Top 5 Things to Do in Cuzco
Called the navel of the world, Cuzco was the economic and political capital of the Inca empire, the Tahuantinsuyo. This city at the gateway to the Sacred Valley is in itself a treasure for tourists, through its architectural, cultural and gastronomic wealth.
Cuzco: what you absolutely must do or see!
Top 5: places to visit in Cuzco, the navel of the world
Called the navel of the world, Cuzco was the economic and political capital of the Inca empire, the Tahuantinsuyo. This city at the gateway to the Sacred Valley is in itself a treasure for tourists, through its architectural, cultural and gastronomic wealth. Cuzco was moreover designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The streets of Cuzco are filled with charming corners, nice restaurants and particularities to see during your stay in Pérou. We propose a top 5 of places to absolutely see in Cuzco or in its very close surroundings, if you spend only a few days on site and a large part of that time will be used to get to Machu Picchu.
5 ideas of places to visit in Cuzco during your trip to Pérou
The ruins around Cuzco
Upon arriving in Cuzco, you will have hastened to purchase the boleto turístico or your travel agent will have taken care of obtaining this tourist ticket for you, in order to visit the most beautiful ruins of the Sacred Valley. But among the large number of archaeological sites present in the region, there are at least 4 that you absolutely must see and which are located very close to each other, only 8 km from Cuzco. These are Sacsayhuamán, Tambo Machay, Puca Pucará and Qenqo.
Take the opportunity once on the bus to admire the impressive mountain landscapes of this Andean region and to enjoy a "choclo con queso" (giant corn with cheese) sold by locals at the entrance of the various archaeological sites.
The museums of Cuzco
Even if once in Cuzco you may not feel like shutting yourself in museums, when the entire region is a sort of open-air museum on Inca civilization, you might still enjoy visiting at least one! We recommend the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, as it contains a multitude of objects and artworks from the pre-Columbian era, as well as from the colonial period. It is easy to observe handcrafted objects, in gold, sculptures, pottery, paintings, as well as numerous exhibitions on the cultures Chimu, Nazca, Chancay, Mochica, Inca and Huari. In other words, you will have in one place a complete overview of the cultures and civilizations that shaped Pérou before the arrival of the Spanish. Admission to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum costs approximately 20 soles.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am-10pm
Address: Plaza Nazarenas, 231
Here are other interesting museums to discover in the city of Cuzco:
- The Inca Museum
- The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
- The Regional History Museum
- The Religious Art Museum
- The Cacao and Chocolate Museum
The Qorikancha
The Qorikancha temple is the place to absolutely see during your stay in Cuzco. On one hand because it was the most sacred temple of the Incas, expert archaeologists estimate that more than 4,000 priests devoted worship to the elements of nature, and on the other hand because it is the best example of the fusion of Inca culture and Spanish conquistadors.
This temple was adorned with precious stones, tons of gold, silver plates, etc.—an impressive amount of riches that attracted the covetousness of the Spanish and which precipitated the Inca empire to its downfall, following plundering and massacres of personalities to reveal other temples, cities, gold caches, etc. It is possible to visit the Qorikancha for 10 soles, or with your tourist ticket.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 5:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm to 5:00pm
The Plaza de Armas
As in all cities in Pérou, the Plaza de Armas is a must-visit location as they are generally very floral and monuments, churches or public buildings are present. The Plaza de Cuzco is truly worth the detour, as you will find several churches, the cathedral, and in the center of the square a fountain topped by the Inca Pachacutec. It is precisely on this square that Cusqueños and Cusqueñas celebrate on June 24th, Inti Raymi, an Inca festival to honor the sun god.
On the Plaza de Armas of Cuzco, you will not know where to start as there is so much to see or photograph, with the peaks of the Andes in the background. You can start by visiting the Church of the Compañía, moreover the entrance is free! This church built by the Jesuits was constructed on the palace of the Inca Huayna Cápac, in order to show Peruvians that the Christian religion was imposed on the ancient cultures.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am-12:15pm 3:00pm-4:00pm
It is impossible to leave the Plaza de Armas of Cuzco without visiting the Cathedral and the Iglesia del Triunfo, two Christian buildings constructed over the palace of Wiracocha. It is possible to enter the cathedral by means of your tourist ticket (boleto turístico). Do not hesitate to enter this superb religious building to observe the many sculptures and paintings of the Cuzco school
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-11:30am 2:00pm-5:30pm, Sunday 2:00pm-5:30pm
The San Blas neighborhood
Rather unknown to tourists, the San Blas neighborhood is nonetheless just a few hundred meters from the Plaza de Armas of Cuzco and offers a multitude of small charming places to eat, shop, wander through narrow streets, observe Peruvians creating local handicrafts, etc.
The San Blas neighborhood being elevated compared to the rest of the city, it is possible to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the entire city. Be sure to take a look at the San Blas church
