Visiting Cusco and its region:
Must-see sites, places to discover and activities

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) features brightly colored geological layers at 5,200 meters above sea level. The hike takes 2-3 hours with an elevation gain of 300m. The colors come from different minerals in the sedimentary layers.

Palcoyo offers three colorful mountains with a less difficult hike than Vinicunca (about 1h30). The site is less crowded and accessible to more visitors. Maximum altitude: 4,900 meters.

Pallay Punchu is the third colorful mountain in the region, discovered more recently. Its distinctive triangular shape and red, white, and green layers make it an alternative to the better-known sites. Moderate difficulty hike.

Chonta Canyon is a condor watching site at 3,550 meters above sea level. The 2-hour hike leads to a viewpoint with a view of the 100m deep canyon. Best time: late afternoon.

Lake Humantay is a turquoise glacial lake located at 4,200 meters. The hike takes 1h30-2h with 400m of elevation gain. The lake is fed by the glaciers of Mount Salkantay (6,271m).

The 7 Lagoons of Ausangate display different colors due to minerals at 4,700 meters above sea level. The complete hike takes 4-5 hours. Each lagoon has a distinct hue: green, turquoise, blue, or gray.

Perolniyoc Waterfall is approximately 45 meters high. Accessible via a 2-hour hike from the village of Socma near Ollantaytambo. The trail passes through Inca agricultural terraces.

Rafting on the Urubamba River is practiced on class II-III sections. The departure is usually from Pachar. The activity lasts about 2-3 hours and is suitable for beginners with a guide. Equipment provided: life jacket, helmet, paddle.

The ATV excursion allows you to visit the Moray and Maras sites independently. 4-5 hour route on tracks and dirt roads. Driver's license required. ATVs are automatic or semi-automatic depending on the options.

The via ferrata combines climbing on an equipped wall with an overnight stay in transparent suspended capsules. Guided activity with equipment provided. No prior experience necessary. Maximum height: approximately 300 meters.

The Andean Explorer train connects Cusco to Puno (about 10 hours) with luxury service. Compartments with reclining seats, on-board restaurant, and panoramic views. Stops at La Raya (highest point at 4,313m) and other sites.

The Salkantay trek lasts 4-5 days over 57 km with a highest point at 4,650m. It approaches Machu Picchu from the back. Varied landscapes: Salkantay Pass, jungle, Llactapata ruins. Arrival at Machu Picchu via Aguas Calientes.

The classic Inca Trail lasts 4 days over 42 km. Departure at Km 82, highest point at 4,215m (Dead Woman's Pass). Passes through several Inca sites before arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

Chinchero is an Andean village located at 3,762 m altitude, known for its Sunday market and textile traditions. The weavers use ancestral techniques with natural dyes. The colonial church is built on Inca foundations.

The Sacred Valley is home to several Quechua communities that preserve their traditions. Huilloc, near Ollantaytambo, maintains Inca customs with authentic ceremonies. The Inkas Vivientes association includes Rumira-Sondormayo, Patacancha, and Challwaccocha, offering daily life experiences.

The Amaru community, near Pisac, specializes in traditional weaving and plant dyeing. These villages offer weaving workshops, participation in agricultural activities, and shared meals with the locals.

These encounters allow visitors to discover ancestral weaving techniques, the use of plants for natural dyes, and agricultural rituals linked to the Andean calendar. The warm welcome from the locals makes these experiences particularly enriching.

The historic center of Cusco features the Plaza de Armas with colonial architecture, the 12-Angle Stone (Inca engineering), the San Blas neighborhood (artists), and the San Pedro market (local life). The Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) is surmounted by the Santo Domingo church.

The Basilica of La Merced shows the Inca-Spanish fusion. The White Christ offers a panoramic view of the city. In addition to these sites, Cusco has several museums that present pre-Columbian art, Inca history, and Andean traditions.

Andahuaylillas is a village at 3,100 m altitude, known for its San Pedro church, nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes." The church dates from the 17th century with murals, gold leaf, and a Baroque altarpiece. The village retains cobblestone streets and colonial architecture.

The site is part of the Route of the Sun between Cusco and Puno. The visit generally includes the exterior and interior of the church. Andahuaylillas presents a preserved example of colonial religious architecture in an Andean rural setting.

Tarawasi is an Inca archaeological site located on the route to Chonta Canyon. The stone structures feature ceremonial architecture with niches and platforms. The site offers insight into pre-Columbian construction techniques before the condor viewing.

Quillarumiyoc features a large carved stone in the shape of a half-moon, considered an astronomical altar. The site is located on the same circuit as Chonta Canyon. The engraved motifs suggest ceremonial functions related to lunar cycles.

Wakra Pukara ("Horn Fortress") is an Inca fortress perched on a hill at 4,000m altitude. The site features defensive walls and stone structures with panoramic views of the mountains. Inca military architecture with a strategic position.

Pumamarca is an Inca citadel with spiral agricultural terraces and carved stone structures. Located in the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo. The site includes stairways, passages, and central plazas showing Inca urban organization.

Ankashmarca is built on a steep ridge with stone walls and high-altitude agricultural terraces. The structures may have had spiritual and astronomical functions. Little-visited site requiring a moderate hike to access.

Calca is a small town preserved from mass tourism, ideal for discovering a lively local market, hot springs (Machacancha, Minas Moqo), and Inca sites such as Huchuy Qosqo or Ankasmarka. Starting point for the alternative Lares trek to Machu Picchu.

Nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Urubamba offers a peaceful setting surrounded by mountains, farmland and the Vilcanota River. The town is also a convenient base for exploring the surrounding landscapes, villages and archaeological sites.

Pikillacta is a pre-Inca site of the Huari civilization (600-1000 AD). Features rectangular urban planning with streets, canals, and inner courtyards. Architecture distinct from the Incas, showing urban development before the Inca empire.

Huchuy Qosqo ("Little Cusco") is accessible via a 3-4 hour trek from Lamay or Chinchero. Altitude: 3,600m. The site features stone walls, terraces, and ceremonial structures. Panoramic view of the Sacred Valley.

Tipon features a complex Inca hydraulic system with canals, fountains, and agricultural terraces. Water is channeled from a mountain spring. The site shows Inca expertise in irrigation and hillside farming.

The Q'eswachaca Bridge is a rope bridge made of vegetable fiber rebuilt each June by four Quechua communities. Length: 28m. Tradition inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list. Renewal ceremony following ancestral rituals.

Ñaupa Huaca is a cave sanctuary with ceremonial structures carved into the rock. Located near Ollantaytambo. The site features niches, altars, and canals probably used for Inca rituals related to water and the earth.

The Inkariy Museum presents the history of Andean civilizations through interactive exhibitions. Includes sections on pre-Inca cultures, the Inca empire, and the colonial period. Practical workshops on textiles, ceramics, and traditional craft techniques.

The Lares hot springs are accessible by road from Cusco (3-4 hours) or via a 2-3 day trek. The natural springs at 3,200m altitude have a temperature of 38-42°C. Options: day visit or combined circuit with hiking and community visits.

The Ccochahuasi refuge houses rescued Andean animals: condors, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and monkeys. Educational visit on local wildlife conservation. Condor flight demonstrations and explanations about endangered Andean species.

The Cconoc hot springs are located 120km from Cusco in the Sacred Valley. Water temperature: 36-40°C. Natural pools with mountain views. Accessible as a day trip from Cusco.