Attractions in Southern Andes & Inca Heartland
Empire of the Incas and soaring peaks 🦙🏔️
Showing 65 attractions · Sorted by importance
Classic Inca Trail
📍 Piscacucho (KM 82)
🥾 Hiking & Cycling42km challenging 4-day trek reaching an elevation of 4,215m at Dead Woman's Pass with 1,380m total elevation gain. This is the most famous trek in South America, requiring permits months in advance. Equipment rental available through most operators in Cusco such as Enigma (enigma.pe) or Alpaca Expeditions (alpacaexpeditions.com).
Cusco Historic Centre
📍 Cusco
🏘 Town / VillageThe former capital of the Inca Empire, featuring a unique blend of ancient Inca stonework and ornate Spanish colonial architecture.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
📍 Machu Picchu Pueblo
🌲 NatureA UNESCO World Heritage site featuring remarkably preserved Incan ruins nestled in a dramatic mountain landscape, perfect for history-loving families.
Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)
📍 Cusco
🎭 EventEvery June 24th, this one-day grand finale of a month-long celebration marks the Inca Winter Solstice. Attracting over 100,000 spectators, it features elaborate theatrical reenactments of ancient Inca rituals at the Sacsayhuaman fortress. It is highly family-friendly with ticketed grandstand seating available for the main ceremony.
Lake Titicaca
📍 Puno
🏔 Scenic ViewThe highest navigable lake in the world, offering deep blue waters and vast panoramic views of the Andes.
Machu Picchu
📍 Aguas Calientes
🏰 CastleAn iconic 15th-century Incan citadel set high in the Andes mountains, offering breathtaking views and fascinating history for families.
Museo de Arte Precolombino (MAP)
📍 Cusco
🖼 Art GalleryLocated in a stunning colonial mansion, this museum showcases exquisitely curated ancient Peruvian art spanning 3,000 years.
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park
📍 Ollantaytambo
🏰 CastleA well-preserved Inca fortress and administrative center with steep terraced hillsides and a charming living Incan village nearby.
Plaza de Armas
📍 Cusco
🏛 LandmarkThe vibrant historical heart of Cusco, featuring grand colonial cathedrals, Spanish arcades, and Inca stone foundations.
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)
📍 Cusco
🏰 CastleThe most important temple of the Inca Empire, showcasing exquisite stone walls that later served as the foundation for a colonial convent.
Sacsayhuaman
📍 Cusco
🏛 LandmarkA massive Inca fortress and ceremonial site known for its colossal, expertly fitted stone walls and panoramic views of Cusco.
The Sacred Valley Scenic Route
📍 Cusco
🚗 Road TripApproximately 160km paved loop (1-2 days). This iconic circuit through the Andean highlands connects Cusco with the Urubamba Valley. Key stops include the Pisac archaeological park, the colonial town of Urubamba, the living Inca village of Ollantaytambo, and the Chinchero plateau with its traditional weaving centers and high-altitude lakes.
Titicaca National Reserve
📍 Puno
🌲 NatureThe highest navigable lake in the world, home to unique aquatic species and traditional floating communities that offer a fascinating cultural experience.
Aguas Calientes Hot Springs
📍 Machu Picchu Pueblo
♨ Hot SpringNatural geothermal springs ranging from 38°C to 46°C, located at the base of the mountains. Waters are rich in sulfur and iron, giving them a natural yellow-brown hue, featuring several stone pools of varying temperatures.
Ausangate Trek
📍 Tinqui
🥾 Hiking & Cycling70km expert 5-6 day high-altitude circuit with over 3,000m total elevation gain, staying mostly above 4,000m. Features colored mountains and glacial lakes. Notable for its difficulty and remote beauty. Equipment rental: Cusco MTB (cuscomtb.com).
Awana Kancha
📍 Cusco
🐄 FarmA living museum where families can interact with llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas while learning traditional Andean weaving techniques.
Choquequirao Trek
📍 Cachora
🥾 Hiking & Cycling64km expert 4-5 day trek with intense elevation changes of 3,000m total as hikers descend into the Apurimac Canyon and climb back out. Leads to the 'sister city' of Machu Picchu. Gear rental: Amazonas Explorer (amazonas-explorer.com).
Natura Vive Skylodge Adventure Suites
📍 Urubamba
🧗 AdventureA high-altitude adventure center featuring a via ferrata climb and ziplining through the dramatic cliffs of the Sacred Valley.
Ruta del Sol (The Route of the Sun)
📍 Cusco
🚗 Road Trip390km paved highway (PE-3S) usually driven in 7-10 hours. This high-altitude road trip connects the Inca capital to Lake Titicaca. Notable stops include the 'Sistine Chapel of the Andes' in Andahuaylillas, the Temple of Wiracocha in Raqchi, and the scenic La Raya Pass, the highest point of the route at 4,338m.
