cathedral
Cusco Cathedral
16th-century cathedral on the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, built on the Inca Kiswarkancha palace foundations.
2 km · about 5 min drive
South AmericaPeruCuzco Department
Cusco
Cuzco Department, Peru · South America
About Cusco
Cusco works well as a base: 5 minutes from San Sebastián, 3km from Sacsayhuaman.
Cusco is in Cuzco Department, Peru, with about 430,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is San Sebastián, about 4 km away.
Cusco or Cuzco (; Latin American Spanish: [ˈkusko]; Qusqu or Quechua: Qosqo, both pronounced in Cuzco Quechua as [ˈqosqɔ]) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range, and the Huatanay and Urubamba rivers. It is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Cusco Province andRead more
Cusco Department. It has historically been one of the largest cultural, economic and political centers of Peru.
The region was inhabited by the Killke culture in the 10th century, with the fortress Sacsayhuamán being constructed in the 11th century. The city was originally founded in the 12th century by Manco Cápac, as the capital of the Kingdom of Cusco and, later, of the Inca Empire. The region was conquered in the 16th century by the Spanish and reestablished on 23 March 1534, with most of the city being constructed over monuments left from the Inca Empire. In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with the title "City of Cusco". It has become a major tourist destination, hosting over 2 million visitors a year and providing passage to numerous Incan ruins, such as Machu Picchu, one of the seven modern wonders of the world. The Constitution of Peru (1993) designates the city as the Historical Capital of Peru.
Cusco is the seventh-most populous city in Peru; in 2017, it had a population of 428,450. It is also the largest city in the Peruvian Andes and the region is the seventh-most populous metropolitan area of Peru. Its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft). The largest district in the city is the Cusco District, which had a population of 114,630 in 2017, making up about one quarter of the city's total population.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Cusco?
Within an hour or so of Cusco: Cusco Cathedral (2 km), Sacsayhuaman (3 km), Pisac (18 km), Sacred Valley of the Incas (25 km).
Are there any good drives near Cusco?
The nearest famous roads are Abra La Raya.
Where is Cusco?
Cusco is in Cuzco Department, Peru, about 4 km from San Sebastián.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 428,450
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Peru
- Region
- Cuzco Department
- Timezone
- America/Lima
- Coordinates
- -13.5319, -71.9670
Tags
Worth the detour from Cusco
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Sacsayhuaman
A massive Inca fortress above Cusco built with enormous precisely fitted limestone blocks, some weighing over 100 tons, arranged in impressive zigzag walls.
3 km · about 5 min drive
ancient ruins
Pisac
A hillside Inca citadel above a vibrant market town, featuring agricultural terraces, ceremonial baths, and sweeping Sacred Valley views.
18 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Sacred Valley of the Incas
A fertile valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu filled with Inca ruins, colorful markets, and agricultural terraces framed by snow-capped Andes peaks.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Salt Mines of Maras (Salineras de Maras)
Over 3,000 shallow salt evaporation ponds cascading down a hillside, harvested continuously since Inca times by local families.
33 km · about 40 min drive
ancient ruins
Moray Agricultural Terraces
Mysterious concentric circular terraces believed to be an Inca agricultural laboratory, with temperature differences of up to 15°C between levels.
34 km · about 40 min drive
ancient ruins
Ollantaytambo
A living Inca town with massive stone terraces and a fortress temple, the last stronghold where the Inca resisted Spanish conquest.
44 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Cusco
- 73 kmSun Gate (Inti Punku) ViewpointThe first viewpoint of Machu Picchu for Inca Trail hikers, revealing the lost city nestled between green peaks and swirling cloud.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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