Talking about the reserve of Machupicchu and all the beauty it presents to its visitors is definitely fascinating. But it is definitely better if you come and experience this intact fascinating destination by yourself. So do not think twice if you are planning to come to Peru to visit the so called, Lost City of the Incas – Machupicchu. In this site you will find lots of information not only of the beauty of Machupicchu, but also about the beauty about other tourist destinations and reserves in Peru.
Sample Itinerary of a tour of MachuPicchu
Take a thirty-minute bus transfer to the fascinating Historical Reserve of Machupicchu. Your expert guide will lead a tour of the Reserve, providing geological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most fascinating and spectacular archaeological sites on the planet, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Wayna Picchu and Intipunku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the MachuPicchu Inca trail. This tour is recommended for families, groups, and children. Enjoy the beauty of Machupicchu, the fascinating reserve where you will get to see Orchids, Archaeological Sites, Markets, Quechua and also take photos of the beauty it has to offer. Click on the Our Tours Link to learn about our travel packages all around Peru.
Why is MachuPicchu so fascinating?
Part of the fascination felt by visitors who discover the scenery of MachuPicchu is due to the lack of accurate information about the origin of the place and why the Inca decided to occupy and settle the area. One’s imagination can wander freely among the walls and ancient structures and gaze at the hot, humid, surroundings extending toward lush sub tropical forests. The testimonies about MachuPicchu are eloquent, a marvelous and fascinating world with an exceptionally rich and varied nature. Also, one cannot help but suspect that although there are no documents which verify such events, something important occurred in the citadel of MachuPicchu during the Inca period. The past is covered with a mantle of fascinating mystery. Some years ago documents from the 16th century were revealed which refer to the existence of this region and the presence of pre-Hispanic ruins. Up until that time there were testimonies by 19th century travelers, including the Frenchman Charles Wiener and the Italian Antonio Raimondi, who had pointed out the existence of important archaeological ruins in the area, those of the citadel of MachuPicchu. But up until the time of the arrival of Hiram Bingham there were no reports from explorers who’d recognized nor studied them.
Witnesses of the life and death of the final Incas in the Reserve of MachuPicchu
Based on the general inventory of knowledge known about the Sanctuary of MachuPicchu is the documentation of a hacienda belonging to the Augustinian friars who received these lands as an inheritance in the 16th century. They were witnesses of the life and death of the final Incas who also lived with the people of this region and undoubtedly were familiar with the landscape and structures of MachuPicchu. The Augustinians attended the conversations held between the Spanish emissaries who demanded the submission of the Incas to the dictates of the Spanish crown and Roman Catholicism. The tension experienced by the Incas, who were under siege from the Spanish expeditions, affected the relationship between the friars and the native masters. In the midst of such conflicts the lack of understanding between the two bands led some friars to pay with their lives. For all of these reasons the presence of the Order of St Augustine in the region continued up until the 19th century when the members of this religious order left Cuzco and
specifically the area near the fascinating Sanctuary of MachuPicchu. Their goods and lands were sold or purchased by private parties and by the State.
Documents left about the reserve of MachuPicchu
Through the Augustinian friars and the documents which they left behind, we know that agricultural activities were conducted on vast expanses of land in the area which surrounds the beauty of MachuPicchu during the colonial period. However, such records fail to mention the presence of fascinating and significant pre-Hispanic structures in the MachuPicchu area. Of course the people in the settlements were not concerned with such matters. The friars were interested in the income from the lands and the native labor force. These were not times to think of increasing the fascinating archaeological heritage by a few more stones, much less based on lands which were considered isolated and far off from the point of view of the inhabitants of the city of Cuzco.
The Incas were finally subdued when Tupac Amaru was executed by order of the Viceroy Francisco Toledo in 1572. The references to MachuPicchu which can be found in 16th century documents were erased from the memory of those who played a leading role in the fascinating colonial history of Cuzco. The tax records of the Augustinian friars are the only testimony of the existence of the Sanctuary of MachuPicchu which conserves the mystery, charm, and beauty of pre-Hispanic life in the region. Bingham had not seen such records.
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