DESCRIPTION:
TIPÓN:
The archaeological complex of Tipón is located near Oropesa, in the community of Choquepata, 27 km southeast of Cusco, Peru, beside the Cusco–Puno highway. It contains enclosures, terraces and a hydraulic system that has remained intact since Inca times. The upper part of the complex is crossed by the Inca Trail together with an irrigation canal. It was probably used as an agricultural production laboratory thanks to the various microclimates found within the complex. Tipón is listed among the 16 most important archaeological sites for visitors to Cusco. Beyond being just another archaeological complex, this site holds one of the greatest irrigation works ever built on terraces (also known as andenes), with an incredible open-air distribution of water channels. Here you will also see a true “marvel of civil engineering” from the Inca era.
PIQUILLACTA:
The archaeological complex of Piquillacta, or Piki Llaqta, comprises the remains of a pre-Inca city of ancient Peru, from the pre-Hispanic era. It is located in the district of Lucre, province of Quispicanchis, department of Cusco, about 30 km southeast of the city of Cusco at 3,250 m.a.s.l., in the basin of the Lucre River and in a temperate setting along the course of the Vilcanota River. It covers an area of roughly 50 hectares. It was one of the most important administrative and ceremonial centers of the Wari (or Huari) culture, between the 6th and 9th centuries AD, and represents Wari planned urbanism par excellence. Some specialists maintain that it remained in use until Inca times, although no remains have been found to confirm that presence. Its occupation was intense and uninterrupted for around 150 years, ending with the onset of the collapse of the Wari Empire.
ANDAHUAYLILLAS:
Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, Cusco: Andahuaylillas is considered a colonial heritage site, located about 40 km (roughly 45 minutes) from the city of Cusco. It is a small town with a pleasant, warm climate and fertile land, so you can enjoy the delicious local fruits that grow in Andahuaylillas. The main square is surrounded by coral trees (pisonay) and palm trees. Its main tourist attraction is the colonial church of Andahuaylillas, on the main square, which in recent years has become one of the most visited destinations in the region: the Temple of San Pedro Apóstol, considered the Sistine Chapel of America for its fine canvases, sculptures and Baroque altarpieces. Temple of San Pedro Apóstol: Built by the Jesuits in the 16th and 17th centuries, with thick walls of adobe brick, its facade is decorated with murals and flanked by two stone columns. The interior is adorned with beautiful and important works such as the “Virgin of the Assumption” and a valuable collection of canvases from the Cusco School of painting, which developed at the start of the Spanish presence, along with interior decoration in gold leaf. Traces of Inca constructions can still be found inside the church, and in front of it stand three crosses representing the Holy Trinity, a Catholic symbol.
RAQCHI:
The archaeological complex of Raqchi is located 100 km from the city of Cusco, in the district of San Pedro, province of Canchis (Cusco, Peru). The site is also known as the Temple of Wiracocha, after one of its emblematic buildings, and lies close to the village of Raqchi and the Vilcanota River. The Raqchi complex is made up of several different areas, each with a specific function. The highlight of Raqchi is without doubt the unusual Temple of Wiracocha, but it is not the only structure to be seen there: you will also find the great wall, liturgical fountains, almost spherical buildings and houses with rectangular floor plans. Few chroniclers wrote about this area, but they agree that in the time of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui and his famous wife, the Coya Chimpu Ocllo, also known as Mama Cahua, a rain of fire fell and devastated the district, one “that turned many stones to ash”, as the chronicles record.
