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Cusco / South Valley and Tipon

South Valley and Tipon

  • PROGRAM DETAIL
  • ITINERARY
  • TOUR INCLUSIONS
  • PRICE
Price From US$ 19.00 Cost per Person
Length From 09:00am to 2:00 pm
Departs Every day





This half day tour allows you to see a less touristic part of urban Cusco, and visits archeological sites that are both impressive and less commonly visited. The places you'll visit on this tour include: The chapel of Andahuaylillas, which is known as the "Sistine Chapel of Cusco," the Pre-Incan archeological site of Pikillaqta, and the impressive Incan archeological site of Tipon.

It is a National Archaeological Park located to the east of the city of Cusco. It covers a territory of about 2200 acres. It is found in the district of Oropesa, province of Quispicanchis. To get to the main archaeological monument it is 5 km (3 miles). The road starts from the kilometer 18 (11.2 mile) of the road Cusco-Puno to the north and crossing the creek of the "Watanay".

Half kilometer out of the paved road we find the small town of Tipon. It is part of the village of Quispicanchis that used to be property of San Lorenzo de los Valles in (1650- 1802). Without doubt this was the most important monument of the colonial time but today it is completely abandoned.

The original name in Quechua is unknown. You can admire several royal rooms that according Victor Angles were built by the Inca Wiracocha as a house and shelter for his father Yawar Wakaq who returned after the war against the Chankas.

This group of village is at 3500 meters (11480 feet). Besides there is a big area to cultivate with walls built with stones perfectly carved. Even more impressive is the system of the irrigation that is still used in agriculture.

The advantage is the water captured in the spring season. The river is channelled by some carved stones that have been accurately calculated, they sometimes form falls almost vertical composing an excellent hydraulic engineering work. Some of the fountains must have ceremonial purposes. Due to its location and the existence of a round wall, Tipon must have been a very exclusive place interdependent to other sectors such as "Intiwatana" to the west, "Pukutuyoq", "Pukara", "Hatun Wayk'o", etc. To the southeast of this group, in the mountainous surface almost vertical, we find the cemetery named as "Pitopuqyo" that today has plundered tombs. In this place, there were big quantities of cultural remains; currently we can find many broken ceramic pieces.

We'll pick you up in your hotel at 8:45 am.

TIPÓN

This impressive agricultural complex is located at the base of the Pachatusan Mountain, which is an important protective Apu, or mountain spirit, in the Andean religión. It contains terraces that are still preserved, as well as walls of finely carved stones, but the most incredible feature of this site is its irrigation system.

PIKILLAQTA

Once a significant turban center during the time of the Pre-Incan Wari Empire, this archeological site contains thousands of constructions, including plazas, colcas (silos used to store food), yards, homes, temples, and long, wides streets. Some buildings were as many as four stories high!.



ANDAHUAYLILLAS

This typical Andean village dates from colonial times, and is notable for its colonial architecture, the most notable of which is its colonial Catholic chapel. The Chapel, known as the Sistine Chapel of Cusco, contains breathtaking decoration and murals from the 17th and 18th centuries.



The "Sistine Chapel" of America

The most important attraction for the visitors is its church: San Pedro de Andahuaylillas considered as the "Sistine Chapel" of America due to the quality of its art pieces.
Built at the beginning of VII century, the interior of the temple is decorated with murals performed by Luis Riaño (XVII century) representing the path to glory and the path to hell. He was also said to be the author of the low borders of the wall and an important oil painting of the archangel San Miguel. Besides, this church holds a majestic piano, numerous canvases of the Academy of Cusco, silver work and baroque altars.
Despite of having quite modest architecture, the decoration of its inner parts is the most impressive of this religious site as it holds a never seen before collection of the Academy of Cusco. It represents the life of San Pedro with marvelous golden frames. Besides, there is also a painting of the "Virgen de la Asuncion" made by the Spanish painter Esteban Murillo.
The surface behind the facade has many murals which are said to have been done by Luis de Reaño (XVII century). They represent the election the man takes to go by the path to hell or the path of glory leading to heaven.
Inside the church there are some remains of Inca buildings and a grate of architecture of transition (from Inca to Colonial architecture).
The quantity of murals covering the walls and mainly the ceiling with geometric models and decorated flowers with gold flakes is amazing. The high altar is baroque, carved in cedar wood and decorated with gold flakes. In the middle of this altar we find the statue of the "Virgen del Rosario" (Virgin of the Rosary). Its tabernacle is covered with silver plates. Going down, it also has an area of mirrors to reflex the light of the candles as well as the light entering through the grate in order to improve the inner illumination. On one side of the high altar we find the Sacristy that has old trunks where they kept the clothes of priests embroidered with precious metals. They also kept gold jewellery and silver jewellery that was stolen in 1992 and never found. There also some altars and lateral chapels, and in the upper part of the central area there is an interesting collection of anonymous canvases of the Academy of Cusco representing the life of San Peter with amazing golden frames. In the interior arch there is a painting of the "Virgen de la Asuncion" performed by the Spanish painter Esteban Murillo.
Going out, in the western side of the frontal patio of the church there are three big crosses that represent the Trinity: a symbol of the Saint Catholicism, that is, Father, Son and Holly Spirit.

INCLUDE:

  • Transportation and group guide to the visited sites.
  • Entrance to the Andahuaylillas Chapel.

NOT INCLUDE:

  • Tourist Ticket (Required for Entrance to Pikillaqta and Tipon).

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION AT:

  • e-mail: info@inkawasitravel.com
  • Cellular: ++ 51 943 917088 Emergency 01-7086810
  • Telephone : ++51 84 594677
  • Address: Av. De Los Incas # 933 Office 209 - WANCHAQ CUSCO-PERU

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