Cuzco: A Journey into Andean Culture

Inca remains and colonial city

Cuzco is not just a very pretty colonial city. Here, houses of typically Hispanic architecture, with their wooden balconies, often rest on imposing stone foundations from the Inca era. These perfectly cut and perfectly arranged stone walls give the entire historic center of the city a unique stamp. It is the legacy of Inca civilization present on every street corner.

Cuzco is a city that offers visitors plenty of activities. The city is dominated by one of the most impressive Inca constructions: Sacsayhuaman. This enormous fortress is made of gigantic, perfectly fitted stones. Some are more than 3 meters high and weigh nearly 20 tons. This is a must-see visit. A little further away, just a few kilometers from Cuzco, some other Inca sites are also worth a visit: Kenko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

But beyond a half-day guided tour to discover these Inca sites, we recommend setting aside at least one free day to enjoy the charm of Cuzco.

Enjoy the generally sunny climate and pleasant daytime temperature to stroll through the historic center, through its lovely flower-filled squares or through the San Blas neighborhood, with streets so narrow that the sidewalks sometimes cannot fit two people side by side, and so steep that some turn into staircases. Discover an extraordinary cultural and historical heritage: numerous museums on the Inca or colonial era, the impressively rich cathedral, or the Koricancha, or Temple of the Sun, the political and spiritual center of the Inca empire, on which the Spanish built the church of Santo Domingo.

And why not take advantage of your visit to this cacao-producing region to visit the ChocoMuseo and take part in a workshop where you make your own chocolate bar?

Finally, Cuzco is a city where you can breathe in Andean culture, that particular blend of the lifestyles and customs of Indigenous people and the Spanish. What better way to feel this atmosphere than to visit the Saint-Pierre market, the main market of Cuzco, located in the city center.

Cuzco is not only a place of interest in itself, it is also the ideal starting point for numerous visits and excursions. Less than an hour’s drive away is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and 3 hours away is Machu Picchu. Both have their own dedicated page which we invite you to consult.

Cuzco is also located in a very beautiful region of the Andes, green due to its proximity to the Amazon basin, with mountain ranges rising to over 6000 meters. For mountain hiking enthusiasts, the region offers some splendid multi-day treks, in the Salkantay massif, the Ausangate, toward the Inca city of Choquequirao, and of course the most famous of all, the 4-day Inca Trail trek leading to Machu Picchu.

More information

Altitude: 3350 m.
Climate: Dry from April to November, rainy season from December to March.

Maximum daytime temperature (monthly average)

In summer (December to March): 19ºC
In winter (June to September): 18ºC

Minimum nighttime temperature (monthly average)

In summer (December to March): 7ºC
In winter (June to September): 1ºC

A single tourist ticket is required to visit Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay, as well as a number of museums in Cuzco. It is valid for 2 days and costs around 25 USD for an adult. There is also a ticket that additionally grants entry to the main sites of the Sacred Valley (including Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Chinchero). This ticket is valid for 10 days and costs around 50 USD for 1 adult. Tickets are purchased directly at the entrance of any site. Payment must be made in local currency and in cash.
The Koricancha and Cuzco Cathedral are not included in this ticket.
The Inti Raymi celebration takes place on June 24, with a reenactment of the Inca winter solstice festival on the Sacsayhuaman esplanade. This event draws large crowds. Hotels are generally fully booked and often charge higher rates during that week.

Par avion

Cuzco is connected by daily flights to the cities of Lima, Arequipa, Juliaca (Puno), and Puerto Maldonado. With La Paz in Bolivia, every day except Saturday.

Par voie terrestre

from Machu Picchu: by train, 3h30
from Ollantaytambo: by taxi or private vehicle, 1h15
from Puno: by bus (day or night) or private vehicle, 7 hours; by train (3 times a week), 11 hours
from Arequipa: by bus (overnight) or private vehicle, 10 hours
from Lima: by bus, 20 hours
from La Paz: by bus, 12 hours