Update Machu Picchu

The following received today, less by way of an update on the actual situation in Machu Picchu, more an indication of the localised nature of the floods.

START

As you are all now aware, heavy rains caused severe damage to the railway infrastructure between Cuzco – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu.

While the train service to Machu Picchu is restored, we would like to point out other sites of great interest that depict Peru`s millenary history.

Please note that the only area which is closed due to the severe rains is Machu Picchu and certain parts of the Urubamba Sacred Valley – all sites and places mentioned below have not been affected and are operating normally.

Cuzco
· City:
Koricancha, Cathedral, Pre Columbian Art Museum, San Blas artisan district, La Almudena cemetery, San Pedro market, San Francisco church, La Merced church and Inca Museum among other several sites.

· Nearby Ruins:
Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay. These sites can be combined with the Awanakancha camelid farm and the Ccochawasi rescue project for indigenous fauna, and topped with a gourmet picnic including a demonstration of the “Tribute to the Mother Earth” Andean religious ritual

· Eastern Outskirts :
The Chinchero market and weaving demonstrations, the Moray archaeological remains and the Maras salt mines.

· Southern Outskirts: the amazing 17th – century chapels of Andahuaylillas and Huaro, and the Tipon archaeological complex

· Land transfers to Puno are fully operational

Puno
· Lake Titicaca : Uros, Taquile and Suasi islands. Llachon peninsula and lake kayaking.
· Sillustani pre-Inca burial complex
· The colonial town of Lampa and its exact replica of Michelangelo`s “La Pietá”
· Chucuito
· Land transfers to Cuzco and Bolivia are fully operational

Arequipa and Colca
· Tour of the city and surroundings
· Colca Canyon
· Land transfers to Puno are fully operational

Trujillo and Chiclayo (the Northern Kingdoms)
· This area contains the latest archaeological findings in Peru, most of which correspond to pre-Inca times.
· The most visited sites are the Lord of Sipan, Tucume, El Brujo (Cao), Chan Chan, the Temples of the Sun and the Moon, and the Royal Tombs museum.
· Ideally, this circuit should be done in 3 days / 2 nights. Flying into Chiclayo and out of Trujillo.

Nazca, Ica and Paracas (Southern Coast)
· The Ballestas islands and Paracas Marine Reserve
· The Nazca lines
· This area boasts also magnificent pre-Inca archaeological remains such as the Chauchilla cemetery and the Cantalloc aqueducts

ENDS