The 10 main tourist attractions of Cusco Few
- alexandrasturmayr
- Dec 9, 2019
- 6 min read
Cusco is famous for Sacsayhuaman, Coricancha, Ollantaytambo and, above all, Machu Picchu. Of course, there are many other tourist attractions. Among them Pisac, Chinchero, Choquequirao, Moray and the Mountain of the 7 Colors. But have you ever heard of Piquillacta, Three Golden Crosses or Putucusi Mountain?
Discover the 10 main tourist attractions in Cusco that few knew.
The red valley of Pitumarca
The 7-color Palcoyo mountain
Three Golden Crosses: the most beautiful sunrise in the world
Putucusi Mountain: free view to Machu Picchu is possible
Huasao wetland: Groot and the Lord of the Rings in Cusco
Home Thermomedical Spa
Humantay Lagoon
Cocalmayo Hot Springs
Piquillacta: the pre-Inca city in Cusco
The Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka
1. The red valley of Pitumarca
The Vilcanota mountain range, south of Cusco, is the scene of incredible natural attractions. The best known of all is the Mountain of the 7 Colors (5,200 meters above sea level). However, very few visitors know the so-called 'Red Valley of Pitumarca', a natural landscape located near there.
The slopes and ridges of this site are dyed red due to a mineralization process for millions of years. Although the 'Red Valley' is a new attraction, it is estimated that it already receives 500 visitors per day.
How to get there? - From the city of Cusco, it is a 3-hour trip to Pitumarca. From there, walk for 2 or 3 hours to the Red Valley.
How much? - The Red Valley tours include a visit to the 7 Color Mountain. The approximate cost is 60 dollars.
2. The 7-color Palcoyo mountain
The 7 color Palcoyo mountain (4,900 meters above sea level) is a summit dyed with several colors very similar to Vinicunca. It is within walking distance of Ausangate Mountain. It is one of the new attractions of the Vilcanota mountain range.
In Palcoyo, in addition, you can see a naturally formed rock forest. There are abundant llamas, alpacas, vizcachas, condors and other animals. Despite its beauty, there are still not many tourists who dare to visit it.
How to get there? - From Cusco, arrive with a 3-hour bus trip to the city of Checacupe. From there begins a walk of only 1 hour.
How much? - The tours have an approximate price of $ 60. It is also possible to arrive and pay a ticket (10 Peruvian soles and 5 Peruvian soles).
3. Three Golden Crosses: the most beautiful sunrise in the world
The most beautiful sunrise in the world can be seen from the point of view of the Three Golden Crosses in Paucartambo (Cusco). The place is called 'Akhanacu', also known as the 'Balcony of the East', because in the distance you can see Manu in the Peruvian jungle.
This natural show takes place every morning from 4:30. The sky is dyed red, orange and its nuances. Every winter solstice (end of June) at Tres Cruces de Oro, the so-called 'White Lightning' occurs, an optical illusion that simulates three suns in the distance.
How to get there? - From Cusco, travel south by bus for 4 hours to the city of Paucartambo. From there you take a private transport to the viewpoint.
How much? - The tours are 2 days, cost $ 100 and include visits to other places in the region. If you go alone, the entrance ticket costs 10 soles ($ 3).
4. Putucusi Mountain: free view to Machu Picchu is possible
The Putucusi mountain (2,560 meters above sea level) in Quechua means "Happy mountain". Putucusi belongs to the mountain range that surrounds Machu Picchu. No Inca building is known, but from the top you can enjoy the Wonder of the World from a distance.
Climbing its slopes is an extreme adventure due to the difficult access of its roads. The hardest part is climbing a wooden ladder several feet high. It has recently been destroyed so that access is temporarily not possible.
How to get there? - Access is on foot from the town of Aguas Calientes. Follow the train track until it deviates along a road that leads to Putucusi.
How much? - The entrance to this mountain is free.
