Cusco city
Just 250 meters from the hotel you will find the historic center of Cusco, one of the most beautiful and interesting areas for tourists. The architectural beauty of its colonial buildings, along with the preservation of its Inca streets, makes it a must-visit during your trip to Peru.
Points of interest: Plaza de Armas, San Blas neighborhood, Santo Domingo Convent, Cusco Cathedral, the Baroque circuit around the city, the Twelve-Angled Stone and the San Pedro central market.
Coricancha
Coricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, was one of the most reveres and sacred buildings of the Inca Empire. People from all over the empire would come to worship the gods here.
Due to its importance, this building was built with finely joined stones with impressive precision, giving it a sober aesthetic.
Archeological sites
Peru is renowned for its numerous archeological remains of the Inca culture. Here are our recommendations:
- Sacsayhuamán. It is an Inca colonial temple located in the North featuring a valley with abundant flora and fauna, including llamas and hawks.
- Qenqo. An archeological site where ceremonies were performed.
- Tambomachay. An archeological complex dedicated to the worship of water with several aqueducts, canals and waterfalls.
- Puca Pucara. Comprising large walls, terraces and staircases, this military fortress was part of the city’s defensive complex.
Waqrapukara
This archeological complex is located 3 hours from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. The name of Waqrapukara comes from Quechua and means “fortress in the shape or a horn”.
Built with granite stone, this construction was a religious sanctuary. However, due its rocky formation crowned by two enormous horns and its location atop the mountain, it is also believed to have served as a fortress.
Qeswachaca bridge
Qeswacahca, ‘rope bridge’ in Quechua, is the last Inca bridge hidden in the Andes Mountains. It is suspended over the Apurímac gorge and is rebuilt every year. They were awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site certificate.
This Andean engineering marvel is 28 meters long and 1.20 meters wide, enduring into modern times thanks to skilled builders. With just six taut ropes, this bridge remains standing. Four of them are the base and serve as support, while the other two act as handrails.
Humantay lake
Humantay Lake is one of the most beautiful and sacred lakes in Cusco. Its turquoise waters are adorned with snow from Salkantay. According to the legend, two brothers decided to embark on a journey to unknown lands to obtain food and end the hunger on their village.
Here, you can enjoy various excursions and activities, as well as participate in the ancient ceremony in honor of Pachamama, Mother Earth. To take part in this ceremony, you simply need to place stones to give thanks for arrival at the lake.
Pisac
Pisac is an architectural complex located in the province of Calca, 30 kilometers from the city of Cusco. It is one of the most important and visited sites in the Sacred Valley.
Pisac is divided into two areas: the ancient area, located in the upper part, and the new area, situated towards the valley, which dates back to the colonial period.
Machu Picchu
One of the Seven Wonders of the World which tour, of course, cannot be missed. It is an ancient city built in the middle of the 15th century and converted into one of the jewels of all Peru.
The route to start this visit begins in Aguas Calientes, from where you can start a complete route to discover the entire environment and archeological complex that these mountains contain.