Cusco is one of the main cities in Peru. It is also recognized as the Archaeological Capital of America because it is home to numerous Inca historical sites. The most important of all, without a doubt, is Machu Picchu. There you can also see museums, churches, adventure sports, nightlife, festivities, nature and much more.

Historic Center of Cusco

• The Historic Center of Cusco is the most important urban center of the city. Tourists from all over the world gather there to appreciate the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Cusco as well as to go shopping, visit the bars or cafes.
• The Arms Square – This space was a swamp before the Incas who dried it and built their most important temples around it. With the Spanish invasion, the Inca temples were destroyed and Catholic temples were built in their place.Today it is the most important urban center of the city.
• The Cathedral – The most important Catholic temple in the city. It is made up of 3 buildings: the Cathedral Basilica, the Temple of Triumph and the Temple of the Sagrada Familia. The Incas built the Inca Wiracocha Palace there, which was destroyed by the Spanish invasion. Inside there are paintings, sculptures and ornaments that symbolize the Andean and Catholic cultures.

Museums and Churches in Cusco

• Cusco has 11 churches with great architectural and historical value where different artistic works are exhibited. One of the most important is the Cathedral of Cusco. There are also dozens of museums that exhibit the life, work, culture and worldview of the Incas. One of the most important is the Inca Museum.

  Churches:

  • Church of the Company of Jesus – This religious temple was built on the palace of the Inca Huayna Cápac. Its baroque design is one of the most beautiful in the city. It was built by the Jesuits in approximately 1650.
  • Church of Santo Domingo – This religious temple  was built on the walls of the Inca temple of Coricancha. Its construction was completed in 1633. Its baroque design suffered damage in the earthquake of 1650.
  • Church and Convent of Santa Catalina – Church built in 1605 on the important Inca site known as the ‘Aqllahuasi’ (House of the Chosen Ones). Inside this temple there are important artistic samples such as paintings, sculptures and more.
  • Church of San Francisco – This temple was built by the San Francisco de Asís company approximately in 1549. It is the oldest temple in Cusco. Inside it houses important artistic samples such as the canvas of the Franciscan family (12 x 9 meters).
  • Andahuaylillas Church – This temple is called San Pedro Apóstol but it is popularly known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ for its ornament full of canvases from the Cusco school. It is located 45 kilometers south of the city of Cusco.

  Museums:

  • Inca Museum – This museum is one of the most important in the city. It is located a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, in the old ‘Admiral’s House’. Its exhibition includes Inca vessels, clothing, mummies and gold and silver objects.
  • Museum of Pre-Columbian Art – This museum exhibits pre-Inca objects such as: wood carvings, gold and silver work, ceramics, textiles and much more. It is located in the city of Cusco at: Plazoleta Nazarenas 231.
  • Machu Picchu Museum of Casa Concha –This museum shows the pieces found in the excavations of Machu Picchu during its discovery. It is located on Santa Catalina Ancha Avenue in the city of Cusco.
  • Machu Picchu Site Museum – This museum is located in the town of Aguas Calientes, a few kilometers from Machu Picchu. It exhibits some pieces found in the excavations carried out in the Inca City.
  • Coricancha Site Museum – This museum shows pieces found in the Coricancha temple. It also includes interactive pieces that explain the lifestyle of the Incas. It is located in the archaeological site of Coricancha.
• Machu Picchu was named “a fantastic city above the clouds,” and mentioned among the 10 most amazing spiritual destinations in the world by the prestigious “Skyroad” magazine.
• 2016: Machu was declared the best destination in the world by the world’s largest travel community, TripAdvisor.

Archaeological Sites in Cusco

• Cusco is recognized as the archaeological capital of America since it is home to dozens of Inca sites in good condition. One of the most important sites is Sacsayhuaman (3,600 meters above sea level) whose immense stone walls hold many mysteries. Another of the most important Inca complexes is the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) whose walls were adorned with gold until the Spanish invasion.

  • Sacsayhuaman – A ceremonial center and Inca fortress built in the 15th century with enormous stone walls weighing more than 125 tons. Its construction is still a mystery. There the last Incas rebelled against Spanish rule in Cusco. Today it is one of the main tourist attractions of the city.
  • Qenqo – An Inca urban and religious center located within the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Complex. It has underground galleries as well as a kind of amphitheater and other stone buildings. There the Incas carried out religious rituals of great importance.
  • Puca Pucara – This archaeological site was a military fortress with high quality walls, terraces and staircases.Its name is a Quechua word that means ‘Red Fortress’ for the color that its walls acquire at dusk.
  • Tambomachay – This enclosure was a resting place for the Inca. It is known as ‘The Inca Baths’because there is a hydraulic system so well built that it continues to transfer water even today.
  • Qoricancha – This temple was the most important in Cusco and in the entire Inca empire. It was dedicated to the sun and all the most important deities: the moon, the stars, the earth. According to the chroniclers, its walls were covered with gold and silver. The Spanish looted the temple and built the current Convent of Santo Domingo on its walls.
  • Tipon – This Inca enclosure was the best hydraulic work that the Incas built. It has a system of platforms and gutters that continues to pour water to this day. This place is located approximately 25 kilometers south of Cusco.

Nights in Cusco

The city of Cusco is one of the most important nightlife spots in Peru. There are bars, pubs, nightclubs and more. Tourists from all over the world gather in these nightlife centers. That is why the streets of Cusco acquire a unique atmosphere at night.