Cusco

Cusco, Peru’s most important tourist destination and considered one of the best in the world, is a city steeped in history, mysticism, and living culture. Known as the “Archaeological Capital of America,” it was the main political, religious, and cultural center of the Inca Empire, and today it dazzles visitors with an extraordinary legacy of pre-Hispanic and colonial remains that coexist in a unique way.

This region was the cradle of the first Andean civilizations, influenced by cultures such as Huari and Tiahuanaco, and later the scene of the rise of the Inca Empire and the resistance of the Incas of Vilcabamba after the conquest of Peru. Cusco is also a place where ancestral traditions remain alive, notably the celebration of Inti Raymi, a majestic festival inherited from the Inca era which, since its revival more than 50 years ago, is celebrated with pride and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world, who have the privilege of witnessing this authentic expression of Peru’s living history.

Cusco is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Machu Picchu, a universal symbol of the Inca legacy. In addition, the region is home to impressive archaeological sites and unforgettable landscapes such as Sacsayhuamán, Coricancha, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero, Choquequirao, Maras, Moray, and the spectacular Mountain of Seven Colors. Cusco is a destination that combines history, spirituality, nature, and adventure, offering unique experiences that remain forever in the traveler’s memory.

Good to know

Location

It is located in central and southeastern Peru.
Altitude

3 399 meters above sea level.
Climate

Semi-dry and cold.
Seasons

Hot weather (late april to mid-july), mild (september 18 to november 27), warm (november), cool (december 31 to march 23), cold (july).
Indispensable to bring

Warm clothes since we are at high altitude, insect repellent, sun block, hat or chullo, waterproof clothing, rain poncho, sneakers, identification document and cash.
Distance to other cities

Cusco to Lima: 1153 km.
Cusco to Arequipa: 623 km.
Cusco to Puno: 389 km.
Fun fact

The flag of Cusco; many tourists are surprised to see the gay pride flag in many points of the city of Cusco. However, this is no more than a coincidence. It happens that in 1973, a radio station proposed a banner as a symbolic flag of the extinct empire of the Incas.

Main tourist attractions

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu which in Quechua means “Old Mountain” is an archaeological wonder of Peru and the world, considered by UNESCO “Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, and elected as “New Wonder of the World”, this complex is complemented harmoniously with the natural environment that surrounds it, also this beautiful place preserves the architecture, the history of Peru “the empire of the Incas”.

Machu Picchu is located on the left bank of the Vilcanota River, in the ravine of Kusichaca, this spectacular construction is nestled on the top of the mountain, in front of it, the summit of Huayna Picchu or young mountain imposes itself. Both are bathed by the torrential Urubamba River.

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

The Rainbow Mountain or Mountain of 7 colors is located at 5200 m.a.s.l., it belongs to the snowy mountain Ausangate, which is the highest of the Vilcanota mountain range, it has become one of the most sought after destinations in Cusco because it is a mountain formation dyed in stunning colors such as red, purple, green, yellow, pink and others; these colors are due to the minerals that covers the mountain.

Moray

This archaeological site is located in Maras. It is an Inca construction that is characterized by being formed by several circular platforms in a kind of crater and is located at 3500 meters above sea level. The largest pit has a depth of 150 m and the average height of the platforms is 1.80 m.

According to many archaeologists, this site was used by the Incas to experiment with their crops at different altitudes.

Maras Salt Mines

The name of the salt mine in Quechua is kachi Raqay and is composed of about five thousand pools of about 5 square meters each, the water is filtered in the pools and evaporates by the intense sun, causing the crystals of coarse salt to sprout, after 1 month the salt reaches 10 cm. high and has to be harvested.

They are salt mines whose exploitation is as old as the Tahuantinsuyo. Located on the slope of the hill, the salt mine in the form of terraces or platforms is crossed by a stream that feeds the salt water pools. The use of the salt of Maras dates back thousands of years and is inherited by each family, but it is managed communally.

Ollantaytambo

It is an impressive architectural complex that is located at 2792 meters above sea level and is 3500 years old. It is believed that its construction was oriented towards the city of Cusco, as its architects sought to defend themselves from the Incas, and also chose this area for the subway water channels that were discovered at great depth. The inhabitants of Ollantaytambo designed a system of aqueducts that is still in full operation today. Each fountain was carved in rock with its own characteristics and designs. The best known and considered the most beautiful is the Fuente de la Ñusta, made of a single stone and decorated in the shape of a portal.