Cusco Cathedral

The half-day Cusco city trip begins with a visit to the Cusco Cathedral, which towers above the main square, Plaza de Armas. The Royal Palace of the Incas formerly stood on the location where the church now stands. When the Spanish conquistadors conquered Cusco, they razed the palace and constructed the cathedral on its ruins.

Qorikancha

Qorikancha was the most holy location to the Incas. This temple was devoted to their ultimate God – Inti – as they revered the natural things (Sun). Legend has it that the temple’s terrace was previously adorned with all-gold sculptures.

When the Spanish invaders seized Atahualpa, the Incan ruler, they sought a ransom. The majority of the gold was melted and used to pay for his release as a ransom. The conquistadors, on the other hand, executed him after receiving the ransom, in true colonial fashion.

Sacsayhuaman

This is one of Cusco’s must-see attractions. This magnificent stone fortification stands on a mountaintop above Cusco’s main center. This is one of the areas where you can observe how far Incan engineering has progressed. They did not use mortar to attach these massive stones, which individually weigh over a ton.

They cut the edges of the stones to fit together perfectly. It’s so exact, in fact, that you can’t even slide a piece of paper between them. However, how the Incas got these massive stones here is still a mystery.

Q’enqo

Q’enqo, a little village off the usual path, was utilized by the Incas to perform sacrifices. In addition, it was in Qenqo that bodies were mummified.

Tambomachay

Tambomachay, another well-known archaeological site, operated as a spa for the Inca political elite. Even now, natural spring water from the neighboring hot springs flows via conduits here.

Puca Pucara

In Quechua, the name means “red fort.” The Incas called it from the color of the rock, which turns crimson after sunset. The Incan military utilized this location to protect Cusco, their main city.