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Cusco · Mysteries & legends

Tunnels, tremors and serpents: legendary Cusco

A route for the afternoon: it starts at Qorikancha and ends at the San Cristóbal viewpoint around sunset. Along the way, the legends Cusco tells about itself and what the documents say about them.

  • 5 stops
  • 1.5 km
  • 1 h 50 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Church of San Cristóbal above the rooftops of Cusco

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Qorikancha: the golden garden and the ChinkanaA golden garden described by the chroniclers, and a tunnel that, according to tradition, ran underground all the way to Sacsayhuamán.
  2. 2 La Compañía and its quarrel with the cathedralA façade that, so the story goes, tried to outshine the cathedral and sent a complaint all the way to the Pope.
  3. 3 Cusco Cathedral and the Lord of the EarthquakesA dark Christ that Cusco credits with calming the 1650 earthquake, and a bell with a woman’s name.
  4. 4 Plazoleta de las Nazarenas and Siete CulebrasA quiet little square, a former religious house on Inca walls, and an alley with serpents carved into the stone.
  5. 5 San Cristóbal: Manco Cápac and the puma of CuscoFrom the forecourt of a church linked to a baptised Inca prince you see the city that, according to an old idea, was shaped like a puma.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Tunnels, tremors and serpents: legendary Cusco

Legends with an address

Every story is tied to a wall, a façade or a viewpoint you can see with your own eyes.

Tradition and record

We tell you what is proven and what belongs to popular memory, without taking the magic away.

A finale with a view

The route ends high up at San Cristóbal, with the city at your feet as the sun goes down.

Keep exploring

More routes in Cusco

Back to Cusco
HistoryFrom the Temple of the Sun to the Cross: Cusco of two empires MixedCusco in a morning: market, squares and the famous stone

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Cusco?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Cusco in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Cusco in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Cusco in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary