Peru, Cuzco Province, Cuzco, Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun, an important Inca celebration that takes place every June 24 in the historic center and Saqsayhuaman, marking the winter solstice

Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM

Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

For Incas, Cuzco was the belly button of the world. A visit to this city and its nearby ruins tumbles you back into the cosmic realm of ancient Andean culture – knocked down and fused with the colonial imprint of Spanish conquest, only to be repackaged as a thriving tourist center. The capital of Cuzco is only the gateway. Beyond lies the Sacred Valley, Andean countryside dotted with villages, high-altitude hamlets and ruins linked by trail and railway tracks to the continent's biggest draw – Machu Picchu.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Museo Inkariy

The Sacred Valley

This wonderful new museum takes visitors into the world of the fascinating pre-Colombian civilizations that came before the Inca. It acknowledges the…
Museo Machu Picchu

Cuzco

This newish museum exhibits 360 pieces from Machu Picchu taken by Hiram Bingham's expeditions and recently returned by Yale University, including stone…
Parque Arqueológico Choquequirao

Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

Translating as 'Cradle of Gold,' this remote Incan site (3050m) in the Vilcabamba mountain range over the Apurimac canyon bears a strong resemblance to…
Cusco Planetarium

Cuzco

An excellent way to explore the fascinating Inca cosmovision. They defined constellations of darkness as well as light, used astronomy to predict weather…
La Catedral

Cuzco

A squatter on the site of Viracocha Inca’s palace, the cathedral was built using blocks pilfered from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywamán. Its…
Qorikancha

Cuzco

If you visit only one Cuzco site, make it these Inca ruins forming the base of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo. Once the richest temple…
Sacsaywamán

Cuzco & the Sacred Valley

This immense ruin of both religious and military significance is the most impressive in the immediate area around Cuzco. The long Quechua name means …
Ollantaytambo Ruins

Ollantaytambo

Both fortress and temple, these spectacular Inca ruins rise above Ollantaytambo, making a splendid half-day trip. (Admission is via the boleto turístico…