CUSCO
We arrived from Puno.
Cusco is the main tourist destination in Peru, located at 3400m above sea level, it is full of historic buildings, and Spanish and Andean culture.
The city, in addition to tourist attractions, has a very busy nightlife, receiving tourists from all over the world to visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
Exploring the region is like a walk through the history and culture of the Inca people.
The greatest legacies of the Inca past are the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) which is celebrated on the winter solstice on June 24, as well as the sacred valley.
The Plaza de las Armas is the center of everything important in the city.
We arrived in the last week of the vacation period, the Cienciano football team (local team) was playing in the Peruvian championship and would have an important game.
The first day was spent getting to know the city and resting, as the altitude was taking its toll.
On the first day in Cusco we went on the city tour, besides being cheap. $10.00 got the guides to explain the history and sites.
We start at the Plaza de las Armas, with the central church, Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) where the walls were covered with gold and other precious stones during the Inca Empire.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, a church and a convent were built over the temple.
After two earthquakes, the entire Spanish part collapsed, but the Inca remains stable.
Sacsayhuaman is a large archaeological site with walls that reach 9 meters in height and with stones that weigh more than 120 tons.
The place has a privileged view of the Plaza de las Armas and all of Cusco.
We came back at the end of the day, rested and went to the Plaza de las Armas, as there is a lot going on.
We found some Brazilians and decided to stay with them for the night.
We started with the bars and the most famous at the time were Mama Africa, Mama America, today Mama Africa still resists.
We spent the night drinking and dancing from bar to bar.
When it was 4 o’clock in the morning, we left running, as our train to Machu Picchu was at 6 o’clock.
We arrived at the Hostel, threw our things in the backpack and left for Poroy station, which is 18 km from Cusco.
Fortunately, everything worked out and we took the train to Aguas Calientes.
Wat to Machuu Picchu
The train arrived at the main street of the village, where people were getting out of the way for the train to pass.
Today there is a new station that no longer runs in the center of town.
We left our backpacks at the hostel and Raul also decided to stay.
Ranji and I went to “climb” the Putukusi mountain, which is in front of Machu Picchu, to have the first view of the place.
The climb is quite steep with very long stairs. Nothing too difficult, but you have to be very careful, as one slip and you fell about 30 meters vertically.
The feeling of seeing Machu Picchu for the first time is indescribable.
We returned to the village and Raul had changed the Hostel, as the chosen one had fleas and was not very good.
He chose another and we were all together.
We went to rest because the next day we would go to Machu Picchu through the Inca trail.
Train to Machu Picchu
Putukusi
Inca Trail
You can do the complete trail, which takes 4 days through the mountain, but there is a 1-day trail from KM 104.
We met our guide and walked along the train tracks to km 104 to start the trail.
Show our tickets at the checkpoint and head up the mountain.
Stop at a small site in Chachabamba and continue uphill to the archaeological site Wiñaywayna where we have lunch after a good rest we continue to climb to the Porta do SOL (inti Punku) where you have the first view of Machu Picchu for those who make the trip. Inca trail.
An impressive sight, we stayed for half an hour and continued a slight descent to the ruins.
After a brief explanation from the guide, we took the bus down the mountain.
Machu Picchu
Early the next day, we took the bus to go up and make the most of our time in Machu Picchu.
At the entrance, there is a kind of customs office, where you can put the visitor stamp in your passport.
Of course, I have my passport with this stamp.
The visit was very enlightening and breathtaking in seeing everything the Incas did, and how they were able to create this city without today’s tools.
We didn’t have time to go to WaynaPicchu, as we had to take the train back, so we decided to walk down the mountain.
It was very peaceful, but with a very steep descent, almost in a straight line, cutting the road.
We went to the hostel, took the backpacks and the train to Cusco.
We arrived in Cusco on Saturday night and we’re already booked with friends to
continue the alcoholic tour.
Another night of great joy, I just couldn’t take the music anymore. Daddy Yankee – Gasoline. listen and see that after two nights of listening to this %$##@#$.
We went to sleep around 3 am because we had the tour to the sacred valley
