Cusco – Page 17 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Inside the Basilica Cathedral of Cusco

August 16, 2015 Pirwa

The 16^th-century Basilica Cathedral of Cusco, which dominates the city’s main square, took nearly 100 years to complete. It was built on the site of Inca Wiracocha’s palace, in part with stones from nearby Sacsayhuaman Fortress, the Inca fortification which fell to the Spanish conquistadores during the conquest. It houses countless treasures collected over the centuries, from precious silver and gold artifacts to paintings and statues now considered colonial masterpieces.

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Chewing Leaves & Drinking Coca Tea in Peru and Bolivia

August 12, 2015 Pirwa

Coca leaves have been cultivated in the Andes dating back 4,000 years. They have a historical, cultural, and medicinal significance and are incredibly cheap and omnipresent in markets throughout Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. They are still included in offerings to apu mountain deities and the pachamama earth mother, often burned or arranged into 3-leafed fan shapes. Most coca, however, is consumes. Locals will ball up some leaves and placed them in a side of their mouths to chew, hoping to alleviate hunger and be able to work harder and longer. Steeped in order to make tea, one can warm up during a cold Andean evening.

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Buying Your Entrance Ticket for Machu Picchu

August 8, 2015 Pirwa

Tickets for Machu Picchu Citadel are limited to 2,500 visitors daily. Like the limits imposed on the Inca Trail, it´s meant to protect an irreplaceable world heritage site in danger of degrading due to excessive tourist traffic. Outside of the June-July-August high season, it usually isn’t difficult to get a ticket for your desired date during the same week. If your desired date is inflexible, however, or if you’d like your ticket to include a hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, it’s wise to arrange your trip to Machu Picchu in advance. After the jump, we explain how to buy your entry tickets to Machu Picchu Citadel, and what add-on hikes are available:

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What to Do in Peru: Our Recommendations for Different Types of Travelers

August 6, 2015 Pirwa

Making a list of things you can’t do in Peru would be much easier than making one for the plethora of things you can do. Peru boasts diverse roster of tourist attractions, blessed as it is with a varying landscape of astounding beauty, the ruins of various ancient civilizations, and a lively culture. In just a week, you can go from a desert oasis to the world’s deepest canyon, follow it up with visit to the Andes, and then zip down into the lush Amazon Rainforest. Here, we’ve compiled our recommended activity for each type of traveler, from the beach bum to the adventure lover, from the history buff to the eco-traveler.

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The 7 Sights You Should See in Paucartambo

July 19, 2015 Pirwa

The province and town of Paucartambo is located in the Cusco Region of Peru, 3 hours by car from Cusco city proper (4-5 hours by bus). It’s considered the regional folkloric capital, thanks to the famous Virgen del Carmen Festival, which put Paucartambo on the map. Those who are traveling along the Cusco – Paucartambo road will find that the route, as well as Paucartambo itself, has plenty to offer in terms of scenic natural landscapes and pre-Incan, Incan, and Spanish colonial remains.

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