This city is located in the southeast part of Peru, near the Andes. It is considered the historic capital.

It was the capital of the Inca Empire and is considered World Heritage by UNESCO, currently one of the most important tourist destinations in Peru.

For this reason, many buildings and streets of pre-Columbian times are found, as well as colonial buildings.

Among its most important historical buildings we can fail to mention the church and convent of La Merced, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the church Iglesia de la Compañia, among others, built in colonial times by the Incas.

Around Cusco lies the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we find impressive forts that include Sacsayhuaman and of course the citadel of Machu Picchu, the most important Historic Sanctuary of the Inca legacy.

In terms of geography, it is located in the middle of the hills, with a dry, temperate climate, with two distinct seasons: dry and wet. The average temperature is 13° C and the wind chill is rather cold, with icy mountain winds. 

History

Cusco was considered the City of the Sun by the ancient Incas and the center of their worship. Here the house of the chosen of the south and the high priest clergy and the clan of the dead emperors stood. In this place large mass ceremonies and festivities such as the Inti Raymi were developed and the Sun Festival which is celebrated in the winter solstice.

The Incas believed that Cuzco was founded by Manco Capac and his sister and wife Mama Ocllo, who arrived at this place from a revelation of the sun god, Inti Raymi. Thus, the city was inhabited 3,000 years before the arrival of the Spaniards.

The original plane of Cusco has a form of a delineated puma, where the Haucaypata central square would be the chest of the puma, and the animal's head in the fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

Then in 1534, Cusco was refounded by Francisco Pizarro, who remained in the central square Plaza de Armas. The town soon became an important cultural and commercial center because it was the route between Lima and Buenos Aires.

Various battles between the Inca aristocracy and Spanish were fought to try to retake the city. However, they failed and the last uprising ended with the execution of Tupac Amaru.

Cusco declared independence in 1821, where the Department of Cusco was created. In 1011 the ruins of Macchu Picchu were explored.

It is considered the Tourist Capital of Peru.

Where to go

San Blas Neighborhood:

In this area you find the artisans and craft shops in the middle of streets and old houses built on foundations dating back to the time of the Incas. It has the oldest parish in the city, built in 1563.

Also, you can find the famous street Hatun Tumiyuq, which connects this district with the Plaza de Armas.

Machu Picchu:

It is an ancient Andean town built on the rocky promontory that links the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains, in the Central Cordillera. It has a height of 2,490 meters of altitude.

It is considered Historical Sanctuary of Peru, as one of the most impressive works of architecture and engineering that the Inca people left. It was also declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It is part of the province of Urubamba.

In Machu Picchu there are two areas that separate the city from the agricultural area. The urban area has 18 buildings and here you find the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Residence, the Grupo de los Morteros which was where the Acllahuasi house of the chosen women were; and the Sacred Plaza, among others where there are water fountains, stables, stairs, patios and workshops.

Sacsayhuamán:

It is a ceremonial fortress built by the Incas which is located north of Cusco. It is the largest architectural work made by the Incas. It is the beginning of the layout of the city, where the "head of the Puma" is located.

It was built to perform rituals in honor of Inti, the Sun God, and even today is where every winter solstice marks the Inti Raymi, where this ancient tradition takes place with music, dance and costumes.

Camino del Inca:

It is the name of the route between the city of Cusco to Machu Picchu, but only accounts for a small part of the network of roads built by the Inca Empire, throughout its territory. Some of them even connected Peru with Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Getting to Machu Picchu takes between 3-4 days and you must pass through an area of high altitude named the Huarmihuañusca Paso which is 4,200 meters high, until you reach the citadel through the Puerta del Sol.

To do

It is the gateway of one of the biggest attractions of Peru, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Cusco is a place to enjoy the history and archeology of the Inca people.

From its historic center with important buildings such as cathedrals, churches and convents, its cobbled streets and typical crafts of the area, to the impressive ruins of the Inca Empire that are found nearby, Cusco is the tourist capital of Peru and ideal for adventurers and lovers of civilizations.

Besides this, it has a lush flora surrounding the sector, with species such as orchids and wild vegetation of moist highland areas.

Cusco is the center of where colonial painting was done, found in the paintings made in the Cathedral of Cusco. In its works you can see the baroque influence mixed with indigenous features that painters gave their creations. Besides religious, folkloric aspects were included with representations of flora and fauna of the highlands.

Recommendations

Economy:

You can change money at the airport, banks and exchange houses. In some sectors the dollar is also accepted. There are ATMs in the city and credit cards can be used.

You can also change money on the street, but it is not recommended.

Transportation:

To move in the city there is public transportation of buses and minibuses that charge a fare. There are also taxis, but do not have taxi meters, so you have to negotiate the fare when getting into the car.

There are buses that reach the Sacred Valley to see Machu Picchu and know other people who are in the area of Urubamba.

The airport in Cusco is the Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport and it receives domestic flights from Lima, Arequipa and some from abroad such as to the city of La Paz in Bolivia.

Communication:

The area code of Cusco is 84. To call from abroad you must dial the international code of Peru which is 51 before it.

Where and what to eat