The 20 best tourist attractions in Cusco
Cusco has a great diversity of tourist attractions. From novel places like the Abode of the Gods to world-class historical sites like Machu Picchu. If you visit the land of the Incas you must do so well informed. Find out below the twenty best destinations on your trip to Cusco, their location, price and more.
Summary of the history of Cusco
Cusco is considered the historical capital of Peru. The capital of the Tahuantinsuyo empire, the largest in South America, was located there. The Incas left evidence of their great cultural development with amazing buildings such as Sacsayhuamán, Coricancha, Ollantaytambo, Choquequirao and, of course, Machu Picchu. Today Cusco is the most touristic Peruvian destination. Due to its great history, it is also called the ‘museum city’ or the ‘Rome of America’. Learn about the summarized history of Cusco, its Inca and colonial past and its current period.
5 short free walks in Cusco highly recommended
The Incas were a Quechua ethnic group that inhabited the territory of Cusco and later expanded their territory to various regions of South America including areas of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina. The city of Cusco was its capital. Today, it is the most touristic city in Peru and one of the most visited in South America. There you can do many activities, including a visit to the world famous Machu Picchu. Learn about 5 short walks that you can do in Cusco. 100% recommended!
Who was the mythical god Wiracocha
Wiracocha is the most supreme divinity in the cultures of Ancient Peru. Its representation has been present since the Caral civilization 5 thousand years ago. It was also venerated in important cultures such as Tiahuanaco (1,500 BC – 1,000 AD) as well as the Inca Empire (1,200 AD – 1,533 AD). His real name would be Apu Qun Illa Tiqsi Wiraquchan Pachayachachiq Pachakamaq, Apu Kon Illa Teqse Wiraqochan Pachayachachiq Pachakamaq, which, translated from the Quechua language, means: ‘Great Lord, eternal radiance, source of life, knowledge and maker of the world’. Learn more!
How did the Incas dress?
Clothing in the Inca era is described today thanks to the finds of mummies and burials. They were also described by chroniclers in the 16th century, especially through the didactic drawings of the famous chronicler Guamán Poma de Ayala. The main materials were cotton, alpaca and vicuña wool. The quality of the garment allowed the social class and even the ethnic origin of the man and woman to be differentiated.
Where is the mummy of the Inca Pachacutec?
When the Inca emperor died, his body was mummified and worshiped as a divinity because it was believed that death was a transition to a new life. However, in the 16th century, with the arrival of the Spanish, many mummies were destroyed to avoid this cult considered pagan. Apparently the mummy of the famous emperor Pachacutec was stolen and hidden somewhere in the vast Inca empire. Chronicles and research suggest some places in Lima, Cusco and even Machu Picchu. Where is Pachacutec’s mummy?
Inca history: the 10 most important historical facts
Inca history has 10 important historical events such as: the founding of Manco Cápac, the government of Pachacutec, the death of Atahualpa and more.
Incas vs Aztecs? Who would have won a war?
The Incas and the Aztecs were the two great civilizations of pre-Columbian America. The Incas founded the largest empire in South America. The Aztecs, formed by the Triple Alliance, founded one of the most feared states in Central America. Both were invaded and subdued by the Spanish in the 16th century. Learn more about these cultures, their similarities and differences as well as a possible confrontation. What would have happened?
What were the sacred Inca animals?
According to the Inca worldview, animals were represented in the Milky Way in the form of constellations. The thing is that animals were essential for survival. They supplied food and wool for the manufacture of clothing. Some were even bearers of messages to the gods of the upper world (hanan pacha). For this reason they were represented in ceramics, textiles and even sacred infrastructures such as Machu Picchu. Learn more!
How few Spaniards defeated thousands of Incas?
The Spanish conquest over the Incas was caused by: the civil war, the allied peoples of the Spanish, the capture of Atahualpa and new diseases.