Capital: City of Cuzco
Altitude: 3.399 m.a.s.l.
Distance:
Cuzco to Lima 1.153 kilometers
Cuzco to Ayacucho 597 kilometers
Cuzco to Arequipa 623 kilometers
Cuzco to Puno 389 kilometers

The province of Cuzco is in the Oriental region of Peru, passing through the oriental and central mountain ranges of the Andes.

The city of Cuzco, known as the archeological capital of America contends with Mexico for the honor of being the oldest city of America.

Economical and military capital of the Peruvian vice-royalty received the name of "La Muy Noble, Muy Leal Cabeza de los Reinos del Perú, Santiago del Cuzco" (The very noble, very loyal head of the Peruvian royalties). In the 20th., century it was honored as the Archeological Capital of South-America and Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.

The city of Cuzco is a living museum of America’s history.

¿How to arrive?

By land: Many roads communicate Cuzco with the different cities of the country. The most recommendable routes are:
- Lima-Arequipa-Cuzco (1494 kilometer) the trip takes by car 24 hours approximately
- Lima - Arequipa: Panamericana south, by the coast.
- Arequipa - Juliaca 10 hours approximately
- Juliaca - Cuzco 12 hours approximately (highest point 4318 m.a.s.l. La Raya).

By train: theres a train service to travel to Cuzco and to Puno and Arequipa. The route Arequipa-Juliaca- Puno- Cuzco (735 kilometers) takes 23 hours approximately. From Puno are 10 hours. The highest point of the route are La Raya a 4 313 m.a.s.l) between Cuzco and Juliaca.
The train route goes first by Juliaca and Puno, that’s the reason why, is strongly recommended include Puno in your travel plan.

By air: There’s daily flights to Cuzco city from Lima, Arequipa, Juliaca and from other cities of the. The Velasco Astete Airport is 3 kilometers away from the city and has taxi and bus services.

Festivities

Qoyllority (May)

Traditional and solemn festivities Andino-Catholic of pilgrimage towards the snowy summits, procession and blessing, folkloric dances and music bands, fireworks, Alacitas symbolic market, the festivities takes place at 4000 m.a.s.l.

Corpus Cristi (June)

Solemn custody procession and 16 veneration images accompanied by music bands and folkloric groups and delicious special dishes: Chiri uchu o Llaqway uchu. It is considered the most beautiful festivity of the year.

Inti Raymi (June)

Sun festivity, it takes place at the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress.
There’s an acknowledge dramatization in a ritual to the sun god; during the celebration many worship and gratitude activities takes place and at sunset time, the Inca orders the withdrawal.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen (July)

This is a traditional presentation of 16 folkloric dances with a special program for each squad or group. This festivity is considered the best folkloric demonstration of the area.

Santuranticuy (December)

Una de las ferias artesanales del Perú, se realiza en la Plaza Mayor del Cusco, en cuyas veredas los artistas tienden sus mantas siguiendo la costumbre de las tradicionales ferias andinas. Aquí se puede encontrar todo tipo de objetos artesanales como tallas en madera, cerámica y retablos.

Tourist Attractions

The Cathedral, contains one of the largest collections of colonial art of Peru. The Cathedral was built on the palace of the Inca Wiracocha.

The Church of La Compañia de Jesus, built on the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac. The design and front are examples of the Andean baroque.

Church La Merced, with baroque style. The vestry bears a golden monstrance of 1,30 meters of height with 1.500 diamonds.

Church and Monastery of San Francisco, with an outstanding painting of Juan Espinoza de los Monteros. Besides of catacumbs and carving in wood.

Church of Santo Domingo, built on the great temple of the Sun, the Corikancha. It has a valious picture gallery with paintings from the 17th. and 18th. centuries.

And the museums of religious art and regional history are only some of the many tourist attractiveness of the city.

Other tourist attractiveness are:

- Church and Monastery of Santa Catalina
- Church of San Blas
- Monument of Pachacutec
- Arzobispal Palace
- Almirante Palace
- Casa de los Cuatro Bustos
- House of the Inca Garcilazo de la Vega
- Beatario de las Nazarenas

It is also interesting to visit the handicraft markets on San Andres street. The Square of Arms. The Avenue El Sol. And the Street Triunfo. The city has ten interesting museums.

Archeological Sites Attractions:

- Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman, located at 2 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Qenko - Kenko, located at 6 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Pukapukara - Puca Pucara, located at 7 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Tambomachay, located at 9 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Raqchi or Wiracocha, located at 112 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Choquequirao, located at 90 kilometers from Abancay.

- Archeological Site of Tipon, located at 25 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo, located at 97 kilometers from Cuzco.

Tourist Site Attractions:

Cuatro Lagunas, located at 114 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Acomayo. The four lagoons are located in the higher part of the river Vilcanota. The names of the lagoons are:: Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnaqocha (lagoon of bad smell), and lagoon Pampamarca. In this latter one sport fishing is practiced a lot.

Hanging Bridge of Queshuachaca, located at 143 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Canas. One of the most important characteristics is that every three days of every second Sunday of June, the bridge is knitted by hand. Around 1.000 people do this task using twisted hay. This task is carried out since before the Inca times. The bridge is finished on the fourth day opening the singing and dancing. From this bridge it can see the canyon of the river Apurimac.

Tres Cruces, located at 145 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Paucartambo. This place is a natural view-point on the limit of the Biosphere Reservation of Manu. In this place, the natural phenomenon "rayo blanco" (white thunder) occurs when the sun rises in the horizon. This particular tumbling of the sunlight occurs at down of the winter solstice, June 22th.

Useful information

In order to get major tourism information please visits the tourist information centers.

Velasco Astete Airport
(Arrival and Principal Hall)
Telefax: (0 84) 23-7364
Attention: During flight attention hours.

Av. Sol 103, Office 102 – Tourist galleries.
Phone: (0 84) 25-2974
Fax: (0 84) 23-4498
Attention: Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30 hours

MACHU PICCHU - Av. Pachacútec block 1 s/n, office 4 (Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Cultura)
Phone: (0 84) 21-1104
Attention: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00 hours and from 14:00 to 20:00 hours

24 hours attention line :
+51 (01) 574 8000