 | Cuzco Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 66 |  |
Popular Things To Do | Other Things To Do Tips | All Tips (66) Around the city of Cusco is the Sacred Valley which is a rich, fertile valley running along the Urubamba River ("Wilcamayu" in Quechua. The Incas referred to it as the "Sacred Valley" precisely because it was so fertile.) Pisaq is one of several ancient Inca towns with interesting archaeological ruins to explore. It appears to have been an important city to the Incas, who cultivated terraces along the sides of the mountains in order to farm the land. In addition to exploring the ruins, the scenery in this area is breathtaking and absolutely a must-see while in the Cusco area. An easy partial or full day trip, depending on how much time you want to spend here. Leave a Comment Directions: About a half hour outside of Cusco, in the Sacred Valley region
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The Boleto Turistico is a ticket that allows you to go to several places within and around the city of Cusco. I believe it is not possible to visit each site individually, rather, this ticket is needed, in which a hole is punched one that site has been visited. With this ticket, you can see most of the sites around Cusco, not including the two churches which are privately owned and which are usually visited in most tourist packages. The ticket is $10 dollars but if you are a student with an international student card it is only $5, if you are under 25. Leave a Comment
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Also not too far from Cusco, in the Sacred Valley alongside the Urubamba River, is another interesting town which appeared to serve as an administrative, social, religious and agricultural center for the Incas. This is one of the best spots to get a real local flavor - you'll see so many women dressed in their colorful Indian attire - they're quite small in stature, and their faces are weathered and full of stories. It's great to just leisurely amble down a side street here - we were invited inside one person's home. The floor was a simple dirt floor, and the walls were bare, raw stones - no insulation really - but what was astounding were all the guinea pigs huddled on the floor, nibbling at some corn husks. Our hostess was very proud of them, but I don't think they were pets......I have a feeling they were dinner!
Note: there's a painting in Peru of the Last Supper, and it's the only one on the subject which actually features guinea pig as part of the cuisine. I didn't see this painting myself, but I'll be looking for it on a return trip! Leave a Comment Directions: In the Sacred Valley region near Cuzco
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Closest pronunciation is "Sexy-Woman" in English, although the word itself is obviously Quechuan. Originally built by the Incas as some sort of temple or fortress, it sits just outside the town of Cusco and the view of the town is really pretty from this hilly area. Id' love to describe the ruins in greater detail for you, but by the time we got to Sacsayhuaman, I had to get horizontal or I knew I'd throw up! My head was spinning now and I gave it the old college try, climbing a little bit on top of some of the stones and peeking through the huge, trapezoidal doorways - but for the most part I simply had to lay down on the ground because I was feeling so lousy. I'm not sure what the seven modern wonders of the world are (don't they change periodically?!), but believe it or not, Sacsayhuaman is still considered to be the first of the seven. Leave a Comment Directions: Just outside of Cusco
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Doing what Europeans did best back then - building OVER something that already existed, in a hegemonic attempt to wipe out any trace of it. In this case, the cathedral is lovely, but under it was the original Inca temple of the serpent (Amaru Cancha). I enjoyed visiting this cathedral because it has a great collection of Cusco School of Art paintings. I recall one canvas that was particularly large. Leave a Comment Directions: Edge of Plaza, city center
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In Quechua, it is called "Huacaypata" which means "cry". Originally designed by the Incas as the symbolic center of the Empire, many Incas supposedly died here in an attempt to defend themselves against Spanish oppression. You'll inevitably find yourself walking across it to get from your hotel to the cathedrals and churches on the plaza perimeter. I admit, a strange - almost eerie - feeling came over me as I walked across this plaza. Leave a Comment Directions: Center of Cusco
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Or as I prefer to call it, "Koricancha" or the Temple of the Sun, as it was formerly known by the Incas who built it before the Spaniards came along and tried to erase all traces. My head was already starting to spin from the encroaching altitude sickness, but I can recall how interesting this part of the day tour was. Our guide was terrific - he was a local and very knowledgeable about Inca culture. He explained how this room was used for sacrifices, that room was shaped a certain way to face the sun, the other room had a slanted floor so the blood would pour out a certain way, the windows were shaped like a trapezoid because the Incas revered this particular design, and so on and so forth. I forgot I was in a "convent" because seeing some of these little areas that were miraculously reconstructed and intact, was really amazing. The Incas were an incredibly spiritual and mystical people. Leave a Comment Directions: Edge of Plaza, city center
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Coricancha is a Quechua word meaning 'Golden Courtyard', but the Inca stonework is all that remains of the ancient Temple of the Sun, which was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.
The walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold, and the courtyard was filled with golden statues. There is a model of the temple in inca time as you enter the complex which shows you what it was like and how little is left.
The Church of Santo Domingo was built on the site, using the ruined foundations of the temple that was flattened by the gold-hungry Spanish in the 17th century.
It is a fine example of where Inca stonework has been incorporated into the structure of a colonial building. There are also interesting works of art dating from the 17th Century surrounding the courtyard
Major earthquakes have severely damaged the church, but the Inca stone walls, built out of huge, tightly-interlocking blocks of stone, still stand as a testimony to their superb architectural skills and sophisticated stone masonry. Leave a Comment Directions: Opening time: Monday to Saturday 8am to 5.30pm; Admission: Part of the Cuzco Tourist Card that allows entry to all Inca sites around the city and museums; Full ticket US$10,
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The Cathedral is the most prominent structure overlooking the main square and is adjoined to a church on either side, the Iglesia Jesus María and Iglesia El Triunfo.
Inside is the elaborately carved wooden altar, covered in gold and silver plate, and the carved wooden choir stalls that are acclaimed to be the finest in the country.
Also of interest is the painting The Last Supper, which portrays Jesus and his disciples gathered around the table, on which a central platter of the local Inca delicacy, 'cuy' or roasted guinea pig, is placed.
Also on the plaza is La Compañía, one of Cuzco's most ornately decorated churches, often floodlit at night. Jesuit priests built it and were in danger of outdoing the granduer of the Cathedral when the Pope allegedly intervened and told them to stop!
The streets and alleys around the plaza are filled with colour and bustling handicraft stalls.
The historic pedestrian alleyway of Loreto, leading away from the plaza, is lined with Inca stone walls, including on with 12 sides. If you can't spot it one of the locals will no doubt help you out of a few solis. Leave a Comment Directions: Admission: The Cathedral is part of the Main Square - ya can't miss it! Cuzco Tourist Card that allows entry to all Inca sites around the city and museums; Full ticket US$10, Partial ticket US$6
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The most famous and amazing trekking route in South America
The Inka Trail ( Camino Inca ) to Machu Picchu is a must-do for every traveller that says to be a trekker. This trekking route, based in the ancient Inka Trail has a length of 33km and can be made in 3-4 days. From the beginning, we start at approx. 2,600 masl, at the second day is reached the highest pass at 4,200masl and the following days, the way goes down the mountain slopes to the steepy rainforest area where the Machu Picchu citadel (2,200masl) is located. This trek offers great views of the mountains and nature. Of course, you will find on the trail a lot of impressive archaeological sites. the classical route begins at the Km88 of Cusco-Machu Picchu railway, but there are other shorter and longer routes Leave a Comment Directions: Cuzco
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