Exploring Cusco – A great introduction to Inca sites

Machu Picchu has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but visitors are often surprised by gaps in knowledge about the Lost City of the Inca.  Why was it abandoned at the time of the Spanish conquest? How did the Inca move the enormous stone blocks into place without using the wheel or metal tools? How do we find the answers when the Inca left no written history?

Peter Frost’s book Exploring Cusco sifts through the layers of debate and the avalanche of new-age speculation surrounding Machu Picchu and the other great stoneworks left by the Inca in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Its no-nonsense attitude and clear, conversational style make for an entertaining primer on the subject.  It’s also short enough to get through and small enough to fit in a pocket or day pack.

It’s easy to find when you get to Cusco, although you can buy it online, if you know where to look. The Peruvian Times Store has Exploring Cusco for only $10, plus shipping.

Update: Exploring Cusco is now out of print. But you should check out Peter Frost’s Web site.

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