Cusco

Information

It is a city located in the Andean zone of Peru, at about 3400 metres above sea level. It is crossed by the Huatanay River.

It receives many national and foreign tourists who come to visit the attractions of the city and its surroundings. It is also a good starting point to visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, thanks to its location, availability of transport and infrastructure to receive visitors.

The city has hotels of a wide range of comfort and prices. To eat there are from pizzerias to restaurants offering typical dishes. In the centre you will find innumerable handicraft stalls where you can buy souvenirs and articles such as weavings, paintings, etc.

Regarding its history, it was first the capital of the Reino del Cusco o de los Incas (kingdom of Cusco or of the Incas), and then of the Inca Empire. When the Spaniards arrived, its occupation was one of the main objectives of the conquistadors and it became part of the viceroyalty of Peru. These events mean that today we can still see remains of the Inca culture and of the colonial period.

Given the amount of cultural and religious attractions that the city has, if you want to see most of them, it is recommended to have at least 2 days. Although the sites can be reached on foot, it should be taken into account that Cusco is at a high altitude and you should always avoid getting tired or overdoing the physical effort, and it may be advisable to take a taxi to the attractions that are somewhat remote.

Among the main sites within the city we can mention:
- Plaza de Armas (main square).
- Coricancha: the Templo del Sol Inca (Temple of the Inca Sun) over which the Spaniards built the convent of Santo Domingo.
- Churches such as the Catedral (Cathedral), San Blas, San Francisco and Santa Clara.
- Museums such as the Histórico Regional (Regional Historical), the Arte Popular (Popular Art), the Arte Contemporáneo (Contemporary Art) and several others.

Take into account that in several of the attractions of the city it is necessary to buy a tourist ticket, which can be obtained in the city itself.