Must-see attractions in Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

  • Museo Inkariy

    The Sacred Valley

    This wonderful new museum takes visitors into the world of the fascinating pre-Colombian civilizations that came before the Inca. It acknowledges the…

  • Museo Machu Picchu

    Cuzco

    This newish museum exhibits 360 pieces from Machu Picchu taken by Hiram Bingham's expeditions and recently returned by Yale University, including stone…

  • Parque Arqueológico Choquequirao

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Translating as 'Cradle of Gold,' this remote Incan site (3050m) in the Vilcabamba mountain range over the Apurimac canyon bears a strong resemblance to…

  • Cusco Planetarium

    Cuzco

    An excellent way to explore the fascinating Inca cosmovision. They defined constellations of darkness as well as light, used astronomy to predict weather…

  • Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    For many travelers to Peru, a visit to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu is the whole purpose of their trip. With its awe-inspiring location, it is the…

  • Wiñay Wayna

    The Inca Trail

    An exquisite little Inca site along the Inca Trail; it's name is variously translated as ‘Forever Young,’ ‘To Plant the Earth Young’ and ‘Growing Young’ …

  • A large fountain and Cusco Cathedral in Plaza-de-Armas.

    La Catedral

    Cuzco

    A squatter on the site of Viracocha Inca’s palace, the cathedral was built using blocks pilfered from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywamán. Its…

  • The temple of the sun or "Qorikancha" in Cusco during Inti Raymi (hence the solar disc), Peru.

    Qorikancha

    Cuzco

    If you visit only one Cuzco site, make it these Inca ruins forming the base of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo. Once the richest temple…

  • Sacsaywamán

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    This immense ruin of both religious and military significance is the most impressive in the immediate area around Cuzco. The long Quechua name means …

  • Plaza de Armas

    Cuzco

    In Inca times, the plaza, called Huacaypata or Aucaypata, was the heart of the capital. Today it’s the nerve center of the modern city. Two flags usually…

  • Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús

    Cuzco

    Built upon the palace of Huayna Cápac, the last inca to rule an undivided, unconquered empire, the church was built by the Jesuits in 1571 and…

  • Intipunku

    Machu Picchu

    The Inca Trail ends after its final descent from the notch in the horizon called Intipunku (Sun Gate). Looking at the hill behind you as you enter the…

  • Museo de Arte Precolombino

    Cuzco

    Inside a Spanish colonial mansion with an Inca ceremonial courtyard, this dramatically curated pre-Columbian art museum showcases a stunningly varied, if…

  • Espíritu Pampa

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    The real ‘lost city of the Incas,’ Vilcabamba – also known as Espíritu Pampa – is what Hiram Bingham was looking for when he stumbled on Machu Picchu. The…

  • Llama Terraces

    Choquequirao

    Discovered only in 2002 by archaeologist Percy Paz, these steep terraces on the backside of the ruins feature unique stonework resembling that found in…

  • Intihuatana

    Machu Picchu

    This Quechua word loosely translates as the ‘Hitching Post of the Sun’ and refers to the carved rock pillar, often mistakenly called a sundial, at the top…

  • Sacristy

    Machu Picchu

    Behind and connected to the Principal Temple lies this famous small building. It has many well-carved niches, perhaps used for the storage of ceremonial…

  • Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock

    Machu Picchu

    An excellent viewpoint to take in the whole site. It’s one of a few buildings that has been restored with a thatched roof, making it a good shelter in the…

  • Principal Temple

    Machu Picchu

    The ‘temple’ derives its name from the massive solidity and perfection of its construction. The damage to the rear right corner is the result of the…

  • Temple of the Sun

    Machu Picchu

    Just above and to the left of the ceremonial baths is Machu Picchu’s only round building, a curved and tapering tower of exceptional stonework. This…

  • Temple of the Three Windows

    Machu Picchu

    Important buildings flank the remaining three sides of the Sacred Plaza. The Temple of the Three Windows features huge trapezoidal windows that give the…

  • Sayaqmarka

    The Inca Trail

    The Inca Trail descends to the ruin of Sayaqmarka, a tightly constructed complex perched on a small mountain spur, which offers incredible views.

  • Ollantaytambo ruins

    Ollantaytambo Ruins

    Ollantaytambo

    Both fortress and temple, these spectacular Inca ruins rise above Ollantaytambo, making a splendid half-day trip. (Admission is via the boleto turístico…

  • Rainbow Mountain

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Also known as Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain is a viral hit with travelers thanks to the photogenic nature of its mineral stripes. Getting there requires…

  • Moray

    The Sacred Valley

    With concentric terraces carved into a huge earthen bowl, the deep amphitheater-like terracing of Moray, reached via Maras village, is a fascinating…

  • Salineras de Maras

    The Sacred Valley

    Salineras is among the most spectacular sights in the whole Cuzco area, with thousands of salt pans that have been used for salt extraction since Inca…

  • Ausangate

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Snowcapped Ausangate (6384m), the highest mountain in southern Peru, can be seen from Cuzco on a clear day. Hiking a circuit around its skirts is the most…

  • Templo y Convento de La Merced

    Cuzco

    Cuzco’s third most important colonial church, La Merced was destroyed in the 1650 earthquake, but was quickly rebuilt. To the left of the church, at the…

  • Museo de Arte Popular

    Cuzco

    Winning entries in Cuzco’s annual Popular Art Competition are displayed in this engaging museum. This is where the artisans and artists of San Blas…

  • Tipón

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    A demonstration of the Incas’ mastery over their environment, this extensive Inca site consists of some impressive terracing at the head of a small valley…

  • Iglesia de San Pedro

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Dating from the 17th century, this Jesuit church houses many carvings and paintings, including a canvas of the Immaculate Conception attributed to Esteban…

  • Tarawasi

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Named after the Inca site of Rimactambo, Limatambo is popularly known as Tarawasi. The site was used as a ceremonial center and a resting place for the…

  • Patabamba

    The Sacred Valley

    A visit to the community of Patabamba offers a fascinating participative demonstration of the weaving process, all the way from picking the plants to…

  • Museo de Arte Religioso

    Cuzco

    Originally the palace of Inca Roca, the foundations of this museum were converted into a grand colonial residence and later became the archbishop’s palace…

  • Inca Drawbridge

    Machu Picchu

    A scenic but level walk from the Hut of the Caretaker takes you right past the top of the terraces and out along a narrow, cliff-clinging trail to the…

  • Phuyupatamarka

    The Inca Trail

    Towards the end of the Inca Trail, you'll reach the beautiful, well-restored ruin of Phuyupatamarka (Place Above the Clouds), about 3570m (11,712ft) above…

  • Saihuite

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    The Inca site of Saihuite, 45km east of Abancay, has a sizable, intricately carved boulder called the Stone of Saihuite, which is similar to the famous…

  • Sacred Plaza

    Machu Picchu

    Climbing the stairs above the ceremonial baths, there is a flat area of jumbled rocks, once used as a quarry. Turn right at the top of the stairs and walk…

  • Templo de Viracocha

    Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

    Looking like a strange alien aqueduct, these remains were once part of one of the holiest shrines in the Inca empire. Twenty-two columns made of stone…

  • Mercado de Chinchero

    Chinchero

    The Chinchero market, held on Tuesday, Thursday and especially Sunday, is less touristy than its counterpart in Pisac and well worth a special trip. On…