A Guide For Attractions Around Cusco Peru

An Overview of Cusco

High in the Peruvian Andes, Cusco is one of the world’s most influential ancient cities, once serving as the towering capital of the prominent Inca Empire. Much of the city’s original fortifications, structure and ancient buildings remain, overlayed with Spanish Colonial Architecture. The city, which retains numerous forts, temples, administrative buildings and relics, is one of the most archeologically profound locations in Peru. Furthermore, it’s access to stunning mountains, colorful highlands, crystal-clear lakes and impressive canyons makes Cusco a favored destinations for hikers and explorers. The city itself is a fully declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. With it’s long history, modern tourism features, numerous outdoor activities and amazing architecture, there are countless unique attractions around Cusco.

Advice When Visiting Cusco

Cusco and many other cities in Peru are best visited through long-distance buses. This is an affordable way to see cast swaths of the country.

Most things in Cusco are open from 8 AM to 5 PM, with most sites, museums and attractions conforming to this schedule, give or take an hour.

Photos in Qorikancha are prohibited to maintain the integrity of the art, Many of the images are delicate and old.

Boleto del Cusco is the catch-all ticket which allows visitors to see most of Cusco’s most famous attractions over ten days.  With the ticket, travelers are essentially paying for all sites at once, which is far cheaper than paying individual entrance fees. Note that the Boleto del Cusco cannot be purchased online, but it can be bought when visiting any of the sites included on the ticket. Otherwise, the Boleto del Cusco can be purchased in the main tourism office in central Cusco.

Uber Services and other rideshares are the best method for getting around Cusco.  Taxis generally cost foreigners a substantially higher amount of money and bus schedules, while cheaper, are a little harder to figure out.  Note, that an Uber taking someone into the mountains will need the ride canceled and paid for in cash, since the program or internet service doesn’t connect out that far.

The salesmen selling a large portfolio of paintings in Plaza de Armas will follow tourists around if they engage. These men always offer drugs are painfully difficult to disengage from. Be polite and continue walking swiftly.

Bus rides around Cusco are generally around two to four soles, depending on the route.

Unique Attractions Around Cusco

Around Cusco’s Historic District

Monumento Inca Pachacutec

Situated atop a 22.40-meter tall stone tower, this large statue depicts Pachacutec, the Inca creator of Machu Picchu.

San Pedro Market

This is a popular, bustling covered market space with numerous stalls selling produce, clothes, snacks, trinkets and fresh juices. The smoothies found here are especially popular with foreigners.

Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo

For visitors interested in local art forms, this is a modest theater which offers affordable, frequent public performances showcasing Peruvian folk music and dances. There are additional theater performances and musical events as well.

Qorikancha Site Museum

This is a wonderfully ornate museum hosting a wide collection of artifacts, Inca relics and colonial artworks. The museum has pre-Inca, Inca, colonial pieces and overlooks of the gardens below on display. Originally, Qorikancha was the most important temple in the entire Inca Empire, also known as the Golden Temple or the Inti Sun God Temple.

Museo de Arte Popular

Though small, this astonishing cultural museum depicts the techniques used for popular traditional arts found in the region, including ceramic designs, traditional mask creations and contemporary artworks.

Regional Historical Museum of Cusco

This museum is filled with Incan artworks, excavated relics, colonial paintings, Jesuit sculptures, pre-Inca artifacts and more all within the former home of famous local writer Garcilazo de la Vega

Plaza Kusipata

Located within walking distance of Cuzco Main Square, this is a tree-lined plaza space with a peaceful fountain, nearby cafés and access to the nearby Chocolate Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art of the Municipality of Cusco.

Museum of Contemporary Art of the Municipality of Cusco

This is a contemporary art museum dedicated to both modern and classic artworks native to Cusco.

Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas, better known as the Cuzco Main Square, is the central plaza of the city. The area is thronged with tourists, green lawns and beds of flowers. The area is also home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings, such as the Cusco Cathedral, the Church of the Society of Jesus and numerous eateries.

Cusco Cathedral

Widely considered the grand cathedral of Cusco, this massive structure was built during the 16th-and17th-centuries. The interior is filled with rare and masterful colonial-era paintings.

Green Point Restaurant

This is an extraordinarily healthy and popular restaurant which serves traditional Peruvian meals and offers a plant-based menu.

Coca Museum

This is a small, enjoyable museum which touches on the history of coca. The museum includes a gift shop selling a wide array of natural products.

Huaca Sapantiana

Also known as Sapantiana Arch, this is a colonial aquaduct built along the P’ujru River. While the smell near the structure isn’t great, the narrow stream of water falling down the stairs under the archway is a popular photography destination.

