants are native commoners of town.
Chinchero Today
In Chinchero last stubbornly persists as if the spirit of an ancient culture clinging here, refusing to disappear. The native settlers, dressed in colorful traditional dress, down from their communities on Sundays and agglomerate in the main square to exchange their products. See this entire group of people deep cultural roots outside every sign of modernity, it is a whole show.
Current main square where these famous Sunday fairs are held, has a unique beauty; presents an Inca wall twelve niches, each of 2 m. high and 1.50 m. wide.
This wall in turn serves facing and containment of another place that serves a way to court opposite the church. Also has colonial arches in the corners of the square, Cimentos buildings and adobe walls, huge rooms with windows, doors and platforms that are a small sample of the greatness of the Inca culture.
Chinchero other side was and remains one of the granaries of Cusco. Its fertile lands, make excellent potato producers, ollucos, geese, beans, barley and wheat, which are the backbone of agricultural trade in the area.
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