Cusco is a city that wherever you walk you will see, streets, squares, temples, archaeological sites, places to hike within the city without paying an income and we mention the places to visit for free in Cusco:
Tourist attractions in Cusco
Cusco is a city where you could stay a month or more, there are many places to visit such as archaeological sites, natural, adventure, religion, but the best known and traditional:
- Machupicchu one of the Wonders of the World.
- Sacred Valley of the Incas traditional route, a circuit formed by the Archaeological Parks of Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, which takes you a one day visit.
- Sacred Valley of the Incas Short, circuit formed by Maras, Moray and Salineras, it takes half a day, or if you do not have much time you could make a visit of a single day of the alternative 2 and 3 this leaving earlier.
- South Valley, formed circuit formed by the archaeological park of Tipon, Pikillaqta and the Sistine Chapel of Andahuaylillas.
- Andean Baroque Route, religious circuit formed by the Churches of the Company of Jesus (Cusco), San Juan Bautista Temple of Huaro (Huaro), Purified Virgin Chapel of Canincunca (Urcos), San Pedro Apostle Temple of Andahuayllillas (Andahuaylillas), this visit can be done in one day or 2 days because some places are in the same city and the challenges to the south of the city of Cusco.
- Inca Trail one of the routes of the Peruvian Andes, walk this exquisite route in landscape, history, culture and one of the most demanding book it with time.
- Salkantay Trail, alternate route to get to Machupicchu if you did not get a space for Inca Trail, also a route of the Peruvian Andes, its name due to the snow-capped Sacred Mountain.
- The Choquequirao Archaeological Park, is known as the sacred sister for its architectural and structural similarity, to get there you will have to make a walk of 4 or 5 has become a route for adventure lovers.
Sapantiana Colonial Aqueduct
What is it? As its name says it is a colonial aqueduct, colonial hydraulic architecture built on the river Puqru, whose construction was promoted by the Jesuit Order and the Cabildo of Cusco, colonial wall with arches of 4 levels, is at the foot of the hill Sacsayhuaman, in the neighborhood of San Cristobal, very close we have the Huaca de Sapantiana, La Piedra de 12 Angles. 7 Borreguitos Street and the Mirador de San Cristobal.
Cristo Blanco
White Christ: Very famous monument of the city of Cusco, located at the top of the hill Pukamuqu 5 kilometers from the historic center, is a statue of Jesus Christ 8 meters high made of granite coated with marble and plaster, which raises his arms as a sign of protection, since 1972 is part of the Monumental Zone of Cusco declared as a Historic Monument of Peru, in 1983 is part of the central area declared by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Arch of Santa
El Arco de Santa: located in the traditional neighborhood of Santa Ana in the heart of the city built during the Colonial era in the seventeenth century, symbolizes the fusion of two cultures Inca and Spanish, as part of urban expansion by the Spanish colonizers.
It became a symbol of the Spanish presence, it was used as a gateway to the city.
12 Angle Stone
Stone of 12 Angles: Located in Hatun Rumiyoq Street, outside the Palace attributed to Inca Roca now the Museum of the Archbishopric of Colonial art open to the public, one block from the Plaza de Armas, is known for its great finish and perfectionist bordering typical of Inca architecture, the retaining wall is a formidable sample of polygonal assembly of stones.
Also mentioned that there is the stone of 13 angles and 14 angles, although they do not have the perfection of the stone of 12 angles, all these stones are in the same building in different walls, they are not very promoted.
Quenqo Forest
Quenqo Forest: called the Eucalyptus forest of Quenqo, natural tourist attraction, ancient archaeological site, located south of the city 2.6 kilometers south, on foot from the center of the city of Cusco, magical and sacred place for the Incas that was used for their rituals and ceremonies, surrounded by mountains, eucalyptus trees. The sun’s rays enter and exit through the branches of the tall trees, ideal for Cusco families and take advantage of the environment, picnics or sports.
Streets in Cusco
Cusco is known as the Archaeological Capital of America, its streets hide the past, many of them have significance since Inca times, and many others from the Colony.
