Cusco is a city bound by the stunning landscapes of the Andes, offering a peek back into a sacred Incan past.
High in the Andes - at a soaring altitude of 11,200 feet above sea level to be exact - in the valley of the Huatanay River lies the city of Cusco. The Peruvian city covers 617 sq km, offering a mixture of landscapes including Incan ruins, mountainous surroundings, and wide city squares. As the former centre of the Incan Empire, Cusco was actually a city that only permitted entry to royalty and high-ranking officials. As such, the city is full of ancient walls and former palaces of Incan kings, with massive, perfect walls that can be admired as you wander about the ancient city.
The Sacsayhuaman is one of the must-visit Incan architecture sites, a fortress complex in the northern part of the city which speaks to the ingenious architectural brilliance of the Incans. There’s also the Coricancha, also known as the Golden Enclosure, which contained the Temple of the Sun, the most sacred hub of the Incan world. If you want to venture even further (geographically and historically), take a day trip to famed Machu Picchu.
Things to do in Cusco
Cusco is not only an incredible base from which you can explore the best of Peru, but it also contains many highlights of its own. Here’s what to do in Cusco.

Pick up some local delights at San Pedro Market

See the Sacsayhuaman

Take a day trip to Machu Picchu