INKA EXPRESS

Andahuaylillas.

It is named the “Sixtine Chapel of America” and in some sense the comparison examples of the Andean popular religious art. The church of Andahuayliaas is a jewels of the mestizo baroque architecture that developed in Cusco. Its nave presents profuse decoration, especially in the celling decorated with carved panels which is a recover with pan de oro (type of gold decoration).

RAQCHI (Temple of Wiracocha God).

To 121 Km of Cusco, it was an Inca church of monumental dimensions: 100 meters of length by 26 meters of wide and 14 meters of height; the temple is divided in two naves and each nave shows basics of 11 giant columns. The bases of the church are built perfectly carving stones continued with adobe. It is appreciated besides qolqas or granary places of military order, religious, Inka between others.

La Raya.

Media point in the rout of Cusco – Puno. It is the highest part, it has 4335 meters above sea level, we can appreciate beautiful landscapes, llamas and vicuñas, geographic union between two cultures quechua and aymara, we can see the Altiplano arid and dry union with the quechua zone with rivers and valleys.

Pukara.

The village of Pukará is located in the Department of Puno and has an area of approximately 6 square kilometers. It was the first urban setting in the “Altiplano Lacustre” and its influence reached the Cusco Valley (Valle de Cusco) in the north and Tiahuanaco in the south. Evidence of the Pukará culture was found in the Pacific coast in the valleys of Moquegua and Azapa (Arica- Chile), and there is also proof of its presence in the region of Iquique and up to the mouth of the Loa River. In the northern basin of Lake Titicaca, the Pukará culture represents men’s dominion over the environment given the fact that they not only controlled every available resource but also created new ones, such as the “camellones” that allowed the development of agriculture in floodable land, by the shores of Lake Titicaca and guaranteed intensive high altitude agriculture.

Its pottery development was quite advanced due to the fact that the pottery of the Pukará culture was different from others because of its shape and the techniques that they used to produce it. They made pottery in different colors from dark red to brown and after that they painted them in yellow, black, grey and red set apart by narrow lines carved in the pottery.

The Pukará’s lito-sculpture (litoescultura) was outstanding as they carved a diversity of sculptures in stone that can be put into groups depending on their motifs and style that come from different periods and styles. Nowadays, the museum of the town of Pukará holds inside a great collection of monoliths, pottery and other items left behind by this great pre-Inca culture and that is displayed in 5 exposition rooms.

Puno.

The town of Puno is the capital of the department of Puno in Peru. It was founded on November 4, 1668 by the Spanish for its closeness to the colonial silver mine of Laykakota. Puno Peru is located at an altitude of 12,565 feet or 3,830 meters above sea level and has a population of 102,800. Puno is a small port city where the main industry is tourism, it offers a departure point to the many Inca and Pre-Inca ruins and to Lake Titicaca and its islands. The region’s economy is based on agriculture and cattle raising activities. The area is well known for its herds of llamas and alpacas and for its traditional lifestyle. The main crops are: potato, quinoa and other tubers, yields are low due to limited access to fertilizers and seeds which only allows for subsistence farming. Rural population struggles with poverty where surviving is the main priority, illiteracy is high at 22% and higher among females than males. Health and malnutrition are related to extreme poverty, lack of clean water and sanitation infrastructure.. The town of Puno benefits from income brought by tourists visiting the Lake Titicaca National reserve. Puno is considered the Folkloric Capital of Peru, there are more than 300 different local dances representing centuries old traditions inherited from the Incas and the colony. Folk dances and songs are accompanied by colorful costumes and masks to celebrate Catholic holidays or Inca celebrations related to the agricultural calendar. These celebrations are based on beliefs and myths of the relationship between men and god, to honor Andean gods, Catholic saints and the Virgin Mary.