Cusco – Bespoke Peru Itineraries

For the Incas, Cusco was the center of the world.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cusco remains a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with older, more austere remains of pre-Columbian glory—one can still see the foundations of Inca structures on many of its city streets today. As the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, in addition to the starting point of the Inca Trail, Cusco was the center of the Incan Universe, and is literally teeming with well-preserved history, Incan ruins, and present-day Peruvian culture.

The ornate Baroque facade of Cusco Cathedral faces the wide cobblestone Plaza de Armas.

Aerial view of two men walking through the Andean valley.

Why visit Cusco?

Cusco’s most important landmarks include sites from both Inca and colonial times, such as the Inca street of Loreto with its 12-cornered stones, the Korikancha (the ancient Temple of the Sun), the cathedral, the Museum of Colonial Art, the archaeological park of Saqsaywaman (the fortress-temple), the nearby funerary shrines of Kenqo, and the water-worship site of Tambomachay.

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Cusco’s most important landmarks include sites from both Inca and colonial times, such as the Inca street of Loreto with its 12-cornered stones, the Korikancha (the ancient Temple of the Sun), the cathedral, the Museum of Colonial Art, the archaeological park of Saqsaywaman (the fortress-temple), the nearby funerary shrines of Kenqo, and the water-worship site of Tambomachay.
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At a high altitude of 3,400 meters above sea level, this city demands to be explored slowly. A trip to Machu Picchu will always begin and end in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, ensuring proper acclimatization time before experiencing the ancient citadel. For those embarking on the high altitude Inca Trail, we recommend spending two nights in Cusco, though those especially interested in Incan history may wish to add more time.
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While there is much culture and history to discover on your visit here, be sure to include some leisure time to wander the old city plaza, stop for a coffee to people-watch, and explore the cobbled streets of this charming town.

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Other areas to explore

A visit to Cusco puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Peru.

Stone path winds along a misty ridge, with an Inca ruin emerging through sunlit fog above jungle canopy.

Machu Picchu

Perched within a misty, orchid-filled tropical forest high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is one of the most alluring archaeological sites in the world.

Sacred Valley

Located in the Andes mountains near Cusco, the Sacred Valley holds great historical and cultural significance as it was once the heartland of the Inca Empire, and lies beneath the world-famous site of Machu Picchu.

Lake Titicaca

The largest freshwater lake in South America, Lake Titicaca is known for its floating islands, ancient culture, and UNESCO World Heritage status.

Red macaw flies with wings spread wide, showing bright scarlet feathers and long tail against a blurred green forest.

Amazon Rainforest

A vast natural wonder visible from space, the Amazon Delta needs no introduction. Shared by eight countries, Brazil claims the lion’s share and contains pockets so remote they’ve never been explored.

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