Peru > Southern Sierra > Cusco
Cusco
S 13°31.007', W 71°58.733'
2015-05-09
Our rating: 8.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cusco (or Cuzco) is the most interesting tourist city in Peru, located in the Andes at an altitude of 3400 meters. In Europe on such height there are even no bushes. Almost all the tourists are visited Cusco as it is located on the way to Machu Picchu. It is the perfect place to spend a few nights and see all the interesting places around. If you are planning to do so, buy a general tourist ticket (http://www.cosituc.gob.pe , $43 in 2015). We bought it in Saksaywaman.
Tourist ticket of Cusco ©cosituc.gob.pe
Cusco is an ancient city, the ruler Pachacuti greatly expanded the empire of the Incas and made the city an important capital. In 1533 came the Spaniards and completely rebuilt it. Inca brickwork can be found only in a few places in the city, such as the Hatunrumiyoc street.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
There are no moto-taxi in Cusco and that is very good for tourists. As in all other cities of the country, central square is the most interesting place. Plaza de Armas played a crucial role not only on the territory of Peru but also throughout South America, as it has been the central square of the largest empire in the world. In 1781 Spaniards killed here last Inca Tupac Amaru II. Two cathedrals were built on the spot of the former Inca palaces.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
In the middle of the square stands a fountain with a statue of the Inca ruler.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
We lived right on the central square at the El Virrey Boutique (booking.com ). View from the window.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Snout
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Beautiful light
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Female police officers are constantly whistling
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
In Cusco, like in Arequipa, there many courtyards (patio), but here they are all used by shops or hotels.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Old "beetles" are very popular across Peru.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Koricancha was the most important temple of the Inca empire, although it was built before incas. Dedicated to the Inti - the sun god.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
In the days of the Inca walls and the floor of the temple were decorated with gold plates. Almost all of the gold has been given to Spaniards as a ransom for the ruler Atahualpa. After receiving the ransom, Atahualpa was executed.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
The temple itself was not preserved, Cathedral of Santa Domingo is built around the remains of the temple. Inside is a museum where you can see the walls of Coricancha and various artifacts.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
The historic center of Cusco is quite large, you can walk here all the day long. In the morning, when the sun is above the Saksayvaman and Christ, it makes sense to climb up to two viewing points within the city. The first one is near the church of San Cristobal.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Second one is above the Plaza San Blas. Go there from San Cristobal, in one place you have to turn from the Tandapata street to the Kiskapata street.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Two viewpoints in Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
On the way from San Cristobal there will be a huge rock-stone. This is not interesting archaeological site Huaca Sapantiana, but from it is visible an aqueduct of the colonial era.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Down to the central square you go down through the San Blas district, which is pretty nice, very similar to Spain.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
If you do not want to climb high, we found another viewpoint right near the Plaza de Armaz. It is located here.
©Yuriy Buriak
In this small square you need to climb the fence to the left.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
View from there:
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
There are other viewpoints, for example Saksayvaman or the statue of Christ, but it's not easy to reach them on foot. Also we visited one of the festivals in Cusco.
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Cusco ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: There is an airport in Cusco, so it is convenient to get there by plane. The airport is in the city, take any taxi at the exit of the terminal. Find here timetable of the buses to/from Cusco.
Tags, Peru: cathedral , city , observation deck Tags, all countries: cathedral , city , observation deck
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help