Tours  Guides Peru Travels

Tours  Guides Peru Travels : Cusco is located in the central and southeastern region of Peru. It occupies

much of the Vilcanota mountain range, which plays a key role in its unique geography. The region’s diversity and

sudden changes in landscapes and ecosystems are primarily linked to the Andes mountain range. Without these

mountains, Cusco and Peru in general would be tropical regions.

Area

72,104 km²

Topography Tours  Guides Peru Travels –

Cusco’s terrain is marked by the Eastern and Central Andes Mountain Ranges, which originate in the Vilcanota

knot.

The Central Andes are further divided into three sub-ranges: Vilcanota, Vilcabamba, and Paucartambo. The

Andean region features high-altitude landscapes such as plateaus, mesetas, and expansive pampas. These are

bordered by deep ravines and valleys carved by rivers like the Paucartambo, Urubamba, and Apurímac.

The High Jungle region offers a descent into diverse, lush vegetation with a warm, continental climate.

Climate  in the Tours  Guides Peru Travels .

Cusco experiences a varied climate due to its many different ecological zones.

In the lower altitudes (around 2,000 meters), the climate is generally warm.

In the Inter-Andean region, the climate is temperate.

Higher altitudes (above 3,700 meters) feature cooler temperatures.

Elevation

City of Cusco: 3,399 meters above sea level.

Lowest point: 532 meters above sea level (Pilcopata).

Highest point: 4,801 meters above sea level (Suyckutambo).

Boundaries in the Tours  Guides Peru Travels

North: Adjacent to the jungles of Junín and Ucayali.

West: Bordered by the jungles of Ayacucho and the Apurímac mountain range.

South: Connected to the highland regions of Arequipa and Puno.

East: Borders the vast Amazon plain of Madre de Dios.

Distances & Access the Tours  Guides Peru Travels

From Lima to Cusco: 1,153 km.

By road:

Lima-Arequipa-Cusco: 1,650 km (26 hours by car).

Lima-Nasca-Puquio-Abancay-Cusco: 1,131 km (20 hours by car).

Puno-Cusco: 389 km (7 hours by car).

By air: Regular flights from Lima (1 hour), Arequipa (30 minutes), and Puerto Maldonado (30 minutes) to Cusco.

By train: Regular service from Puno to Cusco: 384 km (10 hours).

CUSCO: MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS – Tours  Guides Peru Travels

Andahuaylillas

A picturesque village renowned for the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, built in the early 17th century.

Inside, you’ll find gilded altars, paintings, and murals from the Cusco School of Art, along with silver jewelry. The

village square is beautifully enhanced by Pisonay trees. A few kilometers further, you’ll reach Huaro, a village

historically inhabited by the shamans during the Inca period.

San Blas Neighborhood

Famous for being home to some of the most important artists in the region. Visitors can enjoy an amazing folk fair,

artisan stores, charming plazas, and stroll through narrow streets showcasing colonial architecture, including the

Church of San Blas, the oldest in the city. Here, you’ll also have the chance to experience local customs and savor regional food.

  Tours  Guides Peru Travels  to the visit  Maras

  Tours  Guides Peru Travel :  This town boasts a magnificent church and grand houses adorned with the shields of

noble indigenous families, a reflection of its prosperous colonial era.

A must-see is the salt mines, which have been in operation since the Inca Empire.

Visitors can even participate in salt extraction, using techniques from ancient times. Additionally, the agricultural

terraces at Moray, an Inca agricultural laboratory, offer a blend of historical significance and stunning scenery.

From here, you can also visit the salt pans, a beautiful sight to behold.

Tours  Guides Peru Travels to  Ollantaytambo

Known as the “living Inca village,” Ollantaytambo retains much of its ancient mystique. Its intact Inca dwellings

and ecological diversity across multiple altitudinal zones take visitors back in time.

The Inca Bridge leading to Pachar and the grandiose stone terraces of the Ollantaytambo Fortress are impressive,

designed to protect the empire from a different angle.

Other nearby monuments, such as Mañaraucay, Incahuatana, and the Princess’s Baths, further enhance the area’s

historical charm.

The highlight of the town is its living tradition: the local people, dressed in traditional attire, share Inca myths,

legends, and customs, allowing visitors to connect with the ancient civilization. sacred valley  tour 

Tours  Guides Peru Travels  to  Paucartambo

Located along the alternative route to Pisac, between Huancarani and Huambutío, Paucartambo is a beautiful

example of colonial Peru with deep Andean roots.

Its narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with charming blue balconies, adding to the town’s colonial allure.

CUSCO: MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

6. Paucartambo

Every July, Paucartambo celebrates one of the most spectacular festivals in the region: the Fiesta de la Virgen del

Carmen.

This event offers a vibrant celebration where you can dance with mask-wearers to the rhythm of comparsas and

processions in honor of the town’s patroness. Afterward, enjoy a refreshing bath and head to the Mirador de las

Tres Cruces for one of the most unforgettable sunrises in the world.

