The ancient capital of the empire, today known as the city of Cusco, forms the main archaeological, cultural, and logistical center for those exploring the Andean region. Therefore, if you are wondering "What to see in Cusco?" you should know that you will find many wonders, from a unique urban layout where Spanish colonial architecture is built directly on Inca foundations, to original megalithic streets and walls of the Inca culture.
The urban design of the historical center allows most of the exploration to be done on foot. This easy access makes it simple to move smoothly between the main squares, traditional food markets, craft workshops, and the great variety of food and drinks located in famous areas like the San Blas neighborhood.
Additionally, to make the most of your visit time, the basic exploration route usually starts with a Cusco City tour. This guided expedition combines the tour through the main temples of the city with motorized transport to reach the archaeological sites. In addition, the city has a large network of hotels to help with the traveler's acclimatization and rest.
The geographic core to start your visit to the city of Cusco is the Main Square of Cusco. Before becoming the city center it is today, this space went through a complex urban and engineering change over the centuries.
Long before the growth of the Inca empire, the area that the square occupies today was a wetland or swamp located between two streams. To solve this, the first Inca rulers started drainage work that was later finished by the Inca Pachacutec, who ordered to dry the land completely and cover it with sand brought from the Peruvian coast.
Moreover, during the peak of the Tahuantinsuyo, this space was much larger. It included the current square (historically called "Huacaypata") and reached up to the current Regocijo Square ("Cusipata"). Both open spaces were divided by the path of the Saphy river, which was channeled underground by Inca engineers. Thus, the open area worked as the religious, administrative, and military center of the empire; it was surrounded by the royal palaces of Pachacutec, Huayna Capac and Viracocha, and it was the main stage for state festivals like the "Inti Raymi".
However, with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century, the shape of the square suffered a drastic change. The Europeans took over the Inca palaces and used them as foundations to build their own big houses, temples, and chapels.
Following this, around 1542, the colonial authorities allowed the construction of buildings in the center of the original open area, completely covering the Saphy river and dividing the large Inca space into three independent squares: the Main Square (current Main Square), the Regocijo Square, and the Merced Small Square. Later, in 1545, the removal of the coastal sand from the ground was ordered to use it in the building mix of the new Cusco Cathedral.
Today, the Main Square keeps its status as the heart of the historical center. On an architectural level, the edge shows a clear mixed colonial style that rests visibly on Inca walls. Furthermore, the two huge Catholic temples that flank it (The Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus) keep their religious function and work at the same time as museums with an entry fee. Finally, the colonial portals that surround the square house today the largest concentration of tourist services in the city, including travel agencies, exchange houses, jewelry stores, and a wide food offer.
The city of Cusco Peru houses a large network of museum sites that are essential to understand the chronological evolution of the region, from the peak of the Tahuantinsuyo to the consolidation of the colonial period. Most of these collections are protected inside colonial buildings built directly on top of pre-Columbian foundations.
Below, three of the most relevant historical institutions in the urban center are detailed:
Also known as the Archaeological Museum of Cusco, this site is managed by the UNSAAC. It works inside the Admiral's House, an early 17th-century colonial building originally built by the magistrate Francisco Aldrete Maldonado and structurally restored after the earthquakes of 1650 and 1950. The museum guards one of the most complete archaeological collections of the Inca civilization, showing metallurgy, jewelry, textiles, bone remains (trepanned skulls), and a unique collection of ceremonial pottery.
This religious and museum complex was built at the beginning of the 17th century on the stone bases of the Acllawasi (the Inca site meant for the "chosen women" or virgins of the sun). The order was founded in 1601 in Arequipa by Lucía Rivera de Padilla, but due to earthquake activity, the professed nuns were moved to Cusco in 1605.
On an architectural level, the cloister shows a late Renaissance style with round arches. Its collection stands out for housing tapestries from the colonial era and a vast display of canvases from the Cusco School (17th and 18th centuries), notably gathered in the chapter house.
Located a few meters from the Main Square, this complex was entirely rebuilt after the 1680 earthquake. Its architecture, designed by Spaniards and executed by Quechua builders, features a wide main nave, a neoclassical high altar supported by Corinthian columns, and a Cusco Baroque style bell tower.
