This post contains photos from my short stay in Cusco, Peru. I arrived there on April 29, 2014, and stayed there for four nights. While there, I did a little shopping to replace my slacks that no longer fit after losing more than thirty pounds. But mostly, I played tourist, starting to get familiar with the city and taking a few local tours. I also took the time to investigate, make plans, and purchase tickets to visit Machu Picchu for the end of May.
This post contains 108 photos, including detailed narratives.
As usual, the photos in this post are thumbnail images. Please click on any photo to enlarge it. The thumbnails leave much to be desired as far as colors and resolution – plus the thumbnails clip all of the edges. I use thumbnails for the post itself, because it gives people an opportunity to get a summary glimpse without downloading huge amounts of data for the high-res photos.
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE TO HIGH RESOLUTION
Cusco Plaza De Armas
After arriving in a light rainstorm, on the afternoon of April 29, 2014, I was mostly interested in finding an economical place to sleep and chowing down on a meal. These tasks took me most of the afternoon, so I did not begin my photo-taking quest until the next morning. The first place I visited was the “Plaza De Armas”, with is the central town square of the old historical section of Cusco. Nearly every city in Peru has a similar central square that is also called “The Plaza De Armas”.
This is a photo taking from in front of the Cusco Cathedral, looking generally toward the northwest. The center of Cusco is approximately 11,152 feet above sea level (about 3399 meters). Having just arrived from Iquitos, which is only around 350 to 400 feet above sea level (104 to 130 meters), this was quite a dramatic adjustment as far as altitude and temperature.
I was already quite tired and weak after finishing my three month retreat in Iquitos, so I found walking around at this altitude to be quite the physical adventure. I am proud of myself because I paced myself and did not have any problems with altitude sickness (as is somewhat common here).
The city has about a half million residents, and is nestled in a high mountain valley, surrounded by many hills like those in the background, with a few taller mountains in the distance.
This photo was taken from about the same spot (after simply turning around). This is the main cathedral in town. It is normally not open to tourists who have not purchased special expensive tickets, but early on the next morning, I was able to enter for free by attending the last part of a large Catholic Mass … it is beautiful inside (but no photos are allowed).
An the adjacent corner (just to the south of the cathedral) is another church. This is the “Iglesia de La Compania de Jesus”.
This photo is taken from the same spot, but looking mostly toward the west. The edge of the church from the previous photo is barely visible on the left.
Standing in the park, looking toward the northwest. The hotel where I stayed is about a block and a half away from the far end of this path. If you look closely, you can see the fountain on the right. This is right in the center of the plaza.
More or less the same photo as the previous one, just zoomed in more, showing the far end of the plaza.
Standing on the west side of the plaza, looking back at the cathedral.
Cusco City Tour
I made a quick decision to take a two-hour city tour on this double-decker bus.This one lasted a couple of hours and cost 20 Soles (about $7.50 US).
In this photo, I am sitting in the front of the bus, looking back up the street. My hotel is about a block and a half down this street, and then to the right … very convenient for visiting the historic area.
Another view of the cathedral, taken from the bus as my tour is beginning.
Another view taken from the bus, looking toward the San Blas area of Cusco. If you enlarge the photo and look at the top of the hill … there is a large cross up there with a large white statue of Christ. My tour will take me up there in a while.
Another look to the northwest. You can see what appear to be at least twenty-five large antennas on that hill.
A large interesting building somewhere near the Plaza de Armas.
Another unique building that appears to have used a large number of the old Inca Stones in building its foundation.
A church as we head up toward the top of the hill from a few photos back.
I think this is an Alpaca (but maybe it is a Llama), grazing in the church grounds.
Taken from near the top of the hill, this is a look back at a small section of Cusco.
Taken from the same place, looking at a different section of Cusco, with less zoom.
And another similar photo.
Sacsaywaman is one of the famous ruins in the Cusco area. On this tour, we simply drove by and stopped at a view area, seeing it from afar. Later, I will take a tour that takes me into the park.
A view of Sacsaywaman from the road. What remains today is mostly a series of beautiful, intricate walls constructed by the ancient Incas.
Another view of Sacsaywaman, taking from afar with a zoom lens.
And another. This wall (and the previous photo) are on a different hill … not the main wall in Sacsaywaman.
A different view from the road. The walls in this photo are much more spectacular, with the intricate placement of stones that are so well fit together that you cannot stick a knife blade between them.
Another similar photo, with a little more zoom.
Hard to see in this zoomed in photo (taken from a long distance away) … but I find the way these stones are place together to be quite fascinating.
This is an “un-zoomed” photo taken from the bus … showing how far away I was when taking some of these photos.
It is a common custom in this part of the world to place statues on the roof. They are a blessing of good luck on the house.
This is the same “white Christ” statue that I mentioned in a previous photo (on top of the hill as seen from way down below).
Looking back at Sacsaywaman with another angle.
A less zoomed photo of the Christ Statue.
This view of Sacsaywaman is taken from the view area at the Christ statue itself.
And another, more zoomed the before.
Me, at the view area of the Christ statue, with the city of Cusco in the background. You can see that I am all bundled up in this photo. I purchased this coat in Mexico City while visiting there in October, 2009, and I am so grateful I brought it with me. In this photo I am well over 12,000 feet in altitude, and it is approaching Winter here (equivalent to the end of November in the US) …
My hotel room was so freezing at night that I had to ask (and pay extra for) a tiny electric heater that barely added a little heat. Most places in this part of the world do not have any inner heating systems (unless they have a wood fire), and the temperatures drop most nights to near freezing. Three heavy blankets could keep me warm in bed, but a scurry to the bathroom was like running into a freezer.
Another view of Cusco in the valley below. The airport is in the far left of the photo. The Plaza de Armas would be a way off to the right of this photo.
A close-up of the Christ statue. It is starting to get colder with the cloud cover. I now fully understand why the Incas worshiped the Sun. When the sun goes down here, it can shift from toasty warm to freezing cold in just a matter of minutes.
Near the Christ statue are these three more simple crosses, decorated in a traditional Inca (Quechua) way. It is an interesting mix of Christianity with old tradition.
This is my tour bus, with part of Sacsaywaman in the background (taken from in front of the Christ statue).
Vendors such as this one are all over the more touristy places of Cusco.
A view of one of the roads as we descend back toward the valley. I go down this same hill whenever I return to Cusco (from Pisac) for a shopping or travel visit.
A closer view of the same scene.
Another view further down this winding, zigzagging road.
Just as in other parts of Latin America, the electrical lines here can be quite the mishmash maze.
It is quite common to see crosses here decorated with traditional Inca clothing.
A small monument at one of the major intersections as we near the Plaza de Armas.
I love how the stop lights (at least most of them) here have a countdown timer that indicates how many seconds remain before the light changes color.
Another narrow street that is quite typical of the area.
And another one, this one crowded with traffic.
Walking Tour of Cusco
After the morning bus tour, I returned to my hotel, repacked a few items in my day bag, and set off on foot, having no idea where I might end up.
This is my hotel. I paid about 80 soles ($28 US) here. I could have found a slightly cheaper room further away, but I loved everything about this place, and decided to enjoy myself.
I ended up walking to “Qorikancha” – an interesting combination of Incan ruins over which were built Catholic church buildings. This is about a twenty minute walk from the Plaza de Armas. The large wall below the church is original, part of an old Inca Temple.
A closer view of the wall. Some of the rocks have begun to separate and/or decay, but many are still in perfect condition.
This is one of the better sections of the wall where the stones fit together perfectly (these are quite large).
A self-taken photo of me (not the best one in the world) standing in front of another such wall.
And another section of wall. These last few photos are taken inside the building. I decided to pay the small admission price…
Also inside the Catholic building. Some of the old Inca walls were preserved.
From inside the building, you can walk around the outside. This photo is some of the garden below. In the earliest photos, I was down in this garden, taking photos looking up.
More beautiful stonework in the modern day structure (I’m not sure how much may be original, and how much was redone later).
Back inside the building (Qorikancha), a view of an old preserved Inca room, taken from the second floor. As I understand it (I did not pay for a tour guide), this part is original.
Some artwork on the upper floor. I believe this is traditional Shipibo, probably showing the geometry of an “Icaro” (song sung in an ayahuasca ceremony).
Another photo … slightly different angle of same one from above.
Two Quechua women, dressed in traditional clothing, earning money by allowing people to take photos. This is quite common all over this area – but usually they are carrying little baby Alpacas (there are a couple of baby Alpacas at their feet).
After leaving the Qorikancha building, I walked down a section of the same original Inca walls (but outside). These are in excellent condition.
Close-up of the wall (a tiny section anyway).
And another. I tried, but could not slip anything into these cracks.
After leaving this Qorikancha area, I continued to walk South. I ended up exploring for a few hours in the hot sun.
This is just part of a large fountain on a major intersection.
Looking back at the large intersection and fountain. I believe this is the intersection between Avenida Tullumayo and Avenida El Sol.
Not sure what this monument is called, but I believe this is an intersection called “Ovalo De Pachacuteq”. I am so tired and hot by now, that I decide to turn around. I later learn that I am very near the bus stations. It takes about an hour to walk back to my hotel from this spot.
I did not realize it till later, but I barely avoided a serious sunburn (just a nice pink that was dry and sore, but quickly turned to tan over the next few days). The sun at this altitude is quite strong.
Cusco Day 2 – Another Tour
I did not know it till later, but there is another tour that also costs only 20 Soles (plus 70 soles for tourist admission to the ruins), so before the end of my first full day, I purchase a ticket to begin that tour early on May 1, 2014 (on my second full day). These next photos are from that tour.
But first, as I went to meet up with the bus, I stopped to explore some type of “Labor Parade”. I was not sure if it was a protest, or some type of holiday. I later figured out that May 1 is some type of Labor holiday here in Peru.
At any parade in Cusco, there always seems to be a large police presence. These officers are standing in front of the cathedral.
People on the steps of the cathedral, celebrating the “First of May”.
Soon, my tour started, and our first stop was inside the ruins of Sacsaywaman. (Seen from afar yesterday). They are much more interesting up close.
Our tour guide and his daughter. He spoke briefly, and then turned us loose to explore for an hour.
Beautiful stonework in these walls. Those large stones at the base are HUGE. There is a person standing in the shadows with a white t-shirt, just to give you a comparison.
And even with these huge stones, there are no visible cracks between them – all built with no mortar.
And another view of the same section of wall. (closer up)
Another piece of wall, with smaller stones (but still quite large). They used all kinds of odd shapes, but managed to fit them together perfectly.
From on top the wall, looking down.
Me, attempting another view. The sun was bright, and I was a little pink, so I wore my hat and sunglasses.
A view from across the open field, looking back at the walls.
Looking up at the Christ statue (zoomed) from Sacsaywaman.
Similar, also taken with a strong zoom.
More of the walls.
My tour bus for the day, in the Sacsaywaman parking lot.
A lady wanting to sell things to people on the bus.
Looking back at the ruins from a slightly different angle.
Looking back at Cusco as we approach our next stop (Q’enqo).
Q’enqo is a smaller ruin, just up the road.
Our tour guide and his daughter standing in front of some type of sacred rock (sorry, I don’t remember the details).
We went through narrow passages to get down into the core of the ruins. I hear that from above, this tunnel appears to be a snake.
Down inside the ruins, preparing to enter another sacred tunnel.
People from the group ahead of us, disappearing into the tunnel.
In total darkness, taken with a flash. This rock table has a sacred story, but I remember nothing of the details.
Back outside, still at Q’enqo, preparing for our next journey … another view of Cusco from above.
Walking back to meet our bus … Cusco in the far background.
And a better view of Cusco from the trail.
Our next stop is Tambomachay. Another small sacred Inca site, just up the road.
A traditionally-dressed woman with a couple of alpacas.
The ruins of Tambomachay.
One of the most famous things here is the water spring. It is blocked off so we could not go closer.
Another view. These are small ruins, with historical significance.
Our tour guide (and daughter) in front of the springs.
Me, in the same spot.
Just across the way, is another part of the ruins. It is a fire platform. A fire lit on this platform can be seen from Pucapucara (next stop), a fire in Pucapucara can be seen in Q’enqo, and a fire in Q’enqo can be seen in Saqsaywaman, and a fire in Saqsaywaman can be seen in Cusco … thus a type of signaling system.
In this photo, I am standing on the fire platform, looking back down the path that leads to the ruins.
Standing in the same place, looking at the ruins that have the small spring. This is pretty much all there is in this location.
Next, we take a quick drive to Pucapucara, which is between Tambomachay and Q’enqo. It was dark when we arrived, and the driver almost didn’t let us go in … but I asked and he said yes. I ran in quickly and just took a couple of flash photos. This is the entrance path to the center of the ruins.
Looking up at the ruins. I didn’t spend much time here, because they are small, not much to see, and no light to see them.
As I walked back to the bus, I snapped a quick photo of the sign near the entrance. Here they spell it “Pukapukara” … Peru is interesting because everything has so many potential spellings, and they are all used and all seemingly accepted. For example Cusco can also be Cuzco, and quite commonly is. The original Quechua word (ancient Inca language) was Qosco. And Picac (where I live right now) is often spelled Pisaq. Both are correct.
The other sign as I go back to the bus.
Cusco Wrapup
This is the end of my Cusco photos. I do spend one more day here in Cusco, but I don’t take any more photos. On the final day I purchase new slacks and then research and later purchase tickets to Machu Picchu (for the end of May). On the day after that, I take a rickety old bus to the Sacred Valley, where I begin my stay in Pisac.
Copyright © 2014 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved