During the Cusco city tour you will have the opportunity to know the most important attractions of the city of Cusco, through a sightseeing tour and accompanied by a tour guide who will give you all the information of the places to know in the ancient capital of the Incas.
The main attractions of the tour are: Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.
THE CATHEDRAL OF CUSCO
The cathedral of Cusco is built on Inca foundations where it was the main house of the Inca Viracocha, composed of three naves and three temples which are: the temple of the Holy Family, the Temple of the Triumph and the Cathedral Basilica of Renaissance Baroque style, where there is a valuable custody composed of trapezoids, diamonds, emeralds, diamonds, agate, sapphires, amethysts, rubies and pearls.
What to see in the Cathedral of Cusco?
- The crypt where the ashes of the archbishops of Cusco and the chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega are kept.
- The Sala de Plateria, a chapel with a collection of gold and silver religious objects.
- Canvases of the Cusco school of the colonial time among them the last supper of measures 5×4 meters and other religious canvases of great size.
- Lord of the Tremors the Sworn Patron Saint of Cusco
- The choir, made up of carved cedar ashlars in three-sided neo archaic style in it there are 42 images of Saints and 38 images of Saints and Virgins, the most striking attraction of the Cathedral of Cusco.
QORICANCHA
Qoricancha or Coricancha its name comes from the Quechua language from the words Qori which means “gold” and Cancha “temple or place”, originally it was called as Intiwasi “house of the sun”. In this Inca temple built by Pachacutec the walls and walls were covered with gold plates that adorned the other enclosures dedicated to his other deities such as the moon, the stars, etc.. According to chroniclers this place had representations of animals and flora in gold in real size that were later looted. Today, the convent of Santo Domingo is located in this place.
What to see in Qoricancha?
- Enclosure of the Sun
- Enclosure of the Stars
- Enclosure of the Moon
- Enclosure of the Rainbow
- Enclosure of the Lightning
- Enclosure of the Sacrifices
- Sacred alley
- Sacred garden
SACSAYHUAMAN
Sacsayhuaman that comes from the Quechua word Saqsaywaman, from the word saqsay that means full or satisfied and from the word waman that means falcon, that is to say satisfied falcon, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman is located 2 kilometers north of the city of Cusco, which was built in the government of the Inca Pachacutec in the XV century and destroyed in the XVI century by the Spaniards during the conquest in the period of the Inca Huayna Capac.
What to see in Sacsayhuaman?
- The towers located in the high part of the fortress: Muyucmarca, Sayacmarca and Paucarmarca.
- The walls that have a zigzag shape and of great megalithic size.
- The artificial lagoon, considered as an astronomical observatory.
- Chincanas underground channels.
- Amphitheaters
- Inca throne where the ruler presided over ceremonies and rituals.
- The staging of the Inti Raymi (June 24).
Q’ENQO
Q’enqo means “labyrinth” because of the subway galleries that are under the stone structures. Qenqo was an archaeological center of great importance due to the remains that still stand despite the destruction with the Spanish conquest, in it the Incas worshiped their gods like the moon, the sun, the stars, the sacred mountain and the earth and also place where they put the mummies of the Inca rulers as part of their ceremonies in the niches that are in the amphitheater that surrounds the site.
What to see in Q’enqo?
- The amphitheater, a semi-circular platform surrounded by niches.
- Underground galleries that are believed to communicate with the Qoricancha.
- The Intihuatana which is located in the upper part of the bedrock.
- Temple of the monkeys at 500 meters this name is so called because of the zoomorphic carvings of snakes and monkeys.
TAMBOMACHAY
Tambomachay which means in the Quechua language: Tampu machay “place of rest” this place was destined to the cult of water. This archaeological site consists of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls.
PUCA PUCARA
Puca Pucara its name comes from the Quechua language which means “red fortress” due to the red color of its rocks and the color during the twilight. Puca Pucara was a construction of military architecture that also functioned as an administrative center, in it we can find terraces, Inca walls, stairways, and ceremonial centers.