The called route of the sun in Peru, represents a magical journey that takes place from Puno to Cusco or from Cuzco to Puno. That is, from the north of the country to the south, Cuzco being the place where the adventure begins, as it is right there where millions of tourists from all over the world have the luck to know the Machu Pichu. Even so, there are also those who decide to travel in an inverted way, from Puno to Cusco. The important thing is that through the route of the sun, different and beautiful destinations are known by bus such as Raqchi or Pukara; places where the ancestral tradition that Peru lived before the discovery of America still remains alive.
Some tourism companies make this tour by bus in a time that is usually 8 hours. From my point of view it is a great opportunity because in this great route we can go down, move our legs and know sacred places for pre-Hispanic cultures. Tourists have the opportunity to travel on buses with air conditioning, while a guide gives his explanations on all the areas that are crossed and visited. In this article you will discover what the route of the sun represents, starting from Cusco to Puno.
Colonial church of Andahuaylillas
Andahuaylillas is one of the most loved municipalities in Peru. A small town where its greatest attraction is in the Colonial Temple, also known as the Church of San Pedro Apóstol. This construction was built at the time of the Colony and according to certain information was completed around the year 1570. The architecture of this church is really amazing, not only for its arched roofs and the order of the beams that support it, but also because the art of its interior makes it shine for its baroque and golden wealth. The color gold is the one that has more prominence, so much so that you get to have the feeling that the church is governed by the power of an artificial sun.
Historically, this temple has a great value because the Spanish Jesuits who were in charge of it, it was possible to understand the Quechua language in order to continue with the process of evangelization to the indigenous communities in this area of the country.
Raqchi – Temple of Wiracocha
Raqchi is an archaeological site that has a huge attraction. It is a place that shines in great measure for being solitary and nostalgic, while ancient rock buildings try to survive the passage of time. In the tour of this destination you will see robust columns, colcas and traditional Inca baths. In the background you can feel the silence of the mountains, which makes the view of this place more exciting. But perhaps what catches your attention is the Temple of Wiracocha, which according to historians belonged to the Inca Empire.
It was destroyed by the Spanish, so today there is only one structure of rectangular shape, whose two floors give it a height of 92 meters long and a width of 25.5 meters. Despite this, this work is charming, revealing the talent and ingenuity of the Incas.
La Raya
La Raya is the ideal place to take a break. It is located between the borders of the departments of Cusco and Puno. Being located at 4338 meters above sea level, the climate that receives you is quite cold, but nice if you go very well sheltered. This feeling is complemented by the view offered by the snow capped mountains and the Andes mountain range.
That means, from this altitude, you are fortunate to appreciate in a fantastic way the green omnipotence of nature, dominated by a blue sky, under which several alpacas, vicuñas and lamas graze. In addition, artisans of the place will offer you a great variety of articles endowed with colors and a lot of carisma.
Pukara
Pukara is also called “bull’s place”. Since you enter the town the bulls are everywhere. Do not hesitate to discover the crafts related to this animal, which symbolizes prosperity, and above all, protection. During the pre-Columbian era, this was the place of growth of the Pucará culture, which is why it is a site endowed with many archaeological sites.
There are many places in Pukara where you can contemplate the antiquity of these constructions. Sometimes you just have to content yourself with seeing them in the distance, thus offering a deep nostalgia. If you want to know more about that ancient essence, then it is necessary to visit the Lithic Museum. In this museum you can have a global idea of what the Pucará tradition was, all its history and all those works that resisted dying with the passage of time.
Arte Lítico – Lithic Art
In the Lithic Museum you will enjoy large figures representing geometric designs complemented by figures of animals such as toads and fish. In the monoliths are represented anthropomorphic beings with attributes of feline and ceremonial costume with one hand holding a knife and the other a human head. This character for the local culture is called Hatun Ñakaj or Great killer.
Surely this representation is associated with the rituals that were performed in the ceremonial centers and that sought to perpetuate the ideology and power of the priestly class, a way of controlling the population.
Conclusion of the ROUTE OF THE SUN Peru – Cusco Puno
If you decide to travel to Peru and make a 20-day route in Peru or more, making this route along the Ruta del Sol is a great option since it allows you to know interesting and sacred places of pre-Hispanic cultures. Without a doubt, taking a day (8 hours) to go from Cuzco to Puno OR Puno to Cusco to visit these natural or architectural monuments is more than advisable considering that we have to connect from one city to another if we want to visit places as exciting as the floating islands in Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu or the Mountain of the 7 colors as well as a city tour of Cuzco. Peru is one of the most wonderful countries I have visited throughout my travel experience and if you decide to go to the country and this route, you will not regret it.
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