The city of Cusco is located in the province and region of the same name. It was the political, administrative and religious capital of the Tahuantinsuyo. In the 15th century, the Inca Pachacuteq redesigned its urban layout turning it into a great urban complex that lasted as the main city of the empire until the 16th century, when it was transformed again by the Spaniards.
This second transformation consisted of maintaining the Inca layout and buildings on which temples and stately homes were erected, such as the Temple of Santo Domingo in the Qoricancha or the Cathedral of Cusco in the Quishuarcancha, owned by the Inca Wiracocha, among other buildings of great importance and value during the Tahuantinsuyo. Cusco preserves in the architecture of its buildings and urban design extraordinary constructive expressions of both cultures, maintaining its authenticity and integrity, despite the accelerated growth of the city.
Cusco, navel of the world, energetic place, which in ancient times was the center of the kingdom of the Incas. In its interior magical and mysterious places persist in time. Where ancestral customs and customs dedicated to natural deities, the Tayta Inti and the Pachamama still survive.
This is a journey into the depths of the wisdom of the Andes. A journey through the treasures of their traditions and spirituality. A journey of teachings on Andean wisdom, vivid, simple and accessible to all.
Culture, mysticism and the sacred come together in a handful of coca leaves. These tell through their shapes and textures, the present, past and future of its people. They are the oracle of a space in which the mountains and rivers acquire a divine character. This ancestral divination method has been learned and considered, from generation to generation, and is still used today by the Andean people.
Behind the origins of Andean civilizations there are always myths or legends that give life to characters and stories that will accompany us on this journey in the light of the moon, and that will be revealed to illustrate how the souls of men and gods change through time, through history, just as art and even the geography of this planet change.
Tours in the Sacred Valley Cusco
To visit the seventh wonder of the world you must first arrive in the city of Cusco, either by air or by land. Here is a brief summary.
There are daily flights from Lima, the Peruvian capital, to the city of Cusco. Travel time is approximately one hour and ten minutes.
The companies currently providing services are LAN, Peruvian Airlines, Avianca, Viva Air and Amazonas. The average cost of a ticket ranges between USD 100 and USD 150 if you want to buy it overnight.
The trip from Lima to Cusco by land has an approximate duration of 20 hours, this may vary if traveling in the rainy season, which in some cases makes this time lengthen to 22 or 24 hours. While it is true that the route goes through beautiful valleys and Andean landscapes, the travel time added to the countless number of curves, ups and downs makes this trip is not recommended for everyone.
The city of Cusco has developed an extensive hotel offer, which means that you will most likely have no problem finding an available location. However, room rates have a surcharge of approximately 20% in high season (June - July - August).
The city of Cusco is characterized by an urban architecture in which the Inca influence, with its stone walls, stairways and other stone constructions, and the Spanish influence, with its balconies, houses with large entrance gates and double pitched roofs, are intermingled on the one hand.
The city of Cusco has at least 12 churches in its urban area, many of them have been built more than 400 years ago. Among the most representative are:
The cathedral, located in the main square. The cathedral represents the greatness of God over humanity or at least that is what its architects wanted to capture in its design. With its 30 meters high, the cathedral is an impressive construction built over an ancient Inca palace.
The church of the Compañía de Jesús, also located in the main square, is impressive both for its design and for the invaluable amount of history and art contained in its walls.
The church of San Cristobal, located on top of a hill, this church was also built over an old Inca palace and offers a privileged view of Cusco's main square.
The church of San Blas, this church is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, that exists in the city of Cusco. It is believed to have been inaugurated in 1544 and is located in the neighborhood of the same name.
Many of the museums that can be found in the city of Cusco were once owned by the most important Spanish authorities living at that time or were once Inca palaces. Among the most representative museums are:
Casa Cabrera, located in the small square Nazarenes, was formerly an Amaru Cata or 'House of Knowledge' Inca, on which this building was built. Today it houses the Pre-Columbian Art Museum.
The Garcilazo House, which once belonged to the Concha Iberico family and was acquired in 1967 by the Peruvian government, due to the valuable art collection it housed.
In spite of having been partially destroyed by the Spaniards, today you can still appreciate part of the original structure of some Inca palaces. The best known are:
The Qoricancha, located in the center of Cusco on Sun Avenue, is an ancient Inca palace dedicated to the cult of the virgins. The Qoricancha, Quechua word meaning 'esplanade of gold or field of gold' was covered with gold before being plundered by the Spanish, according to some historians.
Tambomachay, a stone complex located 20 minutes by bus from the city of Cusco. This palace was dedicated to the cult of water and served as a natural spa.
Qenqo, this Inca temple dedicated to the cult of the moon is located in the area of the Sacsayhuaman archaeological park, and stands out for its peculiar shape, which resembles a labyrinth.
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and it is for this reason that the remains of the ancient city are buried and scattered throughout the city.
Sacsayhuaman, which in Quechua means 'satisfied falcon', is a fortress located on top of a hill, next to the city of Cusco. It stands out for the huge blocks of stone with which it is built, some of these blocks reach more than 5 meters high.
Inquilltambo, these Inca remains recently discovered in the riverbed of the Salineras, southeast of Cusco, are composed of terraces and mostly agricultural constructions. These ruins are accessed through the Sacsayhuaman archaeological park route.
The town of Pisac is located in the Sacred Valley and has a craft fair that is very popular in the area. In the upper part of the town there are Inca terraces that offer an impressive view of the entire valley.
This town was in Inca times a fortress and observation center, as it is strategically located at the crossroads of three valleys. In its streets you can find Inca walls, aqueducts as well as terraces and cultivation terraces.
The Incas probably built Moray with the intention of experimenting with their crops, because in this construction that resembles a coliseum, important temperature differences have been registered between one step and another, so it is believed that here they tested and developed new types of seeds.
Evidence of the experimentation with seeds in the time of the Incas can be seen in the town of Urubamba, where you can find the giant corn of Cusco, unique in the world for the size of its grains and its pleasant flavor.
This town is famous for its weavings and textile industry, in its typical fair there is an innumerable variety of fabrics, wool and factory designs.
A trip to Cusco would not be considered as such, but going to the wonder of the world.
The Inca city rises imposingly between the Andes Mountains and the jungle, showing itself to the world as one of the greatest works of man and can be enjoyed intact even today.
Despite its difficult location, getting to Machu Picchu is relatively simple and can be done in many ways, whether you like comfort or adventure.
There is no excuse for not visiting the Inca's masterpiece, a must-see for all who come to Cusco.
The number 2 spot goes to the famous Rainbow mountain, a natural attraction that amazes every visitor.
The Vinicunca mountain which is located at 5200 m.a.s.l. is the protagonist, also known as the "Rainbow Mountain or Mountain of 7 colors", it belongs to the Ausangate snow-capped mountain, which is the highest in the Vilcanota mountain range, it has become one of the most popular destinations in Cusco.
When you get to the mountain of 7 colors, in one of the many daily tours that are out there, you will not believe in front of this unique spectacle, only the pictures that will be taken will make this incredible experience believable.
The fortress of Sacsayhuaman is one of the most amazing constructions of the Incas.
Located 2 km from the city of Cusco, its incredible cyclopean walls, the towers located on top of the zigzag walls and the huge trapezoidal gates stand out in a very remarkable way.
You can have a fun time sliding down the Suchunas (slideways) or the Chincanas (tunnels).
In Sacsayhuaman, every June 24, the Festival of the Sun called Inti Raymi is held.
Pisac is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac will surprise you in two ways:
First: With its world famous traditional market, with countless stalls between the streets of the town and its main square, in this market you can find handicrafts of all kinds, highlighting ceramics, textiles and silverware.
Second: Behind the town, on top of a mountain, are the best preserved Inca constructions, with magnificent structures such as the Temple of the Sun or its spectacular platform.
Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas like Pisac, is the obligatory stop for all visitors heading to Machu Picchu, and not precisely because of the train station located there, but because of the spectacular archaeological complex located there.
It is an incredible place, as well as for its spectacular Temple of the Sun which is a Monolith of 6 huge rocks that are exactly coupled and is located at the top of the complex.
The town itself is also a delight, with its houses and streets that seem to stand still in time, you can enjoy a pleasant moment in one of its hotels or restaurants that exist.
Ollantaytambo is definitely a place you will not forget.
Chinchero, known worldwide for its weavings, there are countless videos of how the weavings are made.
The weavers of Chinchero have managed to bring weaving once again to the forefront of their community. Chinchero is now internationally recognized as a prominent weaving town whose focus on revitalizing the tradition has also revitalized the community itself.
As Chinchero is located on the road between Cusco and Urubamba in the Sacred Valley, the weavers of the Chinchero Weavers Association give demonstrations to visiting tourists and run a small store offering textiles from all ten communities.
The Humantay Lagoon (5,473 m.a.s.l.) is, without a doubt, one of the most incredible landscapes of Cusco. This natural tourist attraction is located at the foot of the mountain of the same name, on the way to the snow-capped Salkantay.
Getting there is an adventure. You walk through high Andean landscapes where you can see llamas, alpacas, vizcachas and other animals. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
Moray is an archaeological site near Cusco, located in Maras. This Inca construction is characterized by being formed by several circular terraces in a kind of crater and is located at 3500 meters above sea level.
According to many archaeologists, this site was used by the Incas to experiment with grains and plants at different altitudes.
Maras Salt Mines is a unique place, there are thousands of natural salt deposits that the locals use to extract the natural salt known as "sal de maras" and used in gourmet restaurants.
The most beautiful sunrise in the world can be seen from the viewpoint of Tres Cruces de Oro in Paucartambo (Cusco). Also known as the Balcony of the East, because in the distance you can see the Manu Reserve Park in the jungle of Peru (Cusco and Madre de Dios).
This natural spectacle takes place every morning from 4.30 am. The sky is tinged with red, orange and its shades. Every winter solstice (end of June), in Tres Cruces de Oro takes place the so-called "White Ray", an optical illusion that simulates three suns in the distance.
A few kilometers from Cusco there is a theme park where the characters of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Lord of the Rings' were designed in wood. The Huasao wetlands are a natural environment where you can be away from the city and enjoy nature.
This attraction is located in the district of Oropesa. A short distance from there, there is a Jurassic park ideal to visit with the little ones.
Visitors arriving to Machu Picchu by the alternative route of Hidroeléctrica have the option of relaxing in the thermal baths of Cocalmayo.
This natural attraction is located in the town of Santa Teresa, approximately 20 kilometers from Machu Picchu.
The hot springs of Cocalmayo have up to 3 pools with temperatures ranging from 38ºC. to 44ºC. Its waters are clear and have healing and relaxing properties.
Many tourists arrive there on their way or doing the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu to relax.
The last Inca bridge called Q'eswachaka and declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO survives 3 hours from the city of Cusco, in the village of Qhehue. This bridge made of ichu (Andean grass) is approximately 500 years old.
Every two weeks in June, the inhabitants of the surrounding communities rebuild the bridge as their Inca ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Thus, after a 4-day ceremony, the old bridge is replaced by a new one.
This is a new tourist attraction of Cusco, which is becoming a very interesting place to visit, is located about 3 - 4 hours drive from the city of Cusco, is a new colorful mountain.
What makes it a good place to visit is its beautiful landscape and the lagoon that can be seen next to it. It is one of the little known places that you should visit if you are in Cusco for several times already.
Waqrapukara is an archaeological site located in the district of Acos, province of Acomayo, in Cusco. It is located near the Apurimac River at 4300 meters above sea level. It is one of the least known places in Cusco, but in recent years it has become increasingly known through social networks.
This is a new place, it is full of constructions and sculptures carved in stone with representations of an Inca, the Inca's wife, the puma, etc.
For adventure and trekking lovers we have the following routes where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and have unique experiences that you will not forget in your trip to Cusco.
The Inca Trail is considered the best hike in South America. It is a 43 kilometers route through ancient Inca trails to Machu Picchu.
The duration of the tour is 4 days and 3 nights. Tourists have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the landscape with Inca archaeological sites including the Wonder of the World.
One of the most incredible ways to visit Machu Picchu is through the Salkantay trek. This 5-day, 4-night trek crosses the imposing snow-capped mountain of Salkantay and then reaches the Wonder of the World.
The Salkantay is a snow-capped mountain whose name translated from Quechua would mean "Wild Mountain". This summit is known as 'Apu' ('Lord') for its majesty and elevation.
The Inca Jungle Trek is an adventure activity that takes you to Machu Picchu, combining different outdoor activities such as biking, rafting, zip-lining and trekking.
Choquequirao is a spectacular Inca city, located in a remote place near the snowy Salkantay.
It is considered the sister city of Machu Picchu and is as surprising as Machu Picchu. There is no way to get to Choquequirao by car, so you have to hike 60 km and it takes 4 days.
It is not a simple route, but it is full of adventure, with incredible mountain landscapes, abundant Andean flora and fauna. The Inca city of Choquequirao will surprise you pleasantly, it is a place that you can enjoy more quietly, since the visitor traffic is much lower than in Machu Picchu.
It is a unique place in the world, a formidable place shaped by the Incas themselves and that time has preserved until today almost intact.
The Ausangate trek of 5 days. It is the most challenging and amazing trek that exists in the Cusco region as well as the others.
The trail is physically demanding to the maximum, it is considered a high altitude trek, you walk above 5,000 meters above sea level and the campsites are located at more than 4,400 meters above sea level.
But just as all roads lead to Rome, in South America all roads lead to Cusco. Its colonial air, its picturesque streets, its slopes, its squares, its identity, its archaeological sites that are proof of a historical past that refuses to disappear.
Cusco is waiting for you to enjoy its culture, tradition, gastronomy and the best to know the seventh wonder of the world and all its attractions.
Make your trip now!
¿WHY TRAVEL WITH ANDINO PERU TOURS?
We are a Peruvian Agency with Cusco roots, committed to providing you with unique tourism experiences. With our own transportation and a team of dedicated professionals, we aim to show you the best of Peru.
Striving to provide freedom in your travels, through specialized and quality service that ensures a worry-free experience. We take care of every aspect of your journey organization so you can fully enjoy.
We focus on creating unforgettable experiences through an expert team and carefully selected providers. We keep small groups to ensure exceptional service and that you make the most of each tour.
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