Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Cusco (3,400 m) was the center of the Inca Empire — the largest empire South America has ever seen. The Incas called their capital Qosqo ("Navel of the World"), and from here they ruled an empire that stretched from Colombia to Chile. After the Spanish conquest in 1533, the conquistadors built their churches and palaces directly on the Inca foundations — and it is precisely this mix that makes Cusco so unique: Inca precision meets colonial splendor.

★★★ Plaza de Armas

The central square of Cusco was already the heart of their capital for the Incas — they called it Huacaypata ("Square of the Warriors"). Today, the mighty Cathedral (1654, built on the Inca Palace of Viracocha) and the Jesuit Church Iglesia de la Compañía dominate the scene. In the evening, when the churches are illuminated and the cafés under the arcades are full, the square is magical.

The Cathedral houses one of the most important collections of colonial art in the Americas, including the famous painting of the "Last Supper" by Marcos Zapata — with a guinea pig (Cuy!) on the table.

Plaza de Armas. Cathedral: 25 PEN. Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00.

★★★ Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)

The holiest site of the Inca Empire. The walls were covered with gold plates, the garden contained golden replicas of plants and animals, and a huge golden sun disk reflected the first light of the morning sun. The Spaniards plundered the gold and built the Convent of Santo Domingo on the Inca walls — during earthquakes, the Spanish walls collapse while the Inca foundations remain standing. A powerful symbol.

Inside, you can admire the perfectly fitted Inca walls: Not a sheet of paper fits between the stones, and no mortar was used. Engineering that remains unsurpassed after 600 years.

Plazoleta de Santo Domingo. 15 PEN. Mon–Sat 8:30–17:30, Sun 14:00–17:00.

★★ San Blas

The artist quarter above the Plaza de Armas with steep, cobblestone alleys, studio workshops, small galleries, and cafés with rooftop terraces and panoramic views. The Iglesia de San Blas houses Peru's most famous wooden pulpit — a masterpiece of woodcarving, allegedly made from a single tree trunk.

The Calle Hatun Rumiyoc, leading from the Plaza de Armas to San Blas, houses the famous Stone of Twelve Angles — a perfectly fitted Inca stone with twelve angles, demonstrating the mastery of Inca stonemasons.

★★★ Sacsayhuamán

The most massive Inca fortress ever built, perched on a hill above Cusco. Three rows of zigzag walls stretch over 600 meters, built from stones weighing up to 125 tons — perfectly fitted without a drop of mortar. How the Incas transported and worked stones of this size remains a mystery to this day.

Every year on June 24, the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) takes place here — a colorful reenactment of the most important Inca festival with thousands of performers and tens of thousands of spectators.

2 km above the Plaza de Armas (30 min. uphill walk or taxi). Included in the Boleto Turístico (130 PEN, valid for 10 days for 16 attractions).

★★ Qenqo

A mysterious rock formation that served the Incas as a ceremonial center. Inside the limestone rock are caves with a stone altar, possibly used for offerings or mummifications. The zigzag channels carved into the rock were likely used for divination with Chicha (corn beer).

★★ Tambomachay

The "Bath of the Inca" — a spring with artfully arranged channels, niches, and basins. The crystal-clear water has flowed continuously through the Inca water system for centuries. The site probably served as a ritual bathing place for the Inca ruler.

★ Puka Pukara

The "Red Fortress," a guard post on the road to Pisac. Small but atmospheric — especially at sunset, when the stone glows red.

The Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) stretches along the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. At an altitude of 2,800–2,900 m (lower than Cusco!), it offers fertile farmland, spectacular Inca ruins, and — thanks to the lower altitude — gentler acclimatization.

★★★ Ollantaytambo

The living Inca town at the entrance to the Sacred Valley is one of the few places where the Incas successfully resisted the Spaniards. The massive terraces of the fortress rise steeply above the town, crowned by six huge monoliths of pink granite. The stones come from a quarry on the other side of the valley — 6 km away and 1,000 meters lower. How did the Incas transport 50-ton stones across a river and a mountain?

Below the fortress, the townscape itself is a sight: The streets still follow the original Inca layout, and water flows through 600-year-old Inca channels. Ollantaytambo is one of the main departure points for the train to Machu Picchu.

Included in the Boleto Turístico. Ruins: daily 7:00–18:00.

