The heart of the once-mighty Incan empire still beats below cobblestone streets.

South America's archaeological capital and oldest continuously inhabited city, Cuzco is now an important link in the region's travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Incan empire is readily apparent: Quechua-speaking Incan descendants crowd the centuries-old stone-walled city streets.

Cuzco also boasts magnificent repositories of colonial art - fine examples can be found in La Catedral and Museo de Arqueológia. West of the city is Machu Picchu, the most spectacular site on the continent. Despite the relentless stampede of tourists, it still retains an air of grandeur and mystery.

Fast Facts

Population

323,644

Currency

Name: Nuevo Sol
Code: PEN
Symbol: S/

Electrical Plugs

European plug with two circular metal pins American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
220V 60Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Quechua, Spanish; Castilian

Time Zones

GMT/UTC -5 

Country Dialing Code

+51

Weights & Measures

Metric

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Traveller Tips & Discussion

Thorn Tree Forum

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