MACHU PICCHU:  The New 7 Wonders of the World (4D/3N)

Machu Picchu was introduced to the scientific world by Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by the folk that lived in the area. He reached it on July 24th,1911. Bingham, an American Anthropologist from Yale University, was the one that began the Archaeological studies of the area, and it was him who gave the city the title of the "Lost City of the Incas" that was also the name he used for his book on the subject.

I was left speechless  wrote Hiram Bingham, about the moment he discovered the ancient cita, and since then thousands of visitors on seeing Machu Picchu for the first time have reacted in the same way. Machu Picchu is an indispensable place to visit for everybody who gets to Cusco.

The sanctuary of Machu Picchu is divided into two large sectors - one the agricultural sector and the other the urban or the citadel - of which the first surrounds the second. We could consider the peak Wayna Picchu as a third sector.

Descending the hill next to this site is the Great Central Temple, a three walled building with fine stonework and an attached smaller temple called the "Sacristy". Next to this structure is another three walled building, known as the 'Temple of the Three Windows', so called because of the trapezoidal openings on the east wall. Directly across is the Royal sector, with ample buildings typical of Inca royalty. A very important structure in this section is the "Temple of the Sun", a: circular tower with the best stonework of ancient machupicchu. Its base forms a cavern known as the Royal Tomb. Recent studies show that the actual purpose was for astronomical observance.

Huayna Picchu, young peak, is as much a part of the site as the buildings of the citadel, the towering granite peak overlooks machupicchu to the North with a steep well preserved original Inca path, well worth the one hour climb for an astounding view of the citadel and the entire valley.

Machu Picchu is comprised of approximately 200 buildings, most being residences, although there are temples, storage structures and other public buildings. It has polygonal masonry, characteristic of the late Inca period.

About 1,200 people lived in and around Machu Picchu, most of them women, children, and priests. The buildings are thought to have been planned and built under the supervision of professional Inca architects. Most of the structures are built of granite blocks cut with bronze or stone tools, and smoothed with sand.

'The Temple of the Moon', located halfway down in an underground chamber on the north side of the Huayna Picchu, is a fairly recent discovery. The access to this site is rather difficult and diverges left from the main trail. It contains finely carved structures on large boulders. The climb to the top takes about three hours.

The origins of the Incas is unclear; however, there are a few legends and tales that connect the Incas and their legendary founder, the first Manco Inca, with Tampu Tococo. According to the legends, the Incas conquered Cuzco and then the rest of the Inca empire from that point. Tampu Tococo means "window tavern." Windows are not a common feature of Inca architecture but there are an abundance of windows in the dwellings of Machu Picchu and, of course, the intriguing "Temple of the Three Windows." The legends connect just such a temple with the birthplace of Manco I. Bingham felt that Machu Picchu was both Vilcapampa and Tampu Tococo, the first and last capital of the Incas. He believed that it was the place where "the wisdom, skill and best traditions of the ancient folk who had developed the civilization of Peru" had been preserved. No one knows how this great sanctuary had been built which is known today as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

To the southeast of the complex are located the smallest and most humble of the buildings built around very narrow streets, close to numerous terraces constructed for agricultural purposes as denoted by the existence of a very complex aqueduct system in this area. In the lowest part of the terraces is a cemetery, where during a search were discovered 135 skeletons and 109 of them were identified as females. This fact has allowed historians and archeologists to believe that machupicchu's inhabitants were mostly females that could have been the chosen ones of the Inca, fleeing from  Cusco when it was overrun by the Conquerors of Spain and seeking refuge in machupicchu that, by the way, was never discovered by the Spaniards.

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The highlight of our trip is the visit to Ancient machupicchu the legendary "Lost City of the Incas", so well hidden by the jungle overgrowth, that it was never found by the "Conquistadores".

Cusco MachuPicchu Trip Itinerary

• DAY 1 : CUSCO :
  Early morning transfer from the airport to the hotel in Cusco. (We recommend a couple of hours of rest to acclimatize to the 3, 400 m). Afternoon tour of the city and the nearby ruins, including a visit to the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, with gigantic zigzag walls of precise stonework, mysterious carved rock of Kenko shrine and the Inca Baths of Tambomachay. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight at a comfortable hotel.

• DAY 2 : SACRED VALLEY :
  All-day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting the traditional native Market at Pisac and later the Fortress of Ollantaytambo, clinging to a rocky spur high above the valley. Overnight in Cusco. Dinner on your own.

• DAY 3 : MACHU PICCHU :
  Transfer to the train station for an all-day guided visit to Machu picchu. This legendary "Lost City of the Incas " was hidden for centuries by the jungle and only rediscovered in 1911 by Hiran Bigham. The cities astronomical observatory (Intihuatana) is the only one known to exist. There are also many beautiful temples, terraces and intricate stone work there to explore.
  Afternoon, you will return to Cusco for overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and lunch included, Dinner on your own.

• DAY 4 : CUSCO / LIMA :
  Transfer to the airport in Cusco for a flight to Lima and the USA.
  

INCLUDES :
Hotels (Breakfast will be included at the hotels)
-Transfers in Cusco, City tour.
-Entrance ticket to the different archaeological places, escorted by a guide.
-Tour of Sacred Valley
-Train ticket to Machupicchu, 
-Professional English speaking guide.

DOES NOT INCLUDE :
-Local or international air fares
-Additional tours
-Tips, laundry, etc.
-Entrance ticket to MachuPicchu (US $ 20 per person)

COSTS:

COST : 4 STAR HOTEL
From 2 to 4 participants US.$ 617.00 each
From 5 to MORE participants US.$ 567.00 each

COST : 3 STAR HOTEL
From 2 to 4 participants US.$ 547.00 each
From 5 to MORE participants US.$ 497.00 each

COST : 3 STAR HOSTAL
From 2 to 4 participants US.$ 447.00 each
From 5 to MORE participants US.$ 407.00 each

To confirm your reservation just send us US $200.00 per person and your trip application
Our accounting department will contact you in less than 24 hours, with your invoice and voucher

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Number of Paxs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please before making your Reservation, read our Policy

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