Cuzco: Inca History and Andean Landscapes

Cuzco’s central square marks the starting point of the four most important routes of the Qhapaq Ñan. The city was the capital of Tawantinsuyu. In the Department of Cusco, you can explore urban history, archaeological sites, nature watching and living traditions as different focuses for your trip.

Cuzco and its historical heritage

The city of Cuzco preserves the spatial layout and most of the buildings of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and the Viceroyalty period. Temples, monasteries and mansions from the Spanish colonial era were built over the Inca city, so the urban structure combines buildings from both periods. Cuzco is also considered a unique testament to the ancient Inca civilization and represents 3,000 years of indigenous and autonomous cultural development in the southern Peruvian Andes. Those interested in history will find not only individual buildings here, but also the enduring spatial layout of an ancient capital.

Landscapes, archaeological sites and nature

The Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu includes 24 different natural ecosystems, from humid mountain forests above 1,900 meters to snow-capped peaks over 6,000 meters. This range conveys the diversity of landscapes within the sanctuary. From Cusco, it is accessible by commercial train to Machu Picchu Pueblo; the route is listed as 111 kilometers and 4 hours 10 minutes. Check current train connections before your trip, as transport details may change.

Trekking is possible on the main Inca Trail route within the sanctuary. Archaeological sites along the route include Patallaqta, Wayllabamba, Runkurakay, Sayaqmarka, Phuyupatamarka, Wiñaywayna, Intipunku and the Llaqta of Machupicchu. The route thus combines a hiking activity with a series of specifically named archaeological sites.

Another archaeological highlight is Choquequirao in Santa Teresa, La Convención. The park lies at an altitude of 3,033 meters on a green mountain and includes Inca terraces, plazas, building complexes and large walls with niches. Thanks to its rich flora and fauna, Choquequirao is considered a regional conservation area; it covers 103,814.39 hectares. These details make both the structures and the natural environment distinct topics to consider when planning a trip.

In Manu National Park, you can spot river otters, caimans and jaguars, as well as cock-of-the-rocks, macaws and deer. Visitors to the park must use a tour operator authorized by SERNANP. Check this requirement before your trip. Wildlife watching and archaeological routes offer different ways to experience the department.

Traditions in different places

In Raqchi, the knowledge, skills and practices involved in pottery making are recognized as national cultural heritage. They are considered a legacy of Tawantinsuyu passed down through generations. This example draws attention to traditional skills and their transmission, not just to buildings and archaeological sites.

In Marcaccocha, Ollantaytambo, the Festividad de la Bajada de Reyes del Niño Jesús is recognized as a cultural heritage festival. Indigenous and Christian motifs come together there with oral traditions, rituals, visual arts, dances, textile arts and culinary arts. The variety of these elements gives the festival its own cultural character.

The Danza Qanchi de Mamuera is a traditional form of expression in the community of Mamuera, Maranganí. It is performed in festive and ritual contexts, at festivals and in other forms of cultural exchange at local, regional and national levels. In Pampacucho, Colcha, the Festividad del Dulce Nombre de Jesús, also known as Señor de Pampacucho, and the pilgrimage to the Santuario del Señor de Pampacucho express religious devotion. They are rooted in the geography and history of the province of Paruro, as well as its festive, dance and musical traditions.

Choose your starting point based on which of these themes you would like to explore.

Discover more destinations: Yucay, Oroya, Aguas Calientes, Soray, Colcapampa, Maras, Santa Teresa, Huaro, San Pedro, Lamay, Espinar, Provincia de Paucartambo, Quispicanchi, Provincia de Calca, Chillca, Las Cruces, Checacupe, Sicuani, Ocongate, Andahuaylillas, Huarocondo, Cusco, Quillabamba, Calca, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba, Manire.

For the broader travel overview: Peru.