Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Plaza de Armas

mckaysavage / Flickr

Key Info

Portal de Comercio, Historic Center
Cusco, Peru
Tours & Tickets

Details

Neighborhood/Area Type
1 to 2 hours Time to Spend

4.9

Overall

Scorecard

Value

5.0
Food Scene

4.5
Atmosphere

5.0

Read about how we rank Things to Do.

The history of the Plaza de Armas stretches back all the way to the Inca Empire when it was called Huacaypata or Aucaypata. The massive square (originally twice its current size) was built as a venue for festivals and ceremonies in ancient times.

According to legend, this plaza once marked the exact center of the Inca Empire, earning Cusco the nickname "the navel of the world." After Spanish conquistadors conquered the city in the early 1500s, they erected two churches on the either sides of the square – La Compañia and La Catedral – where the former Incan palace once stood.

Today, the plaza contains landmarks significant to both the Andean and Spanish history, and still functions as the historic heart of the city. Recent visitors to the square say you'll find Peruvian dancing, music and plenty of people watching. Buzzing with activity all day and night, most of the centrally located hotels, restaurants and shops are just off the square.

Hotels Nearby

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Hotel

Del Prado Inn ...

0.1 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

Casa Andina Classic - Cusco Plaza ...

0.1 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

Sonesta Posadas Del Inca Cusco ...

0.1 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

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#1 Plaza de Armas The history of the Plaza de Armas stretches back all the way to the Inca Empire when it was called Huacaypata or Aucaypata. The massive square (originally twice its current ... Read more » mckaysavage / Flickr

#2 Machu Picchu It's hard to believe this iconic "lost city of the Incas" was untouched during the Spanish conquest. The Incas cleverly obscured these 12 acres of temples, aqueducts and gardens ... Read more » Michael Lawenko Dela Paz / Getty Images

#3 La Catedral Amid the many splendors found in the Plaza de Armas, the sky-high La Catedral is one of Cusco's finest architectural displays. Constructed in the 1550s with stones stolen ... Read more » Claude LeTein / Getty Images

#4 Sacsayhuaman Sacsayhuamán is often overshadowed by Machu Picchu, but this towering ancient Incan fortress – filled with exquisite stone masonry and dramatic vistas – is worth a visit. Much of the massive ... Read more » Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images

#5 Qorikancha For a glimpse of the Inca's former grandeur, look no further than Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), also known as "Court of Gold." In its heyday, Inca's ... Read more » DC_Colombia / Getty Images

#6 Planetarium Cusco Located next to Sacsayhuamán, the Cusco Planetarium offers travelers a unique experience in the hills surrounding the city. While it may not be much to look at (the small ... Read more » roman makhmutov / Getty Images

#7 Museo de Arte Precolombino While Qorikancha and Machu Picchu draw more visitors, the Museo de Arte Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Art Museum) possesses a world-class Peruvian collection that cannot be matched. This 12-room exhibition ... Read more » Museo Larco Lima – Perú

#8 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Winding through Peru's verdant landscape toward Machu Picchu, this famous four-day hike is not for the faint of heart. That said, recent travelers say the laborious trek pays off ... Read more » R. Tyler Gross / Getty Images

#9 Museo Inka Located in a beautiful 16th-century colonial mansion that was once home to Spanish Admiral Francisco Alderete Maldonado, the Museo Inka (Inca Museum) boasts an eclectic assortment of Incan artifacts. Read more » Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images