CUSCOMACHU PICCHUSpiritual journey of a lifetime

Cusco – Peru –South America

city in southeastern Peru, capital of Cusco region aswell as Cusco province;

population 360 000; its elevation 3400 m; declared World Heritage Sight in 1983 by

UNESCO;historical capital of Peru 2 mill visitors a year;

Climate subtropical highland

climate, generally dry and temperate;

DRY SEASON: April to October- abundant sunshine and occasional night time freeses;July is the coolest month with average of 9,6 C

WET SEASON: November to March, with night frost less common;

the only snow ever recorded was in June 1911;

How to get to Cusco Zagreb-London-Miami-Lima-Cusco; currency- NUEVA SOL (100 centimos) credit cards,traveller´s cheques, ATM

machines; taxi,tourist tram, bus ,train;

History of Cusco capital of Inca Empire from 13th century

until 1532 when the Spanish conquistadores came;

many believe Cusco was planned in shape of puma,sacred animal of Inca people;

it is unknown how Cusco was built;

Gastronomic delights of Cusco wonderful cohabitation of modernity and

tradition in Cusquenian gastronomy; tipical dish-Guinea meat pig-CUY, cooked

over stones with special mountain herbs and chilli pepper;

Inca´s typical drink Chicha morada made of purple corn;

Monuments mixture of Spanish influence with Inca

indigenous architecture; Barrio de San Blas-picturesque,steep and

narrow streets,workshops,craftshops; Calle Hatun Rumiyok-the stone of twelve

angles,most visited by tourists;

Spanish monuments Convent and church of La Merced; Cathedral of Santo Domingo; Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus; Corichancha and Convent Santo

Domingo;

Machu Picchu Inca trail- spiritual

journey; it was built as an

estate for Inca emperor Pachacuti;

it was brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham;