Peru Tour of Lima and Cusco
6 days / 5 nights

Cusco and Machu Picchu are at the center of most Peruvian travel itineraries. Condor Travel offers you three different program packages plus six optional half-day extensions in this, one of the most delightful settings on earth.

Cuzco: the Center of the World

Cuzco's main square was the center of the Inca Empire that extended over much of South America during the 15th century. Contemporary Cuzco is now the oldest inhabited city of the Americas and a showcase of Pre-Inca, Inca, Colonial and Republican cultures. The visitor feasts his eyes on the varieties of architecture.

The surrounding countryside is also stunning, much of it sculpted by ancient agricultural terraces. The Sacred Valley of the Incas provides an important link to Machu Picchu history, and is the perfect way to relax in the Peruvian heartland.

Cuzco is also the departure point for visits to Machu Picchu, which can be reached by train, by foot along the Inca trail, or by helicopter.

Machu Picchu History - the Lost City of the Incas

Machu Picchu history has been the subject of much speculation. It has been called a religious center, an astronomical observatory, a fortress, and the private retreat of the Inca. Most modern archaeologists and historians agree that it was built by Pachacútec, the mid-15th century Inca ruler. Never discovered by the Spanish, Machu Picchu history was lost for 400 years before it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

The visitor can easily see how the rugged landscape and lush vegetation kept Machu Picchu hidden for four centuries. Its location at an altitude of 7,900 feet and 75 miles from Cusco high above the Urubamba River could not be more spectacular.