Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is Cuzco's graceful main square, and is lined
with colonial-style covered walkways, and houses that contain
souvenir shops. Visitors will also find bars, restaurants and
travel agencies. A large cathedral is the most prominent structure
overlooking the square. Its elaborately carved wooden altar is
covered in gold and silver plate, and its carved wooden choir
stalls are regarded as Peru's finest. Cathedral visitors usually
linger over The Last Supper painting, which portrays Jesus Christ
and his disciples gathered around a table, which presents a platter
of the local Inca delicacy, cuy (roasted guinea pig). La Compania
is also on the plaza. It's one of Cuzco's most ornately decorated
churches and is often floodlit at night. History lovers should make
a point of walking the alleyway of Loreta, as it's lined with Incan
stone walls.
Church of la Compañía de Jesus, Cusco,
Peru
D. Gordon E. Robertson
Coricancha Inca Ruins
The sacred complex of Coricancha was considered the centre of
the Inca world. Its name means something like 'Golden Enclosure',
though Inca stonework is all that remains of the ancient Temple of
the Sun. The walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid
gold, and the courtyard was filled with golden statues. Spanish
reports tell of opulence that was 'fabulous beyond belief'. Spanish
colonists constructed the Church of Santa Domingo on the site,
destroying the temple and using its foundations for the cathedral.
Major earthquakes have severely damaged the church, though the Inca
stone walls still stand, and are a testament to their superb
architectural skills and sophisticated stone masonry. Visitors will
find an underground archaeological site museum nearby. It contains
a number of interesting pieces, including mummies, textiles and
sacred idols. Tourists will have the best experience if they
explore the site with a guide, as good tours provide context and
bring the place to life.
Address: Pampa del Castillo at Plazoleta Santo Domingo.
Coricancha Inca Ruins, Peru
Håkan Svensson
Sacsayhuamán
Of the four ruins near Cuzco, Sacsayhuamán is the closest and
most remarkable. Spanish conquistadors used it as a quarry during
their day, given its proximity to Cuzco and the dimensions of its
stones. Indeed, the site provided many of the materials for the
city's colonial buildings. The Spanish destroyed the original
complex to such an extent that little is known about the actual
purpose these magnificent buildings once served. That said, the
complex is usually referred to as a fortress because of its high,
impenetrable walls. Some believe it may just as easily have been a
religious or ceremonial centre. The ruins cover an enormous area,
but only 40 percent of the original complex remains. History lovers
must visit, as the site offers a fine example of the Inca's
extraordinary stone masonry. According to estimates, the complex
took about 100 years to build, requiring thousands of labourers.
The massive blocks of stone fit together perfectly without the aid
of mortar. Each one weighs between 90 and 125 tonnes, and stands
around 16ft (5m) tall.
History buffs will note that the Inca and Spanish fought at the
centre during the infamously bloody battle of 1536. The conflict
left thousands of native people dead, providing food for circling
condors. Since then, Cuzco's Coat of Arms has featured eight
condors in memory of the event. Today, the site holds the annual
celebrations of Cuzco's most important festival, Inti Raymi: the
sun festival. Tourists should attend the colourful and spectacular
affair if at all possible.
Transport: A steep 40 minute (2km) walk up from the Plaza de
Armas.
Sacsayhuaman, Peru
Leon Petrosyan
Cuzco has a sub-tropical highland climate, which is
characterised by dry, temperate weather. There are two defined
seasons: the dry season (April to October) and the rainy season
(November to March). The dry season is mild and sunny, with
temperatures ranging between 32°F (0°C) and 68°F (20°C), while the
wet season has similar temperatures but fewer sunny days. Rain
tends to come in short downpours and the sun is seldom gone for
long.
Hiking can be uncomfortable in the rainy season, and the Inca
Trail closes for maintenance in February. Hail and frost are fairly
common in Cuzco, but snow is virtually unheard of. Incidentally,
Cuzco has the highest ultraviolet light level on Earth, making it
extremely important that tourists protect themselves from sun
damage.
June, July and August are the most popular months to do the Inca
Trail, and visitors generally prefer the dry season. However, the
wet season can be beautiful in the mountains, which are lush and
colourful between November and March.
All in all, Cuzco is a rewarding travel destination year-round,
but it is best to visit in April/May or September/October. That
way, visitors can miss the worst of the tourist crowds and still
make the most of the good weather.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International
Airport
Location: The airport is located two miles (3km) from downtown
Cuzco.
Time: Local time is GMT -5
Getting to the city:
There are no trains or buses from the airport, so taxis or a
rented car are the only options to reach destinations in the city.
Some hotels offer a pick-up service from the airport that should be
arranged prior to arrival.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies represented at the airport include Hertz,
Avis, and Europcar.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis from the airport can be arranged from booths within the
terminal. Visitors should not use unmarked taxis and should
negotiate a price before setting off to their destination.
Fascilities:
Airport facilities include restaurants, a club lounge, shops,
ATMs, and massage facilities.
Parking
Parking is available at the airport.
The easiest way to get around Cuzco is on foot, as many of the
hotels and tourist attractions are close together. That said,
travellers should remember that Cuzco is a high-altitude
destination, which makes walking tiring. Visitors should hire the
city's relatively inexpensive taxis for longer distances. Taxis are
regulated and fares are standardised, though the vehicles are not
metred. For this reason, tourists should call a registered taxi
company if they're travelling at night, to the airport, or to the
bus or train station.
