Santiago is a spectacular city, with terrific museums, outstanding food and an awe-inspiring view of the Andes. Just steps from each other, the W Santiago and the Ritz Carlton offer two terrific lodging options. Below are highlights from each property.
Follow the sun: exploring ancient Incan history in southern Peru
01.09.2023 - 17:03 / lonelyplanet.com
Cusco might be just a short flight south from Peru’s capital of Lima, but you’ll feel as if you traveled centuries back in time.
Filled with lush hills, fertile soil and spotless views of the Milky Way, this mystical and high-altitude setting was once strategically chosen to be the heart of the Inca Empire. Impressively, examples of the impeccable stone architecture from the 15th and 16th-century remain standing – elusive fortresses, imposing temples honoring natural elements, and steep agricultural terraces that snake across hillsides.
In the absence of a written language, the history of the Incas is shrouded in mystery, so the best way to get in touch with the ancient Peruvian powerhouse is by literally following in their footsteps. Tie on your hiking boots and follow along on a week-long exploration of southern Peru’s sacred Cusco region.
Editor’s note: This itinerary covers high-altitude areas of Peru. If possible, before you start this itinerary, it is advisable to spend time in lower altitude parts of the region and acclimatize before exploring the higher elevations in Cusco.
The centrality of Cusco city to the Inca is right there in its name – it means ‘navel of the world’ in the ancient indigenous Quechua language. Other cultural touchstones remain as well, including the annual Inti Raymi celebration, which honors the Sun God at the winter solstice in June. The parade’s route – Qoricancha, Plaza de Armas and, ultimately, Sacsayhuaman – is the perfect layout for a full day in Cusco, no matter what time of year.
Built in honor of the Sun God, Inti, the 15th-century Qoricancha once dripped in gold, from its walls down to its floors and beyond to the sprawling garden. Considered the most important Inca temple, the Spaniards dismantled Temple of the Sun, turning what was left into the foundation of the Santo Domingo church. Today you can still tour the temple, just south of the Cusco’s main square, for a visual display of the interconnection of Western religion and indigenous culture.
Next, head to the imperial city’s Plaza de Armas, once a great meeting center for the Inca. The present-day main square features a lovely fountain, bountiful flower beds and benches where locals and travelers sit side-by-side. Surrounded by colonial architecture housing shops and restaurants, the Plaza de Armas continues to be center stage for religious and cultural celebrations.
If you’re going to visit one Incan historic site while in Cusco city, make it Sacsayhuaman. Tucked behind the trendy San Blas neighborhood at a steep altitude of 3,700m, the archaeological site is believed to have been a fortress or ceremonial center (or perhaps both). A 15-minute walk from the main square, Saqsayhuaman is an extensive complex
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