Situated in the heart of what once was the land of the Incas, Cuzco is a city with much historical significance. Though perhaps the single largest reason that people visit Cuzco is to walk the Inca Trail to their famous mountain city of Machu Picchu there are many other diversions both old and new. The Inca were famously star gazers and that tradition is continued, be it in a new fashion, with the city’s planetarium. There are also several nice restaurants and bars to be visited that showcase a modern vibe to a city so filled with great monuments and sites to visit. Still more to do in Cuzco includes:

Planetarium

689 Avenida Pardo | Cuzco

Set in a non-descript building in the hills surrounding Cuzco the Planetarium saves its surprises for inside. The museum is filled with great informative exhibits as well as a fantastic telescope and different charts that detail elements of our galaxy. Many visitors praise the observatory’s quaint appearance and the wealth of information that is houses inside of it. Everyone who visits is assured a personalized experience as they learn more about our galaxy. In order to visit the Planetarium guests must reserve their spots in advance, because of limited space on the shuttles heading to it. Shuttles leave Plaza de Armas at 6 pm and return around 7:45 pm. Tours are offered each day of the planetarium at a cost of $18.50 per person.

Pre-Columbian Art Museum

231 Plaza de las Nazarenas | Cusco, Peru

A welcome addition to all of the varied Inca sites in and around Cuzco is the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, which possesses a world class collection of Peruvian art. The museum is housed in Casa Cabera which is a mansion, dating back to 1580, that has been converted into an art museum. The collection dates from 1250 BC to 1532 AD and features varied works from the Hurai, Nasca Mochica, Chancay, and Inca civilizations. The museum is located at the North East corner of Plaza de Armas and is open from 9 am to 10 pm with admission costing around $7.50 US.

Inca Museum

Cuesta del Almirante | Cusco, Peru

Located in a 16th century colonial mansion the Inca Museum provides loads of information and exhibits that will enrich visitors later experiences visiting Manch Picchu. Specifically there are rooms that showcase Inca Silver figures, music instruments, textiles, pottery, and even ancient Incan mummies. The museum goes into detail discussing how Incan day to day life took place. Outside of the museum in its court yard Andean woman actually weave authentic textiles. The Inca Museum is located close to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum in Plaza De Armas. Visitors can visit the museum between 8 am to 6 pm. Admission cost is around $3.75 US per person.