Fortunately, the lack of a direct road from Cuzco to Machu Picchu has stood in the way of cars and trucks intruding on the Inca ruins.

BBC: Eco-scorecard to the world��s great attractions

Start off high and cool in the city of Cuzco (UNESCO World Heritage Site), former capital of the ancient Inca Empire and today the undisputed archaeological king of the Americas.

FORBES: Higher Than A Kite In Peru

The Pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllurit'i begins 58 days after Easter when people representing eight indigenous villages from around Cuzco, Peru travel to the Sinakara sanctuary.

UNESCO: Culture

The function of this city situated at least 100 km from the capital, Cuzco, has not been formulated which are not verifiable given the absence of written documentation and sufficiently explicit material evidence.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

Cuzco and the old villages still retain traces of land occupation from the Inca Empire to preserve, in a more global manner, an archaeological heritage which has become susceptible to the effects of urbanization.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

In Peru, the staunchest defender of ALBA and Chavez is Hernan Fuentes, the regional president, or governor, of the province of Puno (please see map to see closeness with Cuzco and neighboring country, Bolivia).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Chavez moves into Peru

Local commentators in Peru, which was hoping to stage upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Cuzco at 3, 400m (11, 154ft), suggested Fifa made the decision after pressure from South America's two major football powers, Brazil and Argentina.

BBC: Fifa bans high-altitude football