Discover the most visited places in the city of Cusco. The city of Cusco is known for its diverse tourist attractions, and here we’ll tell you which are the most popular.
Cusco: The Most Visited Places
Cusco receives thousands of foreign and domestic visitors daily, and the main tourist attractions they visit are:
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the southern Andes of Peru, near Cusco, at 2,430 meters above sea level. It is one of the most visited sites in South America, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered a masterpiece of Inca architecture and engineering.
To get to Machu Picchu, there are two options: by train or by hiking the hydroelectric dam route. The fastest and safest way is by train, and you can board at the Poroy, Urubamba, or Ollantaytambo station. If you choose to hike the hydroelectric dam route, it is recommended to use this route only during the dry season. You can organize your trip to Machu Picchu with a tour or on your own.
Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuaman is a monumental Inca ceremonial complex located just 2 km north of Cusco, famous for its enormous stone walls and for being the main stage of Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun), celebrated every year on June 24th. This tourist attraction is very close to the city of Cusco and you can visit it with a tour or on your own. If you wish to go with a tour, you should request the Cusco City Tour. If you wish to visit on your own, you can take a shared taxi or a shared taxi, or walk from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. The walking time will be approximately 35 minutes to 1 hour.
Vinicunca
The Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), also known as the Mountain of Colors, is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Peru. Located in the Andes, southeast of Cusco, Rainbow Mountain is famous for its vibrant, mineral-rich bands of red, yellow, green, and purple that resemble a painted landscape. A tour is recommended to visit Rainbow Mountain, but it’s advisable to spend two or three days in Cusco beforehand to acclimatize.
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is one of the most impressive Inca archaeological sites in Peru’s Sacred Valley and a town where the Inca urban planning is still preserved. It is both a fortress and a ceremonial center, strategically located to protect the entrance to the valley leading to Machu Picchu. To reach Ollantaytambo, you can take a Sacred Valley tour or arrange private transportation. Many travelers arrive here to board the train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).