The neighborhood of San Blas
The neighborhood of San Blas: Located a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, can be reached by Hatun Rumiyoc street where the Stone of 12 Angles, was called “T ‘oqokachi, Quechua word meaning ’Cave of salt” after the Spanish invasion the place was renamed San Blas in honor of the Bishop of Sebaste who lived in the third century, also known for its traditional, narrow streets and in the square you can find art galleries of prominent artists such as Hilario Mendivil, La Casa Merida, Atesania Olave, as well as a waterfall ideal for taking a picture, around it is also the Church of San Blas.
7 Borreguitos Street
7 Borreguitos Street: its name dates back to colonial times, seven little sheep were the only inhabitants of this street, property of an old convent, a few blocks from the Main Square, next to the Wuaca Sapantiana, Sapantiana Aqueduct, and a few meters from the 12 Angles stone and the Mirador de San Cristobal.
Cuesta de Santa
Cuesta de Santa since 1972 is part of the Monumental Zone of the City of Cusco declared as a Historic Monument of Peru, in 1983 to be part of the Historic Center of the City of Cusco, is part of the Central Zone declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Squares in Cusco
There are more than 10 plazas and small squares in the Historic Center, they used the spaces and adapted them as squares during the colony.
Plaza de Arma of Cusco
Plaza de Arma of Cusco: Located in the city of Cusco, in the historic center of the city, is a delight for the eyes of any visitor who knows it for the first time public space of the town since before its Spanish founding in 1534. According to the writings of the Inca Garcilazo de la Vega, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo were the founders of the city of Cusco it is said that the God Inti father of Manco Capac, gave them a golden rod, and where it sank would form the Empire of the Incas and gave them the task of starting a campaign of teaching, learning. According to geological studies carried out show that originally there was a swamp, crossed by the Saphy River, currently channeled and covered.
During the Inca Empire this swamp was dried by orders of the Inca Sinchi Roca to erect what would be the cultural, religious and administrative center of the Inca Empire, was formerly called Huacaypata (Waqay Pata), Victor Angles explains that the Plaza is made up of two sectors Huacaypata and Cusipata (in the name of the latter all agree) separated by the river Saphy.
Tricentennial Plaza
Tricentennial Square: It is located in the core of the Historic Center, bounded on the northeast by Atad Street and Balcón Cusqueño Street, on the southeast by Córdoba de Tucumán and Cuesta del Almirante Streets, it was recovered in 1990, it receives the name of Plazoleta Tricentenario, as a tribute by the Cusco population to the Three Hundred Years of the University of San Antonio Abad del Cusco. The San Francisco de Borja School is located here.
San Cristóbal viewpoint
Mirador de San Cristobal: Located in the neighborhood of Cristobal, next to the Temple of the same name, according to history the church was built by the Inca Paullo son of Inca Huayna Capac, after becoming a Christian. In the part of the Plazoleta you can observe 11 niches that at first sight could pass for windows, its true function was a place destined to bury the Inca dynasty.
The Traditional Neighborhood of Santa Ana
The Traditional Neighborhood of Santa Ana: This traditional neighborhood has a rich history in culture and traditions, formerly occupied by the Chanapata Culture, archaeological studies indicate that ceramics, lithic samples were found in this sector lived Ayllus who were families dedicated to agricultural production, then it was called Qarmenqa and was formed by native Incas and a large number of Cañaris and Chachapoyas warrior ethnic groups from what is now the South of Ecuador and the North of our country, in 1533 on November 14, the Spaniards made their entrance to the Imperial City of Cusco through the neighborhood of Qarmenqa, from there they began their descent into the Valley of Cusco crossing conquest street (Tambo de Montero now), once the city was subdued the Spaniards began to distribute the land in the popular neighborhood of “Qarmenqa” to all the soldiers who had invaded the city of Cusco, the neighborhood of Santa Ana has to visit the Arch of Santa Ana, La Cuesta de Santa Ana, Santa Ana Church and the Mirador de Santa Ana.
