HISTORY OF Machu Picchu
Nowadays it is a Historic National Sanctuary, protected by the Peruvian Government by means of Law Nº 001.81.AA of 1981, that tries to conserve the geological formations and archaeological remains inside the Sanctuary, besides protecting its flora, fauna and landscape's beauty. The whole park has an extension of 32,592 Has.; that is 80,535 acres (325.92 km²; 125.83 mile²). Machu Picchu (the Inkan City) is located on kilometer 112 (70 miles) of the Qosqo-Quillabamba railway; the train station is known as "Puente Ruinas" and lies at an altitude of 2000 mts (6560 ft.). From that station there are buses in order to get to South-America's most famous Archaeological Group that is found at an average altitude of 2450 mts (8038 ft.) , and at 13°09'23'' of South Latitude and 72°32'34'' of West Longitude. The climate in that sector has also some characteristics that are found all over the region; thus, only two well defined seasons are distinguished: the rainy season between September to April , and the dry season from May to August. Nevertheless, Machu Picchu is found by the commencement of the Cusquenian Amazonian Jungle, so the chance of having rains or showers is latent by any time of the year. In the hottest days it is possible to get even about 26° Celsius (78.8° Fahrenheit), while that in the coldest early mornings in June and July the temperature may drop to -2° C. (28.4° F); the average annual temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Annually, there is an average of rains from 1571 mm. (61 in.) to 2381 millimeters (93 in.). It is obvious that the monthly relative humidity is in direct relationship to rains, so the humidity average is from 77% during the dry months to 91% in the rainy months.
The Machupicchu Historic National Sanctuary is found over a great granite orogenic structure baptized by Dr. Isaiah Bowman as the " Vilcapampa Batholith" that outcrops over about 400 km² (154 mile²). Its formation belongs in the scale of geological time to the Paleozoic or Inferior Primary and may have an approximate age of 250 million years. The Vilcapampa Batholith's white-gray granite is an intrusive igneous rock (magma cooled off in great profundities inside the earth); it is mainly compound in average by 60% of feldspar, 30% of quartz, and a 10% of mica. That granite has interlaced equigranular texture and possesses from 6° to 7° of hardness in the MOHS scale with a resistance of 1200 Kg/cm². Likewise, in this region there are some other rocks corresponding to the Inferior Paleozoic; such as schist, quartzite and metamorphic conglomerations that might have an age from 350 to 450 million years.
Machupicchu (like most of the Quechua names of towns and different sites in the region) is a compound word that comes from machu = old or ancient, and picchu = peak or mountain; therefore, Machupicchu is translated as "Old Mountain". The famous mountain that is seen in front, and appears in most of the classical views of the site is named Waynapicchu (Young Mountain). Unfortunately the original names of the mentioned sectors are lost, Machu Picchu , Waynapicchu and some other proper names used today are contemporary ones; ascribed probably by farmers living in the region before Bingham's arrival. However, according to studies about some XVI century documents, the original name of the whole area might be "Picchu".
Malaga Alternate Route to Machu Picchu : Inca Jungle
Programme: 3 days / 2 nights
1st DAY: Cusco - Santa Maria.
Early pickup at your hotel 06:00am. To start the trip to the Malaga pass by different attractive locations as part of the Sacred Valley, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo villages, we’ll climb to the Malaga pass to an altitude of 4420 m.a.s.l. Where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the snow-capped Veronica mountain and the La Convencion valley, then we’ll descend through the valley where we will appreciate exuberant flora and fauna, as well as many different small villages. Arriving at Santa Maria at 13:30 for lunch and after a short rest we’ll continue our journey to the village of Santa Teresa where we will spend the night in our campsite.
2nd DAY: Santa Teresa – Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes.
Breakfast ready at 07:00am. And at 08:00am. We’ll start hiking through the jungle where we’ll appreciate the coca plantations as well as interesting flora and fauna, and the best coffee crops too. And then we’ll cross in an oroya which is a hanging basket from a metal cable, the Vilcanota River. Then we’ll reach the Hydroelectric compound to enjoy our lunch and have a short rest. http://www.perucusitours.com/
Then we’ll continue walking appreciating the falls of Mandor and a variety of butterflies, after this we’ll reach the Aguas Calientes village and spend the night in a hostel. If you wish you can enjoy a bath in the thermal springs.
And enjoy next day visit to Machu Picchu Inca city.
http://www.perucusitours.com/
3rd DAY: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu - Cusco
Early breakfast at the hostel and then we'll board the bus to Machu Picchu, where we will have about 6 to 7 hours in order to appreciate the shrine city accompanied with our guide, then return by bus for our lunch in the village, and board our train wagon reaching Cusco at approximately 20:00hrs. transfer to your hotel and spend the night (Dinner not included).
Our service include: http://www.perucusitours.com/
Local Transportation Cusco – Santa Maria or private transportation depending on your Itinerary.
02 lunch 01 dinner 02 breakfast
Night hostel in Aguas Calientes
Bus round trip, entrance ticket to Machupicchu
Return train ticket Backpacker service wagon.
01 night in a 3* hostel in Aguas Calientes
English speaking tour guide.
Permanent Assistance.
http://www.perucusitours.com/
Send this user a Note