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The origins of Cusco get lost in the night of times.
Archaeological excavations made us know that primitive
residents inhabited the valley of Cusco (except for its
bottom, then marshy) near three millenniums ago. Toward
the XII century, Manco Cápac and his sister-wife Mama
Ocllo emerged from the waters of the Lake Titicaca, semi
Gods daughter and son of Inti (the god Sun), with the
mission of the foundation of a new Kingdom that would
improve the conditions of life of the towns. Manco Cápac
and Mama Ocllo would have to walk until finding a place in
the earth where the great gold scepter that Manco Cápac
had would submerge, they walked to the north and they
arrived to Pacárec Tampu (Pacaritambo) where rested in a
small cave; to the dawn they continued to the north
arriving to the hill Huanacaure and there the scepter
submerged, and there he founded the city of Cusco. Also called Qosqo and Cuzco (Quechua
Language: the navel of the world) |
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The spirit of Peruvian Man, sculpted by art and religion,
has given rise to a creative vein which crops up in an
endless variety of shapes, rhythms and rituals. Year
after year, more than 3,000 folk festivals, 1,500
musical styles and countless arts and crafts confirm
that Peru is home to one of the most varied folk
legacies on Earth. With this outpouring of artistic
expression, Peruvians feed on their deep-lying roots to
project a timeless alliance with nature and through
rhythms and colors, strengthen their commitment to life
and extend to visitors the hospitality and reciprocity
that are so typical of Peruvian culture. The many
festivals, even those of a religious nature, reveal the
joyous nature of Peruvians, both men and women, their
inclination to be sociable and share their hopes.
Festivals and rituals in Cusco: Cusco celebrates some
hundreds festivals a year. Most of them are held in
homage to a patron saint and are part of the Christian
calendar adopted in colonial times, although they have
blended with the magical beliefs of ancient forms of
worship
The celebrations of the Holy Week, Carnivals, Corpus
Christi, and the feast of "Señor de los Temblores" (Lord
of the Earthquakes), have special significance for
cusquenians, becoming a great folkloric expression of
their people. |
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Peru and Cusco undoubtedly, one of the world’s top
destinations for nature-lovers. Blessed with the richest
ocean in the world, largely unexplored Amazon forests
and the highest tropical mountain range on the planet,
the possibilities for the development of bio-diversity
in its territory are virtually unlimited. With a little
over 10% of all species of plants and animals on earth
and a surprisingly diverse range of climates and
ecosystems, Peru has become a modern Noah’s Ark for
nature-lovers, who along with students from all over the
world, visit Peru to chalk up more experience, gain new
knowledge and to get to know unique varieties. The
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Manu National Park
and Tambopata National Reserve are nature paradises. |
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Cusco outdoors: Excursions, trekking, hiking, rafting,
mountain biking, mountaineering, horseback riding,
paragliding and hang gliding, river or lake fishing,
they are only some of the adventure and sports
activities that can be practiced in one of the best
scenarios in the world. The Inca Trail is Peru's most
famous trekking route and possibly one of the most
spectacular in the Americas. Every year some 25,000
hikers from around the world walk along the
extraordinary 43 kilometers of this stone-paved road
built by the Incas leading to the unassailable citadel
of Machu Picchu located in the depth of the Cusco
jungle. |
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