5. Huasao wetland: Groot and the Lord of the Rings in Cusco
A few kilometers from Cusco, there is a theme park where the characters of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'The Lord of the Rings' were drawn in wood. The Huasao Wetland is a natural environment where you can be far from the city and enjoy nature. .
This attraction is located in the district of Oropesa. Within walking distance there is an ideal Jurassic park to visit with the little ones. You can also enjoy the famous 'Chuta bread' and 'Baked piglet'.
How to get there? - From the city of Cusco, buses go to Oropesa on the Avenida de la Cultura. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes.
How much? - The entrance to the Huasao Wetland is 1.50 soles (0.5 dollars) and 1 sun (0.3 dollars) for children.
6. Spa termomédico casero
Lares (3,150 meters above sea level) is famous for being an essential route of 'Lares Trek', which leads to Machu Picchu after 4 days of walking. However, this district is also popular for housing Lares thermo-medicinal baths, a place to relax in the mountains.
The Lares thermomedical baths have up to 4 natural pools with warm waters ranging from 36ºC. up to 44 ° C. Its waters have healing and relieving properties in diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis and muscle problems.
How to get there? - Lares is 149 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. You start with a trip to the town of Calca and from there another to Lares.
How much? - The visit is part of Lares Trek. If you wish to enter on your own, the ticket costs 10 soles ($ 3.5).
7. Humantay Lagoon
Humantay Lagoon (5,473 meters above sea level) is undoubtedly one of the most amazing landscapes of Cusco. This natural tourist attraction is at the foot of the homonymous mountain on the way to Salkantay Mountain. It is a popular tourist attraction.
Getting there is an adventure. You walk through the high landscapes of the Andes where you can see llamas, alpacas, vizcachas, among other animals. The lagoon is surrounded by snowy mountains. Visitors who arrive there leave 'apachetas', offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth).
How to get there? - From the city of Cusco, you reach the Humantay lagoon with a bus trip to the town of Soray Pampa. There begins a 3-hour walk to the lagoon.
How much? - Day trips cost approximately $ 40. It is also possible to arrive on your own.
8. Cocalmayo Hot Springs
Visitors arriving to Machu Picchu by the alternative route through the hydroelectric dam have the option of relaxing in the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. This natural attraction is located in Santa Teresa, approximately 20 km from Machu Picchu.
The thermal waters of Cocalmayo have up to 3 swimming pools with temperatures of 38ºC. up to 44 ° C. Its waters are clear and have healing and relaxing properties. Many tourists come to Machu Picchu to relax.
How to get there? - There are several ways to reach the hot springs of Cocalmayo. The most common is with a bus trip from Cusco to Santa Teresa (5 hours).
How much? - Foreign tourists pay 10 soles ($ 3). Peruvian tourists, 10 soles ($ 3.5).
9. Piquillacta: the pre-Inca city in Cusco
Piquillacta (3,250 masl) is an archaeological complex built by the Wari culture in approximately 500 AD. The area of 50 hectares contains up to 700 buildings and other buildings.
It is estimated that 10,000 people lived in this place (in Machu Picchu they inhabited a maximum of one thousand). Despite its majesty and historical importance, it is still not very popular among tourists. Piquillacta is the most important pre-Inca discovery in Cusco.
How to get there? - On your own, take a bus that goes south from Cusco to Piquillacta. Tours include round trip transportation.
How much? - Piquillacta is an attraction included in the tour of the South Valley of Cusco, which includes Tipón and Andahuaylillas. The approximate cost of the tour is $ 40.
10. The Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka
3 hours from the city of Cusco, in the town of Qhehue, the last Inca bridge called Q'eswachaka survives and declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Every two weeks of June, residents of neighboring communities rebuild the bridge just like their Inca ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Therefore, after a 4-day ceremony, the old bridge is replaced by a new one.
How to get there? - From the city of Cusco, take a bus to the city of Combapata. Later, other successive trips to the cities of Yanaoca and Quehue, where the bridge is located.
How much? - Day trips cost approximately $ 80. You can also visit this site yourself.
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