Article : PALEONTOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE OF CUSCO REGION

 PALEONTOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE OF CUSCO REGION

Megafauna  comes from gree word "megas" wich means big and from latin "fauna" animal, term used in paleontology to refer to colosal animals that lived at the end of Tertiary and beginining of Quaternary of the Cenozoic Era, which became extinct by natural phenomena that took place in the epoch.

Especies de Fauna y Flora / Species of Flora and Fauna

The paleontological records in the region confirm the existence of various species of flora and fauna, among which are: invertebrates, fish ferns and Megafauna. These species include:

Gasteropodos / Gastropods

Gasteropodos / Gastropods

Kind of mollusks with more variants, being the only ones that occupied the marine and terrestrial habitats.

Mastodonte Gonfoterio / Mastodon Gomphothere

Mastodonte Gonfoterio / Mastodon Gomphothere 

Belongs to a family of proboscidians Gonphetheridae) which came to South America a million years ago, during the Great American Biotic Interchange.

Gliptodonte / Glyptodont

Gliptodonte / Glyptodont

Cingulated mammal (Glyptodon clavipes), of the Glyptodontidae family. They were native of America and ancestor of the current armadillos, measured up to 3 m long and more than 1 ton of weight.

Megaterio / Megatherium

Megaterio / Megatherium

Placental mammal, of  Megatheriidae family, commonly known as giant sloths. They lived América, since early Pliocene or Pleistocene.

Macrauquenia / Macrauchemia

Macrauquenia / Macrauchemia

Pertains to the placental mammals, Macraucheniidae family, the body as similar to the camel, with short trunk "trompa"; they reached up to 2 m tall and 3 m long, with almost 1.5 tons of weight Despite its appearance they are not llamas or something related to camels.

Helecho Arboreo / Tree Fern

Helecho Arboreo / Tree Fern

Plant of the specie caracasana Cyathea that coexisted with the megafauna which currently still subsists, so it is called ¨living fossil¨, it is located in the Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu.

Equido / Equidae

Equido / Equidae

Mammal of the family Equidae, recorded from the Middle Pleistocene. It is recognized five species of the genus Equus (Amerhippus), including Andinum horses wit short leg, big head, robust body and neck.

Peces Pequeños / Small Fishes

Peces Pequeños / Small Fishes

Found associated with fossilized leaves, within layers of sandstone, whose sedimentation environments which correspond to lacustrine systems.

Tigre Dientes de Sable / Saber Toothed Tiger

Tigre Dientes de Sable / Saber Toothed Tiger 

Felidae of smilodon genus of the subfamily of macairodontinos, it had large teeth like probably weighing up to 300 kg,

Article : The guidebooks may not have told you of Cusco

1. Molino. El Molino is like the "Walmart" of Cusco. While it may not necessarily treatyou to the same "eye candy" that you get there, this is a place to go if you need to furnish an appartament without travelling all over. Just tell the taxi driver you want to go to Molino.

2. El Paraíso. Closer into the town but without as much selection as Molino is El Paraiso.

3. Souvenir Shopping. There are a few different markets with multiple booths in them if you head down AAvenida del Sol. Here you can find many of the same things you will see else where but cheaper than nearer  to the Plaza de Plaza de Armas or on the Sacred Valley Tour.

4. Baratillo Market. On Saturday mornings , ask a taxi to take you to Baratillo, where you will find just about everything for sale and at disconunt prices. You may even find your  Ipod that "disappeared". Note that this is probably the most likely spot to encourer pickpockets so stow your money safely and leave your valuables at home.

5. There is an alternative way to get to Machupicchu other than the train or a multi-day hike. You can take a bus to Santa Maria and from there take a taxi to hidroelectrica. From there it's a 3 or 4 hour hike into Aguas Calientes. "Ampay" is the main bus company that goes to Santa Maria.

6. Safety. Cusco is a relatively safe city and actually, for the most part safer than many. That being said, it is a city. And it is assumed that anyone who looks like a tourist has more money than someone who lives there. Just be smart put your money someplace safe and keep a good grip on cameras and bags.

7. Taxi prices. Anywhere within the main part of the city, taxis should be 3 soles. To the Terminal Terrestre bus station, it is 4 soles if they take you inside the grounds. To the airport it is 5 soles; from the airport is 5 soles If you go out to the street to get one. Prices will go up 0.50 to 1 sol at nigth.

8. Collectivos to the Sacred Valley can be found on Pavitos, just off Avenida Grau. These are shared taxis or vans. In a car, it is 7 soles per person to Urubamba, 10 to Ollantaytambo. In a van, it's 6 to Urubamba. If you want a private taxi, you can just pay for whatever seats are unused. The last ones leaves around 7:30 at nigth.

9. Many guidebooks list the Tourist Police on calle Saphi. This is a normal police station. The Tourist Police are actually at Plaza Tupac Amaru.

10. Hiking on the Inca Trail requires a permit. These are a normally sold out a month or two ahead of time and cannot be transferred to another person. If you´re  trying to book when you get there, check the official website first: http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/ . Clic on  "consultas" and  select the appropriate month. If there are no permits available then you won't be able to get one with any agency.