Around the Northern Portion of Cusco

Saqsaywaman

Often spelled Saqsaywaman or Xacxaguaman, this is a major Inca citadel on the northern outskirts of Cusco. The structure was buried by the Spanish to prevent it from being used as an invasion point, but it was uncovered and used to launch several attacks against occupied Cusco. Saqsaywaman is known for its large fields, incredible overlooks and impressive interlocking stone defenses. The enormous boulders and construction techniques used to make this fortification are difficult to overstate.

Muyuq Marka

Sometimes called Muyuqmarka, this is a major archaeological site near Saqsaywaman. The structure is the ruined base of a round Inca tower. The site was also used as a Temple of Inti, the sun god in the Inca belief system.

Rodadero

Often called the Rodadero Slides for its unique formation, this huge rock formation is located near Saqsaywaman. The structure was originally built by the native Killke Culture, but it was eventually expanded upon by the Incas. Rodadero has carved benches, installed steps, several altars and other ceremonial features, serving as both a military and ceremonial site. From this site, visitors can also reach the Inca Megalithic Throne at Saqsaywaman.

Christo Blanco

High above the city of Cusco, this monument depicts Jesus Christ with outstretched arms, an enormous structure than can be seen across the city.

Q’enco Archaeological Complex

This is a unique megalithic site carved from a massive, solid rock face. This naturalistic temple structure works as a small maze, with narrow tunnels and paths carved from rock.

Bosequ de Eucaliptos de K’enko

This is a wonderful eucalyptus forest with imposing trees. The small, peaceful forest is located around the nearby temple ruins of Templo Kernel.

Temple Archäologischer Platz

Also known as El Templo de los Monos, this small temple site is unique for its subtle carvings, which includes a sacred puma sculpture, tiny caves and small monkeys.

Chukimarka

Found along narrow, rugged hiking trails to the north of the city, this is a cave-structure hidden in a shallow valley. The area is generally populated by roaming sheep herds.

Templo de la Luna

Found after about a twenty-minute walk away from the main road, this amazing temple is incorperated into a massive, rocky cliff face. The landscape in the surrounding area is likewise quite beautiful. Many of the weathered carvings and celestial alignment points are difficult to find here, so it’s recommended to bring a guide for information while sightseeing.

Qapaq Nam

This quiet temple platform overlook is found past a quiet river valley hike.

Puka Pukara Archaeological Complex

This is a major fortification destination installed by the Inca Empire. The fort has clear, controlling views overlooking both the Cusco valley and the nearby structure of Tambomachay.

Tambomachay

Called El Baño del Inca by the Spanish, this is an ancient, archaeological site developed by the Inca Empire. The area is filled with numerous canals, aqueducts and waterfalls that run freely through the terraced rocks. However, the exact function of the site is unknown, though many have theorized it was an Inca spa, a military outpost or royal hunting complex.

Around the South-Eastern Area of Cusco

Bosque Natural Recreativo de los Ents

Located in the small sister towns of Saylla and Huasao, this is an artwork-mountain forested area populated by massive wooden humanoids, best known as the Ents from Lord of the Rings. Created by a local artist to attract tourism to his towns, these massive wooden sculptures depict different Ent figures seen in the LOTR books and movies. There are also other wooden carvings and artworks scattered around the mountainside as well.

Humedal de Duasao

Located again in the small town of Huasao, this is a large, wetland park filled with strange, supersized sculptures. Visitors can enjoy the quiet nature while passing statues of movie characters, giant birds, huge snakes and lounging mermaids.

Tipon Archaeological Park

Located atop a large, rounded hill, the Tipon Ruins are a massive defensive complex surrounding a natural spring. The numerous ruins and fields contain still-operation irrigation systems and numerous ceremonial buildings.

Parque de Dinosaurios Oropesa

Found just north of the small town of Oropesa, this park is filled with life-sized dinosaur sculptures for children’s entertainment.

Pikillacta

This large stone complex of narrow alleys, stacked rocks and endless rooms was once the central village and significant settlement of the Wari People. The Wari culture was a pre-Inca culture which is thought to have diminished during a series of crippling droughts which brought on tribalism and rival warring states. The Wari’s amazing engineering techniques later influenced the Inca Tahuantinsuyo Empire.

Rumicolca

Though Rumicolca was originally a Wari aqueduct and water-management system, when the Inca empire eventually inherited the region, the converted the structure into a daunted defensive gate leading down the valley.

Around the North-Eastern Area of Cusco

Awana Kancha

This is a large hillside farm which breeds alpaca, llama and vicuña. The farm specializes in locally made produces using the animal’s fur. There is no entrance fee to visit and the farm offers weaving demonstrations for guests.

