+51 970 380 619 | +51 965 380 619
info@taptravelperu.com
+51 970 380 619 | +51 965 380 619
info@taptravelperu.comDuring our tour we will visit diferent places of the Cusco – Puno tourist corridor. We will explore the Andahuaylillas temple, also known as the “Sistine Chapel of America”, the Inca temple of Raqchi, the mountain pass of La Raya, and the Aymara museum of Pucara.
We are a highly regarded trip provider. Each trip is led by an English-speaking local guide. Our guides are specialists in Peruvian history.
We provide both group and private excursions. Kindly notify us at the time of booking if you have any particular requests for the tour. If you’re interested in learning more about the region of Puno, take this Sun Route Tour.
Please take a time to read our Trip Advisor reviews.
Cusco Hotel Transfer – Puno
07:00 AM
Our first stop is at 3093 meters above sea level, where we will visit the “Capilla de Andahuaylillas”, also known as “The Sistine Chapel of America”. This small temple has received that nickname due to the great amount of artwork that decorates its walls. The “Capilla de Andahuaylillas” was built in the 17th century by the Jesuit religious order, whose purpose was to evangelize the indigenous peoples of the region.
On its murals, you can appreciate the numerous artworks covered in gold leaf. Also, the paintings of the temple are the perfect representation of the artistic tradition of the Cusco School (Escuela Cusqueña de Pintura), which turn this temple into a unique place. However, it is not allowed to take photos or make videos inside the chapel. This restriction was implemented in order to conserve the integrity of the artworks.
On our second stop we will visit the Archaeological Complex of Raqchi, which is located at 3450 meters above sea level, and it’s known as the “Temple of the god Wiracocha”. This complex was built during different historical periods: during the reign of the Inca Wiracocha, the Inca Pachacutec government, and it was finished under the rule of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui.
Raqchi covers an area of around a thousand hectares and it comprises numerous stone buildings, such as aqueducts, underground tombs and pre-Inca compounds. The most notable structures are the Wiracocha Temple (which is the largest Inca Temple), the Statue, the Enclosures, the Colcas, the Inca Baths and the Usno.
Sicuani is a relatively large highland town located in the middle of the South Andes of Cusco. Sicuani is a major intersection, due to the fact that the road to Puno – Arequipa passes through there. This town is surrounded by some very pretty hills, which provide a great background for taking photos. In Sicuani we will have a buffet lunch in our exclusive family restaurant.
The mountain pass of La Raya is located on the border between Cusco and Puno, at approximately 4335 meters above sea level. La Raya is undoubtedly the highest point of the Sun Route. It’s worth noting that this pass is located on the same area of the Andes mountains where the Amazon river is born.
Pucara was the main regional population center of the northern Lake Titicaca Basin during the Late Formative Period (500 BC- AD 200). The archaeological remains found in the area have provided valuable insights into the origins of the Andean civilization.
During its peak, Pucara covered over a square kilometer and housed thousands of bureaucrats, priests, artisans, farmers, herders, and possibly warriors. The Pukara architectonic style stands out because of its impressive monolithic sculptures decorated with a variety of geometric, zoomorphic, and anthropomorphic images. Furthermore, the Pucara pottery is intricated and multi-colored, with a great variety of ritual and domestic shapes.
Finally, after exploring the main landmarks of the Sun Route, we will arrive to the city of Puno.
