Cusco City Tour & Pre Columbian Museum

CITY TOUR, NEIGHBORING RUINS & PRE-COLUMBIAN ART MUSEUM

Cusco is more than just a stopping point; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, a living museum of breathtaking architecture, and a cultural hub that captivates every visitor.

After the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the city was transformed. Elaborate colonial buildings and churches rose upon the meticulously crafted Inca stone foundations, creating a unique architectural fusion seen throughout the historic center. Strolling through Cusco's narrow, cobblestone streets reveals this duality at every turn.

The heart of the city was the magnificent Qorikancha, the "Golden Temple," once adorned with sheets of solid gold and silver. Though the Spanish conquistadors built the Convent of Santo Domingo over its remains, the original Inca stonework is a testament to the Incas' advanced engineering and is still visible today.

A journey back in time to the heart of ancient civilizations awaits at the Pre-Columbian Art Museum in Cusco. Housed within the historic Casa Cabrera—a colonial mansion built upon Inca foundations—this is more than just a repository of relics; it's a carefully curated artistic exploration of Peru's deep past.

Unlike traditional archaeological museums, the MAP Cusco focuses on the aesthetic and symbolic power of pre-Hispanic art, inviting visitors to appreciate the creativity and worldview of ancient Andean cultures.

The museum's collection, inaugurated in 2003, features over 450 masterpieces selected from the vast holdings of Lima's renowned Larco Museum. Spanning over 3,000 years, the artifacts are arranged thematically across ten galleries, allowing for a chronological and cultural journey. Visitors can explore the sophisticated pottery of the Moche culture, known for its lifelike portrait vessels and ritual scenes, or marvel at the brilliant polychrome textiles of the Nasca.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of Peruvian identity beyond the more famous Inca sites, the MAP Cusco is an essential visit. It offers a powerful and poetic glimpse into the artistic and spiritual expressions of the civilizations that shaped Peru long before the Spanish conquest.

Program:

City tour for 3 hours through the beautiful Cusco city and its nearby ruins. The tour will show you the amazing colonial city built on the foundations of the Inca palaces.

You will visit the Koricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, where you can appreciate the incredible masonry of the Incas. Additionally, you will see the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, featuring carved woodwork, altars, and paintings. Then you will be driven to the Inca fortress of Sacsahuaman, to the underground cave and temple of Kenko, and to Tambomachay, known as the Baths of the Inca.

You will also visit the Precolombian Art Museum, which rescues the plastic message of Peru Precolombian man. The museography and illumination project the beauty of the Peruvian sculptures and pictures from prehistory through eleven halls, exposing the work of those unknown artists with pride and wonder.