Cusco and the Empire of the Incas

Legend says that in the beginning of the 1200s A.D., Manco Capac, the son of the Sun and the first Inca, or emperor, and his wife Mama Ocllo emerged from Lake Titicaca and walked towards Cusco. Their father, the Sun, told them to settle in the place where their golden staff would disappear after being staked into the ground. When they arrived to Huanacaure Mountain in Cusco, they pushed his golden staff into the ground, and after it disappeared, they knew they had to settle there and thus started the Inca Empire.  The Inca Empire lasted until 1534 A.C. when the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Cusco after defeating and assassinating Inca Atahualpa in Cajamarca (Northern Peru).

Throughout this period of time, the Incas developed the Tahuantisuyo (Four States) covering more than 2 million square kilometers which included territories of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. The Inca Empire reached its maximum extension during the reign of Inca Pachacutec, Inca Tupac Yupanqui, and Inca Huayna Capac.

The Incas were able to control this vast territory because of the following reason

• A well linked Inca Trail system of about 40,000 kilometers (25,000 mi.)
• Along this Inca Trail system, the Inca Empire built several Tambos or road stations where travelers and the personal of the Empire were able to rest, feed, and find weapons to protect the Inca Empire if necessary.
• The Inca Empire had messengers or runners, known as Chasquis, who carried important messages. A Chasqui used to run 6 to 9 kilometers (3.7 to 5.6 mi) until the message was delivered to the next Chasqui. In a day, they were able to cover a total extension of 250 kilometers (160 mi.)
• A well designed social, religious, administrative, and political organization.

Cusco was the capital of the Empire and the most important city during the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro knew that he had to conquer Cusco in order to defeat the Empire of the Incas. After defeating Inca Atahualpa, Francisco Pizarro went to Cusco where he defeated Manco Inca and founded the colonial city of Cusco.

Nowadays, travelers coming to South America choose Cusco as one of their most important destinations. Cusco is a city where it is possible to find millenary customs, a rich history, great gastronomy, great adventures such as hiking through well preserved Inca Trails with beautiful landscapes, rafting with class II, III and IV Whitewater Rivers, amazing mountain biking routes, and Machu Picchu.