Cuzco, also spelled Cusco, is a city and Inca region in south-central Peru. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere. Formerly the capital of the extensive Inca empire, it retains much of its highly crafted early stone architecture, which is typically preserved in the foundations and lower stories of Spanish colonial structures. Cuzco was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
Location of Cusco in Peru
Today, Cusco is the tourist center of Peru, but it is also one of the most important cities in the country. The city is popular with all types of travelers, such as backpackers, individual travelers, or group travelers. But you also often see language travelers and exchange students here. Cusco is the starting point for tours to Macchu Picchu or the Rainbow Mountain and is easy to reach from Lima.
Geographical Location and Climate
The city stands high in the Andes at an average elevation of 11,150 feet (3,400 metres) at the west end of the Huatanay valley, a basin extending 20 miles (30 km) east to Huambutio. It is watered by the small Huatanay, Huancaro, and Chunchullmayo rivers, tributaries of the Vilcanota. The air is generally dry, and frost is rare even during the coldest months, June and July. The rainy season is from November to February.
Cusco extends throughout the Huatanay (or Watanay) river valley. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft). To its north is the Vilcabamba mountain range with 4,000-6,000-meter-high (13,000-20,000-foot) mountains.
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Cusco has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb, Trewartha: Cwll). It is generally dry and temperate, with two defined seasons. Winter occurs from April through September, with abundant sunshine and occasional nighttime frosts; July is the coldest month with an average of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F). Summer occurs from October through to March, with warm temperatures and abundant rainfall; November is the warmest month, averaging 13.3 °C (55.9 °F). Although frost and hail are common, the last reported snowfall was in June 1911. Temperatures usually range from 0.2 to 20.9 °C (32.4 to 69.6 °F), but the all-time extreme temperature range is between −8.9 and 30 °C (16.0 and 86.0 °F).
Historical Significance
Cuzco, whose name derives from a Quechua word meaning “navel” or “centre,” dates from the 11th or 12th century and was the capital of Tawantinsuyu (“Realm of the Four Parts”), an empire that by the late 15th century extended to the northwest some 1,100 miles (1,800 km), reaching approximately to the northern border of present-day Ecuador, and to the south 1,600 miles (2,600 km), reaching the centre of present-day Chile, as well as to the southeast to portions of modern Bolivia and Argentina.
The population of the empire at the time of the Spanish conquest, in the 1530s, may have numbered more than 12 million. The city itself had tens of thousands of inhabitants, perhaps as many as 200,000. Cusco and the surrounding area contain extensive Inca ruins that reflect great skill in engineering, stonework, and architecture.
Still extant are numerous walls built without mortar; their stones were cut in irregular shapes and fitted with such precision that a matchbox cover cannot be inserted into most seams. The famous Stone of Twelve Angles is a fine example of this construction.
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Spanish Conquest
Forces of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro occupied Cuzco in November 1533 and sacked the city. Pizarro formally established the municipal government of Cuzco in March 1534 in the name of the emperor Charles V, but the city declined in importance after Pizarro moved his capital to the coastal site of Lima in 1535.
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A major earthquake occurred in 1650, causing great destruction to the buildings then standing in Cuzco. The rebuilding efforts that followed mark the beginning of the Cuzco Baroque period, during which the city was the centre of a prolific artistic production in masonry, painting, sculpture, jewelry, and ornamental woodworking. The work was guided or influenced by Roman Catholic priests and monks, and several notable churches and other buildings were erected in place of-or above-existing Inca structures.
Three hundred years later, in May 1950, Cuzco experienced another significant earthquake, which damaged all the churches and almost 90 percent of the dwellings.
Key Attractions in and Around Cusco
Cusco and the surrounding area are rich in historical sites and architectural wonders. Here are some of the key attractions:
* Koricancha (Temple of the Sun): The church of Santo Domingo, consecrated in 1654, incorporates the foundations and several walls of the Koricancha (Coricancha), a Quechua name meaning “Golden Enclosure,” or “Golden Garden”.* Cathedral of Cuzco: The cathedral of Cuzco, Peru. It was built on the site of the Inca palace of Viracocha (Huiracocha), which had suffered extensive damage in an earthquake in 1650, and was consecrated in 1654.* Sacsahuamán: The cyclopean fortress of Sacsahuamán overlooks the valley from a hill 755 feet (230 metres) above Cuzco. Many of its component stones are the size of boulders, weighing as much as 100-300 tons and measuring up to 27 feet (8.2 metres) in height.Sacsahuamán
Other Architecturally Significant Buildings:
* National University of San Antonio Abad del Cuzco (founded 1598)* Church of La Compañía (built on the foundations of the Temple of the Serpents)* La Merced church and convent (the earliest Christian church in Cuzco, founded 1534)* Santa Catalina convent (replaced the House of the Virgins of the Sun)Modern Cusco
Each June 24, Cuzco hosts Inti Raymi (“Festival of the Sun”), a grand celebration and pageant in commemoration of the ancient Inca religious festival of the solstice.
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Cusco is considered the tourism mecca of Peru. More than one million travelers-both international and local-arrive in Cusco each year. This destination is featured in nearly every travel guide as one of the best cities to visit before you die.
Why visit Cusco? This is a question many travelers ask when they plan a trip to Peru. Cusco is known for its rich culture, ancient traditions, stunning natural beauty, and diverse landscapes. But the real reason to visit Cusco is to discover the most breathtaking places left behind by our ancestors.
While Cuzco and Machu Picchu are obligatory destinations for the first trip to Peru, the country has much more to offer. There is too much to see and do in one trip, so plan you're itinerary according to your interests and the season.
The Department of Cusco is divided into 13 provinces and 112 districts, each offering unique cultural and natural attractions. According to the latest government census, the region has a population of approximately 1 million people. Among the most visited provinces are Cusco, Urubamba, Calca, and La Convención, known for their breathtaking landscapes and impressive Inca archaeological sites. These regions attract travelers from around the world who come to explore the rich heritage of the Andes.
How to Get to Cusco
As the first tourist destination in Peru, Cusco has an airport that receives flights from the city of Lima (capital of Peru). Although most tourists arrive by air (1 hour of travel), it is also possible to do so by road through a bus trip (20 hours of travel, approximately).
To visit Cusco from abroad you must necessarily take a flight to the airport in Lima (capital of Peru). From Lima (Jorge Chávez airport), you must take another flight to the city of Cusco (Velasco Astete airport). These are the countries that have direct flights to Lima:
- South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.
- Central and North America: United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic.
- Europe: Spain, France, Holland, England.
Key Facts About Cusco
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Southeastern Peru, in the Andes Mountains |
| Altitude | 3,414 meters (11,200 feet) |
| Population | Approx. 1,316,729 |
| Founding | 11th century |
| Time Zone | UTC -5 |
| Main Attractions | Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, Sacred Valley |
