Overview
Take a trip to Cusco on your Peru Vacation
The continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Cusco is located in southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes Mountain Range. Ever popular with tourists on a Peru vacation, Cusco serves as the gateway to the world-famous Machu Picchu.
Before the arrival of the Incas, Cusco was inhabited by the Killke people from 900-1200 AD. The city grew to become the capital of the Inca Empire and was the centre of its political, military and cultural dealings. While Spaniards originally came to Cusco in November 1533, the city was not officially founded until Francisco Pizarro arrived in March 1534. Just as Cusco was important to the Incas, it became the centre for Spanish colonization as well as a base for the spread of Christianity. The city’s importance began to wane until the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham in 1911 brought Cusco worldwide attention.
Today Cusco has been designated as the Historical Capital of Peru and remains increasingly popular with tourists on Peru vacation packages. Bingham used the city as a base to explore Machu Picchu more than one hundred years ago, and visitors continue to use Cusco as a starting point to explore the many Incan ruins available. Cusco’s centre retains many pre-Columbian and colonial buildings and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Despite being a busy destination on Peru tours, Cusco maintains a unique charm and character that continues to enchant visitors from around the world.
At a Glance
Languages
Peruvian Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, AsháninkaCurrency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)What do the experts say?
For a unique experience visit an indigenous village high in the Andes for a Pachamama ceremony. I was fortunate to participate in one and the warmth of the people and how simple they lived, really touched my heart.
Dress for all weather types, climate can range from very warm and humid in Lima to cool and rainy in Machu Picchu and very hot and dry in the Sacred Valley
May to October is the best time to visit as it is the dry season with sunny days, clear skies, ideal for trekking and enjoy the landscape. However like in all Latin countries, the weather is unpredictable, so be ready if any rain show up during a sunny day
Everyone should make sure they try a Pisco sour - It's Peru’s national cocktail—a smooth, citrusy, and slightly foamy drink made with pisco, a type of grape brandy. It’s both refreshing and strong, with a sweet-tart balance and a signature foamy top from egg white.
It is astonishing how much incredible diversity of experiences can be packed into one country, Peru is full of deep cultural roots, a wide range of landscape, adventure and its delicious cuisine.
Cusco Tours
Cusco is typically the starting point of all Pe...
Explore Cusco Culture
Plaza do Armas, Cusco is a must inclusion on al...
Enjoy your vacations at Cusco
Most Popular Time to Travel
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
CuscoMostly Sunny
20°C / 68°F
7mm / 0.3"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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