Tripomatic

Cusco

Province · Cusco Department, 🇵🇪 Peru
Population 447,588
Area 531 km²
Time zone America/Lima
Cusco

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Featured Lists

S23678 / CC BY 3.0

Cusco's Absolute Essentials

Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, displays a fusion of pre-Columbian masonry and Spanish colonial architecture. This collection covers the city’s historical evolution, from the precision-cut Twelve-angled stone and Qoricancha Sun Temple to the Plateresque Cusco Cathedral. It includes the defensive ruins of Puka Pukara, the ceremonial water channels of Tambomachay, and the artisanal workshops of San Blas. The list also features the San Pedro Market for local commerce and the Museo Inka, which houses archaeological artifacts and mummies from the Incan period.

12 places
PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ / GFDL

Cusco's Editor's Choice

Cusco's historic center showcases a fusion of Inca masonry and Spanish colonial architecture. Highlights include the Cathedral’s religious art, the precise engineering of the Twelve-angled-stone, and the hilltop military ruins of Puka Pukara. The artisan district of San Blas offers narrow streets and workshops, while San Pedro Market provides a glimpse into local trade. Specialized museums document the region's heritage through exhibits on Inca mummies, chocolate manufacturing, the medicinal and ritual uses of the coca leaf, and the production of pisco.

11 places
Martín Rodríguez Pontes / CC BY-SA 3.0

Inca Heritage Sites

Cusco served as the historic capital of the Inca Empire, housing architectural marvels that demonstrate advanced masonry and spiritual significance. This collection includes the Qoricancha Sun Temple, once the empire's wealthiest shrine, and the massive megalithic walls of Sacsayhuaman. Beyond the city center, sites like Tambomachay showcase sophisticated hydraulic engineering, while the Twelve-angled stone highlights precise dry-stone construction. These ruins represent the administrative, military, and religious heart of the Andes, reflecting a civilization that integrated monumental stone structures into the natural landscape.

8 places
Laslovarga / CC BY-SA 4.0

Cusco Museums and Galleries

Cusco’s museums span from the Qoricancha, once the Inca Empire's most vital sun temple, to the Inca Museum housing mummies and archaeological finds. Visitors can explore local traditions at the Museo de la Coca and learn about Peruvian spirits at Museo del Pisco. Art enthusiasts will find contemporary tapestries at Museo Maximo Laura and colonial-era religious works at the San Jeronimo and Hilario Mendivil museums. For a different perspective, the Cusco Planetarium offers insights into Inca astronomy and the southern sky.

10 places
Lhimec / CC0

Cusco's Sacred Sites

Cusco’s religious landscape reflects the syncretism of Incan and Spanish colonial history. This collection includes the Cusco Cathedral, built over the Kiswarkancha palace, and the Church of the Society of Jesus, a prime example of Andean Baroque architecture. Key highlights include the intricately carved cedar pulpit of San Blas, the panoramic city views from San Cristóbal, and El Triunfo, the city's first Christian church. These sites showcase centuries of religious art, gold-leaf altars, and architectural styles ranging from Plateresque to Mestizo Baroque.

9 places
Scarton / Public domain

Parks and Viewpoints

Explore the diverse natural and archaeological landscapes surrounding Cusco, from the massive megalithic walls of Sacsayhuaman to high-altitude Andean peaks like Pillku Urqu and Sinqa. This collection features legendary sites like Wanakawri mountain and the natural rock tunnels of Balcón del Diablo. It also highlights local green spaces, including the Pata Pata wetlands and urban plazas, offering a mix of historical significance and panoramic viewpoints across the valley.

18 places
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Cusco — Map

Cusco — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: May, June, July

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 18° (feels like 20°) · extremes 10°–21°
  • 12° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in February

Fair
  • 18° (feels like 19°) · extremes 10°–20°
  • 12° at night
  • 27 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 18° (feels like 19°) · extremes 10°–20°
  • 12° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in April

Fair
  • 18° (feels like 19°) · extremes 9°–20°
  • 11° at night
  • 25 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in May

Great
  • 18° (feels like 19°) · extremes 7°–20°
  • 10° at night
  • 12 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in June

Great
  • 18° · extremes 6°–20°
  • 9° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 11 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in July

Great
  • 18° · extremes 6°–20°
  • 8° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in August

Good
  • 19° · extremes 7°–21°
  • 9° at night
  • 13 rainy days
  • 10 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in September

Good
  • 19° · extremes 8°–21°
  • 10° at night
  • 20 rainy days
  • 4 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in October

Fair
  • 19° (feels like 20°) · extremes 9°–21°
  • 11° at night
  • 25 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in November

Fair
  • 19° (feels like 20°) · extremes 10°–21°
  • 12° at night
  • 28 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 19° (feels like 20°) · extremes 10°–21°
  • 12° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 0 sunny days
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds

Climate data: Open-Meteo Climate API (EC_Earth3P_HR) · 1991–2020

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Practical information

Currency
Peruvian Sol PEN · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers
911
Electricity
Type A / Type B / Type C
220 V · 60 Hz
Languages
Aymara, Spanish, Quechua
Tap water
Not safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+51
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Tours & Activities

Cusco Cathedral
Walk
Qoricancha Site Museum
Walk
Plaza de Armas

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Related destinations

Cusco Department

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