Salkantay Trek
📍 Mollepata
🥾 Hiking & Cycling74km challenging 5-day trek with approximately 2,200m elevation gain, peaking at the Salkantay Pass (4,630m). A premier alternative to the Inca Trail offering glacial landscapes and tropical forests. Rental: Cusco MTB (cuscomtb.com) for gear if going independent, though most use agencies.
Santuario Animal de Ccochahuasi
📍 Pisac
🦁 ZooA family-run rescue center where visitors can see rescued Andean condors, pumas, and rare Peruvian hairless dogs in a natural mountain setting.
Abra Malaga Mountain Pass
📍 Ollantaytambo
🚗 Road TripA 150km paved mountain route (4-5 hours round trip) on PE-28B. This dramatic drive ascends from the Sacred Valley to a high pass at 4,316 meters at the foot of Nevado Veronica before descending into the lush cloud forest. It is world-renowned for birdwatching and spectacular views of glaciers and tropical valleys.
Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco
📍 Cusco
🖼 Art GalleryA museum and workshop dedicated to the vibrant living art of Andean weaving, featuring high-quality textiles and live demonstrations.
Cocalmayo Hot Springs
📍 Santa Teresa
♨ Hot SpringRenowned for crystal-clear, odorless mineral water, these pools are situated on the banks of the Urubamba River. Features three large pools with temperatures between 21°C and 44°C, set against a backdrop of towering granite cliffs.
Fiesta de la Candelaria
📍 Puno
🎭 EventHeld annually during the first two weeks of February, this UNESCO-listed event is one of South America's largest cultural festivals. It celebrates the Virgin of Candelaria with more than 40,000 dancers and 200 music bands, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. The event is a vibrant spectacle of masks and costumes suitable for families, though streets become extremely crowded.
Lares Trek
📍 Lares
🥾 Hiking & Cycling33km moderate/challenging 3-4 day trek with 1,600m elevation gain, reaching a peak of approximately 4,450m at Ipsaycocha Pass. Focuses on Andean culture and weaving communities.
Moray
📍 Maras
🏛 LandmarkA unique archaeological site featuring concentric circular stone terraces believed to have been used as an Inca agricultural laboratory.
Museo de Arte Religioso
📍 Cusco
🖼 Art GalleryHoused in the Archbishop's Palace, this museum features a vast collection of colonial-era 'Cusco School' paintings with ornate gold frames.
Pisac Archaeological Park
📍 Pisac
🏰 CastleExtensive hilltop ruins featuring complex agricultural terraces and ancient defensive structures overlooking the beautiful Sacred Valley.
Salineras de Maras
📍 Maras
🏛 LandmarkThousands of ancient salt evaporation ponds carved into a mountainside, still harvested by local families today.
Taquile Island
📍 Lake Titicaca
🏘 Town / VillageA peaceful island on Lake Titicaca world-renowned for its unique textile art and communal lifestyle rooted in ancient traditions.
Uros Floating Islands
📍 Puno
🏘 Town / VillageUnique man-made islands constructed entirely of totora reeds on Lake Titicaca, showcasing a centuries-old way of life.
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
📍 Cusco
🏔 Scenic ViewA spectacular natural formation within the Ausangate conservation area featuring vibrant multi-colored mineral stripes and high-altitude Andean views.
Action Valley
📍 Cusco
🧗 AdventureAn adventure park located outside Cusco featuring South America's highest bungee jump and a thrilling human slingshot experience.
Inca Jungle Cycling Descent
📍 Abra Malaga
🥾 Hiking & Cycling60km moderate/challenging 1-day downhill mountain bike route descending nearly 3,000m from a high mountain pass into the cloud forest. Part of the multi-sport route to Machu Picchu. Bike rental: KB Tambo (kbtambo.com).
Lares Hot Springs
📍 Lares
♨ Hot SpringHigh-altitude medicinal volcanic springs rich in sodium, potassium, and magnesium. The facility includes six outdoor pools of varying temperatures from 36°C to 44°C, famous for their yellowish mineral-rich water and traditional Andean setting.
Machu Picchu Botanical Garden
📍 Machu Picchu Pueblo
🌿 GardenLocated at the base of the world-famous citadel, this garden showcases over 200 species of native orchids and diverse cloud forest flora.
Maras and Moray Cycling Route
📍 Cruzpata
🥾 Hiking & Cycling30km moderate 1-day cycling route across the Maras plateau with 400m elevation gain. Visits the Moray circular terraces and Maras salt mines. Bike rental: KB Tambo (kbtambo.com) or Holy Wheels (holywheels.bike).
Museo Inkariy
📍 Huayllabamba
🔬 ScienceA modern discovery museum in the Sacred Valley featuring large-scale dioramas and exhibits on pre-Hispanic civilizations.
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
📍 Checacupe
🏔 Scenic ViewA beautiful alternative to Vinicunca featuring three colorful mountains and a natural stone forest.
