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Plan a free trip to CuscoUpdated: 2026-10-18
Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire, is a breathtaking mountain city blending Spanish colonial architecture with ancient Inca ruins. Visit to experience rich culture, dramatic landscapes, and as a fascinating starting point for trips to Machu Picchu.
Things to do in Cusco include Machu Picchu, Sacsahuaman, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun). Here are 15 places worth knowing, with a short note on each.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel on a mountain ridge at 2,430 metres, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco and above the Sacred Valley. Archaeologists believe Pachacuti ordered it built as a royal estate; it was abandoned about a century later, probably during the Spanish conquest.
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Sacsayhuamán is an Inca citadel on the northern outskirts of Cusco, Peru, at an altitude of more than 3,700 metres. Its three terrace walls are built of huge limestone blocks, some weighing well over 100 tonnes, and many of the stones fit so tightly that a sheet of paper will not slide between them.
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The most important Inca temple, upon which the Santo Domingo convent was built, showcasing a unique architectural blend.
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An impressive cathedral built on the foundations of an Inca palace, featuring colonial art.
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The Pisac Archaeological Site is located in a Peruvian town set within the Sacred Valley of the Incas, right along the Urubamba River. Renowned primarily for its remarkable Incan ruins, Pisac is also famous for its large market that draws heavy tourist traffic from nearby Cusco.
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Ollantaytambo Fortress is an Inca archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of Peru, about 72 kilometres by road northwest of Cusco. Emperor Pachacuti built it in the mid-15th century as a royal estate and ceremonial centre; during the Spanish conquest it was a stronghold of Manco Inca, who defeated a Spanish expedition nearby.
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The Salt Mines of Maras represent one of the largest prehispanic salt extraction centers in the Cusco region. Located in the Urubamba Province in southeast Peru, the site sits at an elevation of 3,200 meters above sea level.
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Moray is an intriguing archaeological site in Peru, situated on a high plateau at around 3,500 meters above sea level, roughly 50 kilometers northwest of Cuzco and just west of Maras village. The site contains Inca ruins primarily composed of several terraced circular depressions, with the largest reaching approximately 30 meters in depth.
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An Inca archaeological site known for its intricate water system, dubbed 'The Inca's Bath'.
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Qenko, or Q'enqo, is an archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of Peru located in the Cusco Region, Cusco Province, Cusco District, about 6 km north-east of Cusco and to the east of Sacsayhuamán. The site was declared a Cultural Heritage (Patrimonio Cultural) of the Cusco Region by the National Institute of Culture.
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A small Inca fortress located on a hill, likely used as a guard post.
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The twelve-angled stone is a renowned archaeological artifact located in Cusco, Peru, recognized as a national heritage object. Originally part of a stone wall belonging to an Inca palace, it stands as a testament to ancient architectural ingenuity.
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A museum dedicated to Inca culture, with an impressive collection of archaeological findings.
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The Coricancha stands in Cusco, Peru, which served as the capital of the Inca Empire. It was the most important temple in the entire empire and was documented by early Spanish colonialists upon their arrival.
Plan CuscoHere is what 3 days in Cusco look like when the planner builds them - arriving at noon on the first day and flying home at noon on the last. Stops are grouped by proximity so no day doubles back, and the same route can be built for any length, from two days to a week.
The route assumes the first day starts at noon, after you land, and the last ends at noon, before your flight. It is an example: with your dates the planner builds a route around your landing and your flight home, real opening hours, how you get around and your own preferences.
Machu Picchu, Sacsahuaman, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), Cusco Cathedral, Pisac Archaeological Site, Ollantaytambo Fortress and 9 more. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel on a mountain ridge at 2,430 metres, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco and above the Sacred Valley. Archaeologists believe Pachacuti ordered it built as a royal estate; it was abandoned about a century later, probably during the Spanish conquest.
Day 1: Qenko, Museo de la Coca, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), Plaza de Armas. Day 2: Machu Picchu, Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo, Piedra de los doce ángulos, Museo de Arte Popular. Day 3: Pisac Archaeological Site, Sacsahuaman.
Museums worth visiting in Cusco: Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) (Centro Histórico), Inca Museum, Museo de la Coca, Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo and Museo de Arte Popular.
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