Cusco — Ancient Capital of the Inca Empire

Founded around 1100 AD, Cusco (Qusqu in Quechua, meaning 'navel of the world') served as the political, military, and spiritual center of the Inca Empire — Tawantinsuyu — which at its peak stretched from modern-day Colombia to central Chile. The Sapa Inca (divine emperor) ruled from Cusco, and it was from here that vast road networks, aqueducts, and administrative systems were managed.

In 1533, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived and captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa, triggering the fall of the empire. The Spanish systematically dismantled Inca temples and used the perfectly-fitted stone blocks as foundations for colonial churches and palaces. This layering of cultures is visible today throughout the city center, most strikingly at the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun), on top of which the Church of Santo Domingo was built.

Cusco was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, recognizing its extraordinary blend of Inca and colonial heritage and its role as one of the most historically significant cities in the Americas.

Traditional weaving remains central to Andean identity. Women in communities around Cusco continue to spin and weave using techniques passed down for generations, creating textiles with intricate patterns that encode cultural and cosmological meaning. The vibrant markets of Pisac, Chinchero, and San Pedro are the best places to witness and purchase authentic weavings.

Pachamama (Mother Earth) ceremonies are still performed before planting seasons, during major life events, and on August 1st — Pachamama Day — when offerings of coca leaves, chicha (corn beer), and food are made to the earth in thanksgiving.