City Tour in Cusco
Cusco

Price: $25
Rating 4.83 / 5 [56 ratings]
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Bucket list experience:
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru
Dedicated to the sun and the moon, and with twin rooms once covered in solid gold and silver, the Qorikancha temple was the spiritual heart of the Inca Empire.
The building was literally laid out as a giant ‘Sun, star and moon dial’, used to physically track the movements of a diversity of astronomical bodies and to coordinate these with day-to-day planning and crop-planting across the Empire.
This was once the richest, most elaborate temple to Inti – the sun – in the entire Inca empire. ‘Qorikancha’ means ‘golden courtyard’. Unfortunately, the golden walls – and other gold-sculpted treasures – were looted and melted down by the Conquistadors on their arrival in the city.
Only the magnificent stonework remains; a curved, perfectly-fitted wall, inside which are the remains of the last Inca emperor: Tupac Amaru.
While visiting, don’t miss the art gallery – just out of view on the second floor of the monastery; a small museum featuring installations of contemporary Peruvian art.
Qorikancha has nothing in the way of signage to explain its purpose and history-making a guide highly recommended. Find them at the entrance; many speak English and other languages.
Open all year round, seven days a week except for Sunday morning and public holidays.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Peru
A land of spectacular deserts, high mountains and rainforests that teem with wildlife, Peru is also home to an array of dramatically situated pre-Colombian ruins, including Machu Picchu.
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Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.