★★★ Salinas de Maras

One of Peru's most photogenic motifs: Over 3,000 salt ponds cascade down the mountainside like a mosaic, filled with pink, white, and brown salt. Since Inca times, salt has been extracted here from a natural thermal spring — the local community still operates the terraces today. The salt from Maras is a popular gourmet souvenir.

10 PEN entrance. Daily 7:00‗18:00. By taxi or tour from Urubamba.

★★★ Moray

The enigmatic circular agricultural terraces of Moray look like a natural amphitheater — but they are a masterpiece of Inca agricultural technology. The concentric circles create microclimates: The temperature difference between the top and bottom terrace is up to 15°C! The Incas likely used Moray as an agricultural experiment station to adapt crops to different altitudes.

Included in the Boleto Turístico. Daily 7:00‗18:00. Often visited in combination with Maras.

★★ Pisac

Pisac combines two highlights: The Inca ruins high above the valley with spectacular terraces and one of the largest Inca cemeteries — and the market in the town below, which becomes the largest traditional market in the Sacred Valley on Sundays. Here you will find textiles, ceramics, alpaca wool, and jewelry directly from the artisans.

Ruins: Included in the Boleto Turístico. Market: Sun (large), Tue+Thu (smaller). By Colectivo from Cusco (1h, 4 PEN).

★★★ Machu Picchu — One of the New Seven Wonders of the World

There are places that exceed every expectation, no matter how many photos you have seen before. Machu Picchu is such a place. The Inca city on a mountain ridge at 2,430 m, surrounded by steep green mountains and misty veils, is of breathtaking beauty.

Built around 1450 AD under Inca Pachacútec, the city was probably used as a royal residence and ceremonial center. Only about 750 people lived here. When the Spaniards arrived, the city was already abandoned — but never "discovered". The jungle inhabitants knew of its existence, but it was not until 1911 that American archaeologist Hiram Bingham brought Machu Picchu to the world's attention.

What You Must See

• Intiwatana (“Sun Dial”): The holiest stone of the site. At the solstices, it casts no shadow — the Incas "tied the sun" with this astronomical instrument.
• Temple of the Three Windows: Three trapezoidal windows overlooking the Urubamba Valley. The windows symbolize the three worlds of Inca cosmology.
• Sun Temple (Torreon): A semicircular temple with windows precisely aligned with the summer and winter solstice.
• Condor Temple: The natural rock formation resembles a condor with outstretched wings.
• Agricultural Terraces: The spectacular terraces on the steep slopes are engineering masterpieces with drainage systems that have worked for 600 years.

Tickets & Access

Machu Picchu has strict visitor management:

• Daily Visitor Limit: About 4,500 per day in various time slots (Circuitos 1–4)
• Tickets: 152 PEN (∼40€) for the standard route (Circuito 2). Book online at tuboleto.cultura.pe — sold out weeks in advance during peak season!
• Huayna Picchu: The famous peak in the background. Additional ticket (200 PEN), only 200 people/day — book months in advance! Steep climb (1h), but spectacular view.
• Montaña Machu Picchu: The larger mountain opposite. Less steep than Huayna Picchu, equally grand panoramic view.
• Passport: Must be presented at entry (must match the ticket!)
• Guide: From 2024, an official guide is mandatory for certain circuits.

Access Routes

• Train (Standard): From Ollantaytambo or Poroy with PeruRail/Inca Rail to Aguas Calientes, then bus (25 min.) or walk (1.5h steep uphill) to the citadel.
• Inca Trail (4 days): The legendary trekking classic. 43 km through cloud forests, over the Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m), past the ruins of Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) with the first view of Machu Picchu. Only 500 people/day (including porters/guides) — book 6–12 months in advance! Only possible with a licensed agency. Closed in February.
• Salkantay Trek (5 days): The best alternative to the Inca Trail. Over the Salkantay Pass (4,600 m) with a view of the glacier of the same name. No permit needed, more flexible booking.
• Inca Jungle Trek (4 days): The adventure variant: Mountain biking, rafting, and ziplining on the way to Machu Picchu. Budget-friendly.
• Via Hidroeléctrica: The backpacker route: Bus/Colectivo from Cusco to the hydroelectric station, then 3h walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Cheap but time-consuming.