Discover Cusco

As the center of the Inca Empire Tawantinsuyu, Cusco was once considered the navel of the world, and to this day the colonial churches and monasteries of the old town rest on the perfectly carved stone foundations of the former Inca palaces and temples.

All trains, buses and the legendary Inca Trail toward the world-famous ruined city start from Cusco, which is why most travelers spend several days here to acclimatize to the altitude before continuing on to Machu Picchu.

The fertile valley of the Río Urubamba northwest of Cusco is home to impressive Inca sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo as well as lively Andean markets, where traditional textile art and a great variety of potatoes are still traded today.

Around the central Plaza de Armas, magnificent colonial churches such as the cathedral and La Compañía church shape the cityscape, while the narrow streets of the old town hide numerous galleries of the Cusqueña school of painting.

Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport is served several times daily from Lima with a flight time of around 80 minutes and lies just a few kilometers from the historic city center.

As the center of the Inca Empire Tawantinsuyu, Cusco was once considered the navel of the world, and to this day the colonial churches and monasteries of the old town rest on the perfectly carved stone foundations of the former Inca palaces and temples.

All trains, buses and the legendary Inca Trail toward the world-famous ruined city start from Cusco, which is why most travelers spend several days here to acclimatize to the altitude before continuing on to Machu Picchu.

The fertile valley of the Río Urubamba northwest of Cusco is home to impressive Inca sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo as well as lively Andean markets, where traditional textile art and a great variety of potatoes are still traded today.