Altitude: 3,399 m.a.s.l.
Climate: Cusco features an average annual temperature of 11° (Maximum 17° and minimum -2° C). The rain season runs from November to March.
Access: The best overland route is the Lima-Arequipa-Cusco road (1,494 km) which takes around 24 hours by car. There are also daily flights from Lima which take around an hour. A railway lines links Cusco with the cities of Puno and Arequipa. The Arequipa-Juliaca-Puno-Cusco train journey (735 km) takes around 23 hours.
Inca walls, colorful costumes, churches built on top of palaces, citadels lost in the Andean heights, legendary roads -all the beauty of a glorious past that enfolds the visitor who arrives in Cusco, the sacred city of the Incas and archaeological capital of the Americas. Ever since US archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered the citadel of Machu Pichu for the world, Cusco has fired the imagination of thousands of travelers from all over the world who venture down the Inca Trail every year headed for the summit of one of the world's most extraordinary monuments.
The city of Cusco, however, features many other attractions which by themselves would be enough to attract visitors: the main square, which the Incas called Huacaypata, the artisans quarter of San Blas, the Convent of Santo Domingo, built on top of the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha , the palaces of the Inca and his court, part of a long list of archaeological wonders.
There are also several circuits on the outskirts of Cusco, which usually include the imposing ruins of Sacsayhuaman or Tambomachay . Visitors can also take part in all kinds of adventure sports and participate in the most spectacular religious festivals on the continent. Celebrations in Cusco include Qoyllur Rit´i , which is held at 4,000 m.a.s.l., the Corpus Christi procession and the famous Inti Raymi spectacle.
With its bustling nightlife, Cusco is also a magical city of dizzying excitement. Together with its rich archaeological legacy which is to be found on practically every street corner, its cultural scene makes Cusco, the sacred city of the Incas, the most spectacular destination in the Americas.
Cathedral of Cusco
The Cathedral was originally built over the Suntur Wasi (Quechua for God's house). The façade and interior are Renaissance style. Do not feel discouraged by the stairs leading to the main entrance, as there is a ramp from Cuesta Almirante Street that allows you to enter through the left wing. The large wooden door has a raised threshold but there are removable wooden ramps. The ticket counter is 4.26-ft. (1.30 m) high. Public restrooms are not accessible. Although the cathedral was in restoration during the evaluation, it was still open to the public and people should be careful with the provisional scaffolds. The Cathedral of Cusco has eleven chapels on its side wings and a small church called El Triunfo, which is accessible with help (one step). The crypt containing the ashes of writer Inca Garcilaso de la Vega is not accessible because it is located in the basement. The visit to the cathedral is a must.