Source: QUEPASA

The art of the emblematic Sumbay caves

A place that hides millenarian traces

In 1968 the archeologist Máximo Neira Avendaño discovered an archaeological complex of nine impressive caves behind the Misti volcano and 88 kilometers away from Arequipa. Located within the limits of the The Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, the discovery of the Sumbay caves marked the prehistoric period of Arequipa.

Misti Volcano National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca Sumbay Caves
Behind the Misti Volcano, in The Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve you can find the Sumbay Caves.

Nowadays, the caves are shown as imposing stone soldiers who guard the art and history of Arequipa. Its magic is shown on its rocky walls that have valuable cave paintings from the Paleolithic era. Its pictograph represents human figures, camelids, pumas and foxes, painted in a creamy white tone with an antiquity between 6,000 and 8,000 BC.

Camelid caves of Sumbay Misti Arequipa volcano
A camelid near the Sumbay caves and the Misti volcano in Arequipa

The main cave has more than 500 drawings of South American camelids. In the drawings, most of these animals are not in motion, but in rest. This is because these paintings were created in the last stages of the hunters, when they already knew the domestication of these animals.

Cave paintings caves of Sumbay Arequipa camelids
Rock paintings in the Sumbay caves Arequipa show camelids in rest.

An eye-catching figure in this cave is an amazing shaman dressed as a camelid. Therefore, it is believed that these caves were also a religious center for the primitives.
The creamy white color used in Sumbay is a peculiarity of the ancient cave art of the place, which was obtained from the clay that remains from the eruption of the volcanoes that surround the reserve. To be able to seal the drawings on those walls for thousands of years they used animal fat. Therefore, today we can revive its beauty.
In addition to the paintings, spearheads made of stone, disc knives to cut the meat, scrapers made with bones to clean animal skins and utensils to sew have also been found.

Spearheads of Caves of Sumbay Arequipa
Spearheads made of stone found in the Sumbay caves in Arequipa.

If you take a walk around the White City (Arequipa), dare yourself to visit this archaeological complex where you will live a prehistoric experience and you will know how this magical rock art began. Welcome to the Sumbay Caves!

Source: Peru Rail

The ancient art of Puno’s weave in Taquile

Weavers who spin their way to success

In the highest navigable lake in the world there is a strange paradise at 3,800 meters above the sea level called “Taquile island”. In this magical place, men, women and children weave fine accessories of alpaca fiber and cotton on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Weaver Taquile alpaca fiber Lake Titicaca Puno
A weaver from Taquile elaborates alpaca fiber accessories on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Puno.

The manufacture of these ancestral textiles has an antiquity of 4500 years. At the beginning, the purpose of this activity was to make baskets and mats; but with time, part of the textile production was destined to fine and luxurious gifts for the Inca nobility, making these looms an ancient art.

Ancestral baskets Inca nobility Puno
An example of ancestral baskets that were given away among the Inca nobility in Puno

Back then, they used a technique called “The horizontal loom” that consisted in a loom formed by two rods that were placed in parallel. At their ends four stakes were tied and on these, the threads were stretched from side to side, among which crossed other threads creating the weave.

Weaved garments alpaca Puno
Part of the process of creating garments with woven alpaca in Puno

Nowadays, this ancestral technique has been inherited and is taught to young children from an early age. They first learn to weave colored ribbons, which will later be sold in Puno’s market. Gradually, they make the weave more complex, adding more designs and colors. Its more commercial and colorful pieces are chullos, belts and scarfs.

Garments settlers Taquile Puno
Some samples of the clothes created by the people of Taquile, Puno.

In 2005, Taquile textile art was proclaimed by Unesco a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” Later, in 2007, Mario Testino launched a collection created by Taquile weavers in New York, Spain and France that appeared on the famous fashion magazine Vogue cover.
Nowadays, thousands of tourists travel to Puno to learn more about this ancient art that has left more than one of them astonished by its beauty and expertise. If you travel to Puno, do not hesitate to visit these artists and live all the magic that this ancestral art hides.

Source: Peru Rail

What you should know about Ollantaytambo Station in Urubamba

The district of Ollantaytambo in the province of Urubamba is strategically located as it is the endpoint of the famous Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) and leads the way to the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Ollantaytambo is located at 2797 m.a.s.l., and its territories offer important Inca sites such as Intihuatana, Casa Real del Sol (the Royal House of the Sun), Baño de la Ñusta (Bath of Ñusta) and much more.

Furthermore, there you can find the Ollantaytambo Train Station which is a railway to Machu Picchu Station in Machu Picchu Town.

How to get to Ollantaytambo Station?

As we mentioned before, Ollantaytambo Station is important because it links to Machu Picchu Station (as well as Poroy Station) by the railroad, but how do we get to Ollantaytambo Station? You can either go by bus, taxi, or private transportation service from Cusco downtown, arriving in one hour, 30 minutes approximately.


For traveling by train from Ollantaytambo Station, we recommend buying the tickets in advance on www.perurail.com. You can also purchase the train tickets at the Ollantaytambo Station ticket office, not later than 30 minutes before departure time.
If you wish to buy tickets at any of our ticket offices in the stations, you can pay either by credit/debit card or cash: in Soles or US Dollars.

From Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu Station

The trip from Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu Station takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes; and services are available year-round, so tourists can enjoy one of the World’s Wonder built by the Incas.
Find out Ollantaytambo’s stunning Inca monuments and have an adventure by train to the wonderful citadel of Machu Picchu!

Sources: Origen andino, PeruRail, and Cuscoperu.com.

All the information you need to get your Machu Picchu train tickets

Follow these simple steps to make your trip a magical experience

Cusco has an ancient past that beats in its streets, squares and valleys. No one resists the path of its history and Incas engineering which dominated the stone as few cultures have done in the past. The best example of this is Machu Picchu citadel.

Machu Picchu city wonder of the world Cusco Peru
The citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world in Cusco, Peru

This new wonder of the world, located at 2360 meters above sea level, dazzles those who visit it, with its beauty and mystery. For this reason, it is considered as one of the main tourist destinations in Peru and one of the most visited and recommended places in the world.
So, take your suitcase, follow these tips and start a magical journey that will captivate you from start to finish:

PERURAIL train Vilcanota river Machu Picchu Cusco
PERURAIL train bordering the Vilcanota river before arriving at Machu Picchu, Cusco

To avoid any mishap and fully enjoy this experience, you can purchase in advance your train tickets at www.perurail.com. In our website you will find different departure stations to go to Machu Picchu. You should locate which station corresponds to the train you are going to take.
In our booking you will find a variety of departure and return schedules according to the availability of our trains on the dates you have chosen. Click on “Continue” and make sure that the information of the itinerary chosen fit perfectly with what you have planned for the trip. Remember, it’s always better to have extra time. The magic of Machu Picchu will captivate you to stay a little longer.

Finally, everything will be ready for your trip when you have correctly filled your information and those of your adventure companions. Do not forget to put the email and contact number that you use more often, because by these means we will communicate with you to indicate all the details, so you can enjoy your trip with no problems.

Otherwise, if you prefer to buy your tickets in person, you can do it at our points of sale, located in Lima and Cusco. Here are our stores:

Larcomar Miraflores train tickets Machu Picchu
Larcomar, Miraflores. One of the points of sale for the train tickets to Machu Picchu

• Lima: Larcomar Shopping Center in Miraflores and Jorge Chávez International Airport.
• Cusco: Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, in the Town Center and in “Plaza Regocijo”.


If you want to know the schedules, addresses and telephones go to: https://www.perurail.com/find-us/

Cusco Town Center. A point of sale to buy the train tickets to Machu Picchu

Remember that the journey is as magical as your destination. So, now you are ready to have an unforgettable experience aboard our trains!

To keep in mind: The citadel of Machu Picchu is located in the jungle eyebrow, you should come prepared with sunscreen, hat or cap, sunglasses and repellent.
Have a good trip, we’ll wait for you on board!

Souce: Peru Rail

Discover the magic journey on board the PeruRail Vistadome Train

A unique experience on the way to Machu Picchu

The route to Machu Picchu has many landscapes that transform the journey in a show worth admiring. That´s why the PeruRail Vistadome train, which has panoramic windows in every wagon, is the best option for those people who love to be in touch with nature from the moment they first arrive.

Vistadome Train. Machu Picchu Cusco. Perur Rail
View through the panoramic windows of PeruRail Vistadome train on the way to Machu Picchu

From Poroy Station, located near Cusco city, or Urubamba and Ollantaytambo Stations, both located in the Sacred Valley; begin an adventure full of magic to Machu Picchu on board the PeruRail Vistadome. Sit comfortably and feel the connection with nature. Beautiful landscapes will make the trip an unforgettable experience.

Snack on board Vistadome Train
Family enjoying the special snack on board the PeruRail Vistadome train

 
From a full dry pampas panorama, typical peruvian andes, to an intense green view of the jungle. Diverse sensations, a mixture of relaxation and wonder, will take you to a state of tranquility while the trip goes deep into the Inca territory.
While you enjoy a light snack prepared with unique local andean ingredients accompanied by traditional background music, the Vilcanota River, also called by the Incas “Wilkanayu” that means “Sacred driver’’, accompanies the train during much of the tour.

Journey to Machu PicchuVilcanota river view in Cusco and the PeruRail Vistadome train from the outside.

Finally, the adventure to Machu Picchu turns unforgettable when the magic takes in the PeruRail Vistadome train on the outbound journey. Dancers of Saqra, traditional dance of Puaucartambo, Cusco, get on the wagons to spread the typical euphoria of the Andean customs with their joy and dancing steps.
The journey continues with an elegant Fashion show that display on board an exclusive collection of Baby Alpaca, which have been worked in a collaborative way with the andean communities, to promulgate their art and textiles. Then you can buy them at the end of the presentation.
So, if you enjoy nature, landscapes and new experiences, your best alternative to get around the sacred Inca city, Machu Picchu, is on board of the magic experience found in PeruRail´s PeruRail Vistadome train.

Saqra Dancer in the PeruRail Vistadome train on the outbound journey

Source: PeruRail