Planetarium Cusco
📍 Cusco
🔬 ScienceAn immersive astronomy center offering family-friendly presentations on Inca constellations and stargazing through telescopes.
Chinchero Traditional Village
📍 Chinchero
🏘 Town / VillageAn authentic Andean village known as the 'birthplace of the rainbow,' famous for its high-altitude weaving demonstrations and Inca ruins.
Museo Municipal Carlos Dreyer
📍 Puno
🖼 Art GalleryThe city's premier museum hosting a mix of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts and fine art paintings from the Republican and colonial eras.
Raqch'i (Temple of Wiracocha)
📍 San Pedro
🏰 CastleA massive archaeological site featuring the towering remains of the Temple of Wiracocha and numerous circular stone granaries.
Sillustani
📍 Puno
🏰 CastleA pre-Incan burial ground featuring unique stone tower tombs called chullpas that stand tall overlooking the serene Lake Umayo.
Apukunaq Tianan
📍 Cusco
🎢 Theme ParkA modern open-air sculpture park featuring massive free-standing stone carvings of Andean deities and mythological figures, including Viracocha, Pachamama, and a giant puma, some reaching 8 meters tall. Created by local artist Michael Monteagudo, set in the hills near Cusco.
Felipe Marin Moreno Botanical Garden
📍 Pisac
🌿 GardenA historic colonial-era garden in the Sacred Valley housing an extensive collection of Andean cacti, succulents, and native medicinal plants.
Fundo Chincheros
📍 Puno
🐄 FarmA traditional lakeside estancia offering rural experiences with alpaca herds and insights into Altiplano farming life.
Huchuy Qosqo Trail
📍 Chinchero
🥾 Hiking & Cycling17km moderate 1-2 day hike with 600m elevation gain. Follows an original Inca road from the Chinchero plains down to the Sacred Valley. Exceptional views of the Urubamba range. Gear rental: Cusco MTB (cuscomtb.com).
Humedal de Huasao
📍 Saylla
🎢 Theme ParkA themed recreational park set within a wetland, known for its giant wooden sculptures depicting characters from popular fantasy films.
Lake Titicaca Coastal Route
📍 Puno
🚗 Road TripApproximately 150km paved route (3 hours one way) along the southwestern shore of Lake Titicaca towards the Bolivian border. The road offers constant views of the world's highest navigable lake and passes through historic towns like Chucuito (Temple of Fertility), the colonial 'Rome of America' Juli, and the mysterious Hayu Marca stone portal (Aramu Muru).
Living Museum of Yucay
📍 Urubamba
🐄 FarmAn interactive rural experience showcasing traditional Inca farming, guinea pig breeding, and pottery in a colonial-era setting.
Llachón Shoreline
📍 Capachica
⛱ BeachA picturesque coastal area on the Capachica Peninsula featuring small sandy coves and traditional stone paths ideal for family exploration and scenic photography.
Machacancha Thermal Baths
📍 Calca
♨ Hot SpringModernized thermal facility using natural mineral waters known for treating bone and joint ailments. Features 40°C clear waters in stone-lined pools, including indoor and outdoor sections with views of the Sacred Valley mountains.
Mandor Gardens
📍 Machu Picchu Pueblo
🌿 GardenAn ecological reserve and botanical collection featuring a hidden waterfall, wild orchids, and medicinal plants along a serene jungle trail.
Manos de la Comunidad
📍 Cusco
🐄 FarmA community-led project where visitors can feed camelids and observe the entire process of wool production and dyeing.
Mariposario de Machu Picchu
📍 Aguas Calientes
🦁 ZooA dedicated conservation center showcasing the diverse and colorful butterfly species native to the Machu Picchu cloud forest ecosystem.
Minas Moqo Hot Springs
📍 Calca
♨ Hot SpringSmall, rustic mineral spring facility located near the Vilcanota River. The waters are cold (approximately 12–18°C) but rich in sodium chloride mineral content, set in a tranquil, natural environment.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC)
📍 Cusco
🖼 Art GalleryLocated within the Municipal Palace, this gallery displays a diverse collection of modern artworks by local and international artists.
Museo de Historia Natural de la UNSAAC
📍 Cusco
🔬 ScienceA classic university museum located on the main square, featuring extensive collections of Andean flora, fauna, and fossils.
Museo de la Coca
📍 Cusco
🔬 ScienceAn educational center dedicated to the science, biology, and historical significance of the coca leaf in Andean culture.
Playa Chifrón
📍 Capachica
⛱ BeachA wide, sandy beach on the high-altitude shores of Lake Titicaca, offering families a tranquil spot for sunbathing and shallow wading in calm waters.
Playa de Juli
📍 Juli
⛱ BeachKnown as the 'Little Rome of the Indies,' this town features a high-altitude white sand beach providing a unique mountain-lake recreation experience for visitors.