Cusco Things to Do Tips by SirRichard

This is maybe the main building in Cuzco, located right in the Plaza de Armas. It can be visited during mass (6-10am), but be respectful and don't make noise.
Otherwise, you can buy a ticket and do the whole tour, entering by a left side door. "Boleto Turístico" is not admited here, you have to buy the so called "Religious Touristic ticket" that lets you enter a few religious churches and museums.
It was built on the place were once was the Inca Viracocha Palace and used its basement, as well as some big stones from Sacsayhuaman.
There are many beautiful chapels and images, and some important guys are buried here (Garcilaso de la Vega...)

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This church of the Jesuit Order is located in the Plaza de Armas and is as famous as the Cathedral (some say that even more). It was built where once was the Palace of the Inca Huayna Qhapaq, and it used its basis and stones.
It has an impressive facade in stone considered one of the best examples of South American Baroque.

Free entrance.

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Address: Plaza de Armas

This is a multi-purpose ticket that lets you in several inca places around Cuzco:
- Sacsayhuaman
- Pikillacta
- Tipon
- Ollantaytambo
- Pisac
- Chinchero...
and also to several minor museums in Cuzco, but not to the most famous ones.
So if you plan to visit only the city, don't buy it, as is almost useless.
Price: 70 soles (21,5 USD). You can buy it in any of the sites admited in this ticket or at the tourist info.

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Website: http://www.cusco-peru.org/cusco-useful-information-cusco-useful-information-services.shtml

This is probably the 3rd important church here in Cuzco after the cathedral and Jesuitic church.
You can visit the church itself in mass hours, or buy a ticket (1 USD) and visit the museum and monastery. Here are the tombs of Diego de Almagro and Gonzalo Pizarro.

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Santa Clara is a nice XVI century church near San Francisco Sq, and is also the name of a close arch that you will pass if you go to the Central Market.
The church can be visited early in the morning, at mass time. Inside you will see many many mirrors around. This is due to the aim of first priests to attract natives to the church. With this "magic" mirrors (incas didn't know mirrors) they made the indians come and see the church and at the same time talked to them about the new religion...

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Here was located the old Sun Temple in Inca times, the richest temple of all the Tihauntinsuyo. In fact you can still see the inca remains in the front esplanade, the church and monastery was built on top of the Inca ruins.
Entrance 1,60 USD. Boleto Turistico is not valid here.
This temple was literally "covered with gold" in ancient times, including statues of plants and animals in that material. All that is now gone (to Europe) but you can admire the original walls of the Temple.
Now it houses the convent of Santo Domingo.

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This is a typical charming quarter up the hill north of Plaza de Armas. The heart of it is San Blas church, in the square of San Blas. There are not outstanding museums or churches here, but the tiny alleys are a good place to wander around early in the morning when it is not yet busy and crowded.
A lot of slopes and stairs here, so take it easy. A good way to visit it is to take a taxi (1-2 soles) to the top (Plaza de San Blas) and return walking downhill to Plaza de Armas.

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In the Regocijo Sq you can find this small charming museum located in the former house of the inca-spanish writer Garcilaso de la Vega (XVII century).
There are a few collections of pre-inca and colonial art and history.
You can enter with the "Boleto Turístico".

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Address: Calle Heladeros s/n.
Directions: In the corner of the streets Garcilaso y Heladero, 100 metres from the Plaza de Armas.