In 1946, Pope Pius XII gave it the title of Minor Basilica. The museum, located on the first floor of the main cloister, protects pieces of endless historical and liturgical value, highlighting a monumental solid gold monstrance with precious stones, in addition to canvases by the Cusco masters Basilio Santa Cruz and Ignacio Chacón that illustrate the life of Saint Peter Nolasco.
Santa Catalina Museum, Cusco
It is the most important temple in the times of the Inca civilization, known as the Temple of the Sun - Qoricancha in Quechua means courtyard of gold and this because before the invasion of the Spanish, in the whole temple you could find gold statues life-size, a huge gold solar disk, gold altars, and solid gold panels that covered the walls. The Incas worshiped the Sun, and when it illuminated the Qoricancha, the reflection represented the golden glory. At the time of the conquest, all the gold was taken from the temple, despite it is an archaeological site that deserves to be visited during your stay in Cusco.
According to the Inca conception, the Qorikancha was the religious center of Cusco, geographical and political center. The temple of the Qorikancha, was the place where the Inti god (sun) paid homage to the maximum Inca god. "Qori" means gold worked and "Kancha" means enclosed place, limited by walls. The name of the place corresponds approximately to "fenced place containing gold".Here you can find the famous Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, Temple of Venus and the stars ,The Temple of Illapa or Chuki Illapa and The Temple of K'uychi or Rainbow Temple.
Located just a few blocks uphill from the Main Square, San Blas is one of the areas that best represents the urban layout of the historical centre. Architecturally and topographically, it features a network of narrow, winding and steep cobblestone streets flanked by colonial-style houses that retain their original foundations.
Located a few blocks from the Main Square (Plaza de Armas), the San Pedro Central Market is the main supply center for the city area. This place not only supplies the local people but also gives the traveler a direct look at the variety of farm products, traditional food, and the social and economic life of the Andean region.
Between April and August there is a dry season with warm temperatures in Peru. This time is considered the most popular time for Machu Picchu and is also best if you want to combine a visit Cusco city with a trekking tour. In addition, the high season offers incredible photo opportunities with bright blue skies. These advantages, of course, attract a large number of tourists. You should also keep in mind that the Inca Trail only allows a certain number of tourists, so book early!
September to March is the rainy season in Peru and a lot of rain is to be expected. It is therefore possible that some of the trekking routes are impassable. However, you will meet very few tourists at this time. What also makes the months of September and March so special is that Peru's flora and fauna can be seen in all their glory at this time. If you prefer it dry, you should definitely avoid the months of December to March.
Note: From February the Inca Trail tours will be closed for maintenance!
You don't want to visit Machu Picchu in the rainy season or with many others? Then the above months are just right for you. At this time the weather is more stable and it rains far less, but there are still far fewer tourists than in the high season. This is how Machu Picchu can be explored in a relaxed manner!
All trips to Machu Picchu usually start and end in the city of Cusco at 3460 m above sea level. M. Since Cusco is a good 1000 m higher than Machu Picchu, the average temperatures in Cusco are about 8 to 10 degrees lower than in Machu Picchu. The weather in Cusco is more stable than in Machu Picchu, that is, when it rains in Machu Picchu it can be sunny in Cusco, the opposite case is rather rare.
Similar to Machu Picchu, the best time to travel to Cusco is from March to November. From May to September there is a dry season in Cusco, rain is rather rare at this time of the year, but thunderstorms are always possible. During this time of the year, the day and night temperatures fall or rise sharply, during the day it can get well over 20 degrees warm in the sun. On nights when the sky is cloudless, temperatures often drop below zero at higher altitudes. Below you can find the top trips to Machu Picchu:
If the Inca Trail was not booked early enough to reserve a place in time, there are alternative trekking routes that offer a similar experience.
The Salkantay Trek tours, Lares Trek, Inca Quarry Trail and Inca Jungle Trek are recommended. All these tours end with a visit to Machu Picchu. Even last-minute hikers can find their tour on old Inca trails such as Choquequirao to Machu Picchu.
+51 84 226 547
+51 912 891 560
Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru 
info@salkantaytrekmachu.com
www.salkantaytrekmachu.com
