A city as visited as Cusco couldn't be without museums. These, designed to showcase various aspects of the pre-Inca, Inca, colonial and republican cultures, are distributed throughout the city. Venture to discover them, after visiting don't forget to thank us. Below, we detail how to get to the 9 museums in the City of Cusco.
As one of the main destinations worldwide for international travelers, there are many museums in Cusco that reveal the rich history of the Inca culture and those that preceded it. Whether before or after your trip to Machu Picchu, visit the main historical, archaeological and religious museums to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures