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How to get there
Daily flights: Lima (55 min), Arequipa (30 min)
Several buses daily: Lima (20 bis 22 h), Arequipa (8 bis 10 h),
Puno (6 h), La Paz (12 h)
Motorway: 1050 km from Lima, 450 km from Arequipa
Best time to travel
Possible all year round. The recommended time to travel is the dry
season from April to October.
Activities
In Cusco there is a wide range of sports activities. You can find
agencies to do hiking, trekking, climbing as well as paragliding.
Language schools
Peru and in particular Cusco are perfectly suitable for a stay to
learn the language.
Here you will find our partner
language school.
Accommodation
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Altitude: about 3300 m
Inhabitants: about 350,000
City
map
The archaeological capital of Latin America was the capital of the
Inca culture and today is home to their descendants, the Quechua.
The unforgettable visit will give you an idea about the mysteries
of the Inca. Cusco was known as the "navel of the world ". According
to the legend the history dates back to 11th or 12th century when
the first Inca, Manco Capac founded the city to the order of the
Sun god. On 23 March 1534 the emperor Francisco Pizarro declared
the Spanish founding of the city Cusco. Today Cusco is a vivid town
and the Southern highlands' centre. It is a diocesan town and possesses
a university founded by Jesuites in 1622.
The city catches the visitors with its unique atmosphere and therefore
it is worth staying at least a day. On cobblestone pavement you
wander around the streets bordered by colonial buildings, innumerable
churches and picturesque courtyards. The historically interesting city,
embeded in majestic landscape will be an enduring memory for every
traveller.
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Plaza de Armas
The Inca Huacaypata called this central place in Cusco "Place
of warriors". It has been scenery for many historical key incidents
and is still today considered as Cusco's heart. It is surrounded
by colonial arcades and hosts four churches of which the most important
is the cathedral.
Cathedral of Cusco
The cathedral was built from 1560 tol 1664 on the Plaza de Armas
and is one of the most impressiuve buildings in town. The red granite
originates from the Incan Sacsayhuamán. The façade in
the renaissance style stands in constrast to the baroque interior.
The bell in the left of the two 30 m high towers is the biggest
in Latin America. The interior contains fine woodcarved altars and
a wonderful gallery in Cuscan style.
District San Blas
Narrow, steep alleys guide the way through the picturesque district
of craftspeople. Richly decorated colonial buildings, innumerable
shopping facilities as well as awesome little places turn San Blas
into a highlight for every visitor in Cusco. Cusco's oldest church
with its splendid carved, baroque lectern is situated in this district.
Sacsayhuamán
The fortress ruins of Sacsayhuamán give an imposing foretaste
to Machu Picchu. The powerful walls made of enormous granite blocks
and the zig-zag-formed terrasses bestow an impressive example of the
Inca's military architecture. Since the ground plan has the form of
a hawk the Quechua called it "Satisfied hawk". The vice kings
used the fortress as a quarry to build their houses in Cusco.
Boleto Turístico:
Single admissions to only one sight in Cusco are very expensive
or not even available at all. It is common to purchase a Boleto
Turístico which is valid for 15 different sites in Cusco
and the Holy Valley. Prices: Boleto Completo 10 US$, Parcial 6 US$,
students with an international students card 5 US$. Available
at the tourist information and at the various sites.
Next to the famous Inca city Machu Picchu the surroundings offers
various other possibilities for excursions. Many agencies arrange tours and excursions.
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