7. Piquillacta

Known as the “City of the Fleas,” Piquillacta was one of the most important centers of the Wari culture. The site

consists of various constructions designed to defend the territory and store agricultural products. Nearby, you’ll

find Laguna Lucre or Huacarpay, a peaceful spot rich with wildlife, where you can enjoy the landscape and regional

cuisine at local restaurants.

8.  Tours  Guides Peru Travels  visit  Pisac

Pisac, the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba, is a charming town with colonial and mestizo features.

Immerse yourself in local customs and explore the traditional market filled with regional crafts. The colonial

church in Pisac hosts Mass in Quechua, with the presence of the Varayocs (local authorities). Prepare for a

challenging hike to the Pisac Archaeological Site, an important Inca fortress that once protected the empire’s

capital. The site features spectacular agricultural terraces, such as Qanturaquay, Amaru, Punku, Intihuanta (the

Inca sun dial), and Tanqanamanka, the largest pre-Columbian cemetery in South America.

9. Plaza de Armas -Tours  Guides Peru Travels

Also known as Aucaypata (meaning “Plaza of the Warrior” in Quechua), the Plaza de Armas was one of the key

locations for Inca festivals like the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun). The square’s beauty is accentuated by its stone

arches, a result of Spanish colonial architecture.

10. Puca Pucara

Puca Pucara, which means “Red Fort” in Quechua, is named for the red hue the rocks take on during twilight. This

site, which once served as an administrative center, invites visitors to explore its terraces, staircases, and passages

—areas once traveled by mythic figures of the Inca Empire.

11. Qenqo

The most striking feature of Qenqo is the large carved stone block, believed to have been used to store chicha (corn

beer), a drink consumed during Inca rituals. As you enter the network of tunnels and underground galleries

adorned with Inca deities, you’ll reach a circular patio with a prominent stone (or Wanka) that may represent a

deity.

12. Sacsayhuaman

Located just 2 kilometers from Cusco, Sacsayhuaman is a military fortress constructed from perfectly cut granite

stones.

This fortress, which took over seven decades and the labor of 20,000 workers to build, is renowned for the

incredible precision of its construction. Its layout represents the head of a puma, the animal that symbolized

Cusco.

Notable features include the Rodadero (a natural rock formation) and the Inca Throne.

13. Urubamba

Situated in the heart of the Urubamba Valley, this town is surrounded by beautiful landscapes that define Peru’s

highlands. Urubamba was once a pre-Hispanic agricultural center.

Visitors can enjoy typical regional dishes at the town’s famous picanterías (traditional eateries) and explore its

countryside, with views of the imposing Nevado Chicón.

14. Yucay

Nestled within lush green valleys, Yucay offers visitors stunning views and a glimpse into the past with its colonial

church and the Palace of Inca Sayri Tupac, a rebellious leader of Vilcabamba. The town also features a temple

made of stone and adobe with intricate decorations in high and low relief.

15. Tipón

Located 25 kilometers from Cusco, Tipón is said to be one of the royal gardens built by the Inca emperor

Wiracocha.

The site features twelve terraces, finely polished stone walls, large agricultural terraces, canals, and waterfalls that

create an awe-inspiring landscape.

16. Limatambo

As mentioned in Pedro Cieza de León’s chronicles, Limatambo is famous for being the site of the fierce battle

between Diego de Almagro and the indigenous peoples before the Spanish entered Cusco. Today, Limatambo is

home to the Tarawasi Archaeological Complex, a remnant of the flourishing Inca period. Limatambo was also one

of the Tampu (resting places) on the four main routes leading to the Inca capital, Cusco.

17. Machu Picchu

Hidden by the passage of time, entangled between the charm of the jungle and the mountain, Machu Picchu holds

the mystery of a legendary empire within its walls and the labyrinth of its passageways.

This archaeological wonder of Peru and the world is considered a UNESCO World  -Tours  Guides Peru Travels

Heritage Site and was recently chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu invites

visitors to explore its intricate and spectacular architecture, which remains one of the greatest mysteries of the

world.

Located on the left bank of the Vilcanota River, in the Kusichaca Valley, this spectacular structure sits atop Machu

Picchu Mountain, which means “Old Mountain” in Quechua. Facing it is the towering Huayna Picchu (Young

Mountain). Both mountains are surrounded by the rushing waters of the Urubamba River. The most remarkable

feature of this site is how harmoniously it blends with the surrounding natural environment, a rare effect seen in

few human-made works.

18. Choquequirao

Located in the Cusco Region, Choquequirao consists of nine distinct sectors, with notable features such as:

The religious center, with its system of fountains and aqueducts.

A group of covered structures.

The religious nature of this site is evident throughout the complex, which is arranged around a large open space or main plaza.

It is complemented by a well-preserved system of agricultural terraces (andenes).

The archaeological remains are scattered across the descending slopes of Choquequirao Mountain, grouped in

small districts separated by a considerable distance. The layout suggests a focus on social hierarchy and the fusion

of different cultural groups.

The residential sector is located on the lower slopes,

while the agricultural terraces are found along the mountain’s sides. Some of these terraces had irrigation channels

and were used year-round, while others appear to have been used seasonally.

The ceremonial sector is located in the main plaza area, while the upper sections of the site feature a series of

sophisticated buildings.

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