Pisac

Pisac is a village north of Cusco known for it’s handicrafts market and active main square. however, the region is most famous for the nearby Pisac Archaeological Park, which contains a vast hilltop citadel built by the Inca. The massive complex includes walkways, fortifications, ancient temples, plazas and the legendary Intihuatana Stone, thought to be an ancient sundial. The views from the park are incredible with terraced platforms leading into long, winding valleys.

Potatoe Park (Parque de la Papa)

Found slightly north of Pisac, this is a massive sustainable farming project dedicated to the protection of potato biodiversity. The local farming communities in the region have fostered eight known cultivated species and over 2,300 varieties of the known native species. The park can be visited, learned about and worked upon, but advance bookings are required.

Around the North-Western Area of Cusco

Morada de los Dioses

Also known as the Dwelling of the Gods or Apukunaq Tianan, this is a massive outdoor art park with truly astonishing carvings. The area is home to huge sculptures emerging from cliffs as well as numerous buildings filled with smaller but equally impressive sculptures, masks and designs. The complex offers stunning views over the lowlands and unique cliff viewing points.

Umasbamba

This is a small village found on the outskirts of the Cusco Region. The village is especially famous for its marketplace and traditional weaving culture. The area is home to numerous shops and small museums proudly displaying this intricate art.

Chinchero District

This is a district community located somewhat outside of Cusco. The area is especially well known for its large archeology site, the Centro Arqueológico de Chinchero. These ruins once served as the palace for the Inca Emperor Túpac Yupanqui. Other features within the district include the paddleboarding lake of Puray, the traditional community of Umasbamba and the nearby ruins of Machu Colca.

Moray Incan Archaeological Site

Moray is one of the most unique Inca structures in the world, a strange inverse platform of concentric circles at decreasing elevations. The iconic concentric terraces are scenic, but their exact purpose remains a mystery. Archeologists have suggested that the design provides a range of temperatures, wind and sunlight across the different levels. It’s thought that this structure was used for farming, as different soil samples were brought from different regions. It’s possible that each level created a micro-climate to test different crops, essentially creating an open experimental greenhouse. Other theories have suggested the site is a pit mine converted into a terraced farm.

Salineras de Maras

This astonishing site is made of more than 3,000 natural salt wells fed by an underground salt river. The river is mentioned in Inca mythology, with the tears of a weeping god causing its saltiness. The area essentially operates as an open-air salt mine, with water being channeled into a pool before being blocked off. After a few days, intense evaporation leaves behind pure salt crystals which is collected and sold.

Ñaupa Iglesia

Also called Choquequilla, this site is an ancient Inca huaca shrine, constructed within a small cave opening near the present-day town of Pachar. A huaca (or wak’a) is a sacred monument built along a ceremonial pilgrimage route. Ñaupa Iglesia can be reached by climbing past a series of terraces.

Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is a major Incan settlement found on the banks of the Urubamba river. The town is often visited by travelers heading towards Machu Picchu, since Ollantaytambo has the major direct train line to the region and the trailheads for most of the trekking routes. Ollantaytambo is a stone town with a large market space, rushing urban canals and numerous artworks and eateries. The city is built on an Inca-era grid of cobblestone streets. However, Ollantaytambo is also home to many prominent Inca attractions, including the Templo del Sol, Ruinas Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo Sanctuary, and the Pumamarca Ruins.

Day Trips to the South-East of Cusco

Q’eswachaka Rope Bridge

This is one of the most unusual and iconic attractions in the region. The Q’eswachaka Rope Bridge is an example of Incan handweaving techniques. This bridge is the final remaining example of Inca woven grass structures spanning the vast gorges found throughout the Andes. 

7 Lagunas de Ausangate 

These seven, glacier-carved, dramatic, perfectly blue lagoons rest at the base of white-capped mountains. The lagoons are a magical place to trek and the route leading through the area is one of the most popular, rugged, long distance hiking trails in the region. For safety, guides are recommended. Due to the high altitude, the weather in this region is often cold and dehydration occurs much faster.

Cañón de Ananiso 

This is a sheer and dramatic canyon to the south-east of Cusco with dark stone walls and vast mountains of grass bordering it. Visiting the canyon and surrounding lands is considered one of the best indigenous hiking activities in the region.

Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain

This is an series of mountains with a multitude of minerals creating “rainbow waves” along the ridgeline. The path is often busy with tourists making the hike, so expect there to be wait times when following the trail. The route around Palccoyo is fairly level, making this an easy hike. This mountain path is often compared to Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, which is generally far steeper and far more crowded.

Valle Rojo Pitumarca Rio Rojo

This is a rich, red-earth valley area to the south-east of Cusco. The bright color of the soil is almost impossible to overstate, with runoff turning mountain streams a bright, churning pink.

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

This is an extremely popular, colorful mountain to the Southeast of Cusco. Often compared with Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain, this mountain sees far larger crowds and is considerably steeper.

Read more about unique attractions around Cusco and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.

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