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APUS AND INCAS
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Apus are earth spirits that the Andean people have worshipped and paid homage to for thousands of years. The greatest and most powerful Apus dwell in the desolate peaks.
The Incas built an empire that stretched thousands of miles along the spine of the Andes. The imperial city of Cusco and the majestic Santuary of Machupicchu stand as reminders of their power.
Because of Apus and Incas, the mountain landscape surrounding Cusco provides magnificent and memorable experiences for hikers ready to explore it.
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The population in Cusco is aproximatly 400.000 inhabitants, the altitudis 3.400 meters above the sea level (11.150 fts). The temperature is relatively cool at night while that at midday the temperature increases comsiderably, the dry seasonis from may to October, andthe rainy season fron November to April.
You have to take your passport but is no necesary a Visa, our local currency is “NUEVO SOL” (1 dollar = 3.40 soles Dic 2005) You can change your local currencuy in soles in many places, but we also acept dollars as well.
The principal language is Espanish, and the original is Quechua (the inca language)
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FESTIVITYCALENDAR
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January
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- 1st to 6th, exhibition of typical Nativities in Cusquenian churches and homes.
- 06th, "Descent of the Three Wise Men", important religious and folk festival in Ollantaytambo.
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February
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- (movable date) Folk Carnival Festivals in different towns of the Sacred Valley of the Inkas
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March
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- (movable) Holy Week; procession of the Lord of Earthquakes on Holy Monday and some other processions during the week, Eucharist exhibitions too.
- 23rd, Spanish Refoundation of Qosqo City.
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May
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- 3rd, "Cruz Velacuy", day of the Catholic crosses in Qosqo and in almost every Andean Village, the festivity goes on even until May 4th.
- (movible entre mayo y junio) Festividad del "Señor de Qoyllurit'i", en la montaña de Sinakhara en las proximidades de Ocongate, incluye peregrinación y ambiente folklórico.
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June
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- (9 weeks after Holy Thursday) Corpus Christi. It has processions of Virgins and Saints from almost all the parishes of the city escorted by folk dances. Fruits and local dishes are displayed and sold at Plateros Street. The classical dish for this festivity is "Chiri Uchu".
- Ollantay Raymi(Second week).
- Sunday before the 24th, Folk Festival in the Wiraqocha Inkan temple of the Raqchi village, district of San Pedro, Canchis province.
- 24th,Inti Raymi. Performance in Saqsaywaman of the most important festivity of Inkan times: the "Sun Festivity"; it includes Inkan clothing and folk festival.
- 29th, Festivity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the parish of San Pedro in Qosqo and the districts of those names in the Canchis province.
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July
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- 16th, Virgin of Carmen; great religious and folk festivity in the Paucartambo village as well as in P'isaq.
- 25th to 29th, Coffee Festival in Quillabamba.
- 28th Independence Day.
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August
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- Last Sunday of the month. Performance of the "Warachikuy" Inkan Festival in Saqsaywaman.
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September
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- 14th, Festivity of the Lord of Huanca. It includes pilgrimage from Qosqo City as well as goods and cattle fair in the town of San Salvador.
- 30th, Saint Jerome's Festivity in the district of San Jeronimo.
- Tourist Week, with different sport and cultural activities. Main day is the 27th.
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October
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- 4th, San Francisco Festivity in Tinta, Urcos and Maras.
- Turistic Week (second week).
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November
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- 1st, All Souls' Day. Visits to cemeteries
- 2nd, All Saints' Day. Sale of bread with shapes of "wawas" (dolls) and "caballitos" (little horses), consumption of "Lechón" (roast pork) and "Tamales" (corn wet-bread).
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December
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- 19th, Gourmet Festival in Andahuaylillas.
- 24th, Santuranticuy Fair (Purchase of Saints). Crafts man ship exhibit and sale in Qosqo's Plaza de Armas.
- 25th, Cusquenian Nativity.
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