Cuzco's list of cultural wonders and archaeological treasures
can keep tourists occupied for weeks. The city's high altitude can
be challenging, though, and travellers should give themselves a
little time to get used to it - especially if they're intent on
visiting its most famous attraction, Machu Picchu.
Cuzco is also the gateway to many other ancient Incan sites.
Indeed, tourists will find some stunning hikes in the mountainous
region, apart from the Inca Trail. The Sacred Valley contains many
gems and wonderful, dramatic scenery, and the nearby ruins of
Sacsayhuaman are some of the most fascinating in the country.
Visitors can enjoy the destination's attractions at a reduced
rate by purchasing the Cuzco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turistica del
Cusco). It allows entry to 16 sites within a 10-day period.
Variations of the ticket that are active for less time and cover
fewer attractions are also available. Visitors can buy tickets at
any of the sites, such as Puca Pucara, Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay,
Qenko, the Cathedral, San Blas, the museum of Santa Catalina, the
site museum at Qorikancha, the museum of regional history, the
museum of religious art, the museum of the municipal palace,
Chincheros, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Tipón, and Pikillaqta.
The Sacred Valley (Urubamba River Valley)
Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this breathtakingly
beautiful and fertile valley stretches between the villages of
Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Travellers will navigate it on the winding
Urubamba River, with ancient Inca ruins watching from the hilltops
above. The river's course also passes a sprinkling of small,
traditional settlements. Visitors should note that the centrally
situated Urubamba town has a decent tourist infrastructure, and is
becoming a popular base from which to explore the valley. The
region's most-visited sites are the citadel above Pisac and the
fortress of Ollantaytambo. Culture lovers will enjoy the quaint
village of Pisac, which is known for its interesting Tuesday,
Thursday and Sunday morning markets. Agricultural terraces flank
the steep sides of the mountain and have seen many centuries of
use. Alarmingly narrow trails lie above them and lead to the
cliff-hugging citadel. Visitors will find massive stone doorways
and stairways cut into the rock.
The road terminates at the far end of the Sacred Valley, where
travellers will encounter the ancient traditional town of
Ollantaytambo. Its temple-fortress clings to the nearby cliffs.
Originally developed as an Inca administrative centre, the town's
layout is one of the few remaining models of an Inca grid plan, and
the existing town lies on the remaining Inca foundations. The ruins
include the Royal Chamber, the Princess Baths and the Temple of the
Sun.
Transport: Pisac is a one-hour bus journey from Cuzco. The Pisac
citadel is a 30-minute walk from behind the main square or 20
minutes by taxi. Ollantaytambo is situated on the Cusco-Machu
Picchu train route, or can be reached by bus with a change at
Urubamba.
The Sacred Valley, Peru
Charles Gadbois
Machu Picchu
The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is regarded as the most
significant archaeological site in South America, and one of the
finest examples of landscape architecture in the world. It is the
most enthralling of the region's citadels, and lies high in the
Andes. Fortunately, Spanish colonists didn't discover and destroy
the structure, as it's completely concealed from below. In fact,
the western world didn't find it until an American explorer
stumbled across its thickly overgrown ruins in 1911. The site is
surrounded by grazing llamas and steep agricultural terraces, and
consists of a central plaza, towers, palaces, water canals, ornate
fountains, food storehouses, perfectly balanced archways and a
sacred ceremonial area of royal tombs and intricately carved
temples. The sacred Temple of the Sun is one of the site's
highlights. Another is the mountain called, Huayna Picchu, which
forms a dramatic backdrop to the city. All told, 'The Lost City of
the Incas' has an abiding sense of majesty and mystery, despite its
popularity among tourists.
Transport: Trains leave from Cuzco and Urubamba to Aguas Calientes,
where a bus transports passengers to the ruins. There is also a
path leading up to the ruins from Aguas Calientes for those who
prefer to walk.
Opening time: Daily 6am-5pm. Huayna Picchu closes at
3pm.
Machu Picchu
Brian Snelson
Ayacucho
Located in Peru's central highlands and crossed by two mountain
ranges, Ayacucho has much to delight history lovers. Indeed, the
region is home to some of the country's most significant
archaeological attractions, as well as gorgeous, pastel-coloured
colonial buildings. An ancient capital city, some of the oldest
pre-historic remains found in America, and richly decorated
churches are all part of the destination's inheritance. Ayacucho is
a relatively unknown tourism gem, though, due largely to political
unrest. That is, as the capital of an isolated and traditionally
poor department, it allowed Professor Abimael Guzman to foster the
Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) Maoist Revolutionary movement,
causing thousands of deaths in the region during the 1980s and
1990s. Fortunately, travellers are rediscovering Ayacucho. The best
time to visit is around Easter, when the city's carnival
celebrations are in full swing.
Willkawaman Cathedral, Ayacucho
Church of la Compañía de Jesus, Cusco,
Peru
D. Gordon E. Robertson
Coricancha Inca Ruins, Peru
Håkan Svensson
Sacsayhuaman, Peru
Leon Petrosyan
