Cusco
The golden navel of the Inca empire and a highland sanctuary where Spanish Baroque churches sit on Inca stone walls.
Overview
Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire, and the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are reached from here. It is full of ancient mystery.
History
Cusco, whose name means navel in Quechua, became the capital of the Inca empire from the 12th century and had 300,000 inhabitants at its height. In 1533 the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro took the city and used the stone walls of Inca palaces and temples as foundations for colonial buildings. The cathedral on the Plaza de Armas was built over the Inca temple of Viracocha, creating a striking layering of civilisations. It became a World Heritage Site in 1983 and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.
Highlights
- •The Coricancha, where Inca and Spanish colonial architecture overlap
- •Authentic Peruvian food such as cuy and pisco sour
- •The vast Sacsayhuamán fortress above the city
- •A day hike to Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca
- •Inca art treasures in the Museo Inka
Practical tips
- •Allow time to acclimatise to the altitude
- •Buy Machu Picchu train tickets in advance
Practical information
- Best time
- May to October
- Tickets
- Boleto Turístico about PEN 130, covering ten sites
- Opening hours
- City open all day; sights roughly 7:00 to 18:00
- Local food
- Roast guinea pig, quinoa soup and purple corn drink
- Getting around
- Machu Picchu is reached by train to Aguas Calientes; book tickets and entry in advance
- Visa
- A tourist visa is required; holders of a valid US, Schengen or UK visa may enter visa-free, subject to Peruvian immigration announcements.
Traveller reviews
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