INFORMATION CUSCO

History
Travel to Machupicchu. The fame achieved by archeological Cusco can be found well before the Inca Age. Cusco dates back about 1000 years before Christ when the Marcavalle culture was in force. From there, Chanapata began. The history of the contemporary culture of Pucara in Puno was lost until the Waris conquered the zone, including it in the Wari's Empire. After the Waris, the region re-established itself, first with the Killke Culture and then with the Incas.

In the past, Cusco represented the center of Incan civilization. It was the capital of the Andean state of Tahuantinsuyo. According to legend, it was founded by Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo between the 11th and 12th centuries. Later, due to an order by Spaniard Francisco Pizarro, this city was founded again in March 23, 1534.

Location:
The city of cusco is located in Southamerica, on the southeast Andes of Perú, at 13° 30 South Latitude and at 72° 00 longitud Oeste from meridian of Greenwich. Cusco is the actual capital of the province and department of Cusco . ALTITUDE: 3360 metres above the sea level.

Weather:
There's no such a difference between the four seasons, however there is two specific times of the year: the Rainy Seasonfrom november to march and the Dry Seasonfrom April to October.

Territory:
The territory of Cusco has an extension of 76,225 Km² and the province of Cusco goes for 523,000 Km².

Temperature:
In Cusco the anual temperature goes from 11°C to 13°C and sometimes 20°C on a sunny day.

Language:
The official languages of Peru are: Spanish which is used on a 73% of the population; the Quechua or runasimi, spoken for a 24% of peruvians. Some specialists recognise to especificvariations of quechua on the national territory : the huáihuash, which is quite popular on the central part of Peru and the huámpuy, spoken by the rest of th country. Most of the quechua-speakers are bilingual and have spanish as their second language. The same thing happens with the Aymaras, whose language extends strongly over the Altiplano. There are also over 55 amazonic languages spoken by tribes on the peruvian jungle such as: asháninka, aguaruna and machiguenga.

Religion:
The oficial religion is the Roman Catholic. Over an 80%ofthe population practice it with deep devotion, However there is a freedom of cult in this country, nobody is compulsed to believe in what others say, besides some people from the Andes and the Amazonia practice the Catholic Religion mixed with soem old traditions such as the cult to the Pachamama (the ground) and the natural phenomenums.

Currency:
The Official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol and its symbol is S/. It is divided in 100 centimos (cents): with coins valued at S/.5 , S/.2 , S/.1,and 50, 20, 10 centimo pieces, although the latter is being phased out as it is virtually worthless. Notes in circulation are S/. 200 , S/.100 , S/.50, S/.20 and S/.10. The economy of Peru goes side by side with theamerican dollar, that's why many businesses are treated with the use of both currencies.

Exchange Rates:
The easiest foreign currency to exchange is the american dollar, very common on the tourism issue, most of the entrance fees, tickets and and fares are given in americn dollars. There are plenty of Exchange Houses and you could also exchange your money with the people who exchange money on the street who are usually walking up and down Sol Av. Hotels and credit card may do that for you eventhough they are extremely reliable their exchange rate is very low which makes you lose a fair bit of money. The exchange rate varies everyday on a consider difference.

Travellers Checks:
Travellers checks are not very used, it gets a bit problematic even in some banks, and especially because the loss of porcentage is about 2 to 5% of the total value of your check.

Money Transfers:
You can do some movements on your accounts from Peru with no problems at all, it is just a matter of time, which could take from three days to more in case they are of international matter, if it is a national transfer it should take no longer than one day. There is also the use of ATMs which are easy to reach and located on the main avenue , Av. Sol.

Credit Cards:
The most popular and accepted credit cards are: Visa, Dinners, Mastercard and American Express. However the use of these is not very popularin some provinces in Peru.

Banks:
Generally the banks in Lima are open to the public from 09:00 until 18:00 from monday to friday and saturdays and sundays only until mid day capital, However in some other cities like Cusco some banks close at mid day or lunch time for about three hours and start again.

Time:
Peruvian time is located five hours after the GMT (Greenwich Mean time) and it's similar to the EST (Eastern Standart Time) time in the U. S. A..

Referencial Times:
When it is noon in Peru, in Santiago de Chile and Caracas is 13:00; in Rio de Janeiro and buenos aires it is 14:00; in New york it is 12:00 , and in Tokyo it is 03:00 on the day after.