Peru, Home of the Incas

The diversity of Peru's people and cultures is reflected in a rich tradition of festivals, dance, and music and is little common in the World. Its archaeological patrimony of pre-Columbian cultures, its gastronomy, its imposing colonial constructions, and its natural resources make a visit to this country a must stop in any South American excursion.

The Machu Picchu train leaves Cusco and follows the Urubamba river to the small town of Aguas Calientes, a set of hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shacks. It makes several stops along its journey, where locals take the opportunity to sell beverages, souvenirs, and delicious "choclo", or corn on the cob, to passengers.
The hills around the Sacred Valley of the Incas are lined with agricultural terraces built by the Inca and still in use today.They enable the inhabitants to produce surplus food more than would normally be possible at altitudes as high as 11,000 feet.

Wind and percussion instruments are the most popular elements of Inca music, especially the pan pipes, the flutes, and the kena.
Even though the technology used by ancient Peruvians for the production of multi-colored textiles has almost disappeared, one can sometimes find natural dye vendors in small village markets.

Mantas or "llicilas" are used for carrying children on the woman's back, and men use them in the same way for carrying cargo.
The Church of La Compañía de Jesús in Cusco is said to be one of the best examples of colonial Baroque architecture in the Americas. Like the nearby main cathedral, it was built on the site of the ancient palace of Inca Huayna Cápac.

Písac is a village in the Sacred Valley on the Urubamba River, about a 10 minute ride from Cusco. The area is perhaps best known for its Incan ruins, Inca Písac, which lie atop a hill at the entrance to the valley. The village is also well-known for its colorful market every Sunday,

The Incas' engineering medium was stone. They didn't need to use mortar to hold the walls in place. Instead, they used precise geometry to cut the stones and create tight joints, and the stones have withstood centuries and earthquakes. One of the most important examples of these skills is the famous 12 angle stone, found on the Calle Hatunrumiyoc in Cusco, two blocks from the main town square. The twelve corner-angles fit perfectly all surrounding blocks.