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Cusco: Absolute Must-Sees

The ancient Inca capital and its surroundings: Machu Picchu, the colonial core of Cusco, and the great sites of the Sacred Valley.

Jay Warburton / cc-by-3.0

Machu Picchu

Perched on a 2,430-meter mountain ridge in the Eastern Cordillera, this 15th-century Inca citadel is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site.

McKay Savage from London, UK / cc-by-2.0

Saqsaywaman

This 15th-century Inca citadel and ceremonial center features massive zigzagging dry stone walls, combining a defensive fortress and religious complex.

Håkan Svensson (Xauxa) / cc-by-2.5

Qoricancha Site Museum

Historically the most important temple in the Inca Empire, this sanctuary dedicated to the sun now houses a museum and archaeological ruins.

Frans-Banja Mulder / cc-by-3.0

Plaza de Armas

Serving as the administrative and religious heart of the Inca Empire, this historic central square is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by colonial monuments.

Diego Delso / cc-by-sa-4.0

Cusco Cathedral

The city's main Catholic church and temple showcases notable Plateresque architecture right off the central plaza.

Aufgang / cc-by-sa-3.0

Sacred Valley of the Incas

Also known as the Urubamba Valley, this Andean region north of Cusco holds vital archaeological remnants of the Inca civilization.

McKay Savage from London, UK / cc-by-2.0

Moray Ruins

Located on a high plateau at about 3,500 meters, this Inca archaeological site features distinctive ancient ruins.

Milagros Aliaga / cc-by-sa-4.0

Twelve-angled-stone

Originally part of an Inca palace wall, this famous archaeological artifact exemplifies the precision of Inca stone masonry.

PoolPs / cc-by-sa-4.0

Rainbow Mountain

Rising over 5,000 meters above sea level near a major glacier, this high-altitude mountain is celebrated for its multi-colored sedimentary rock layers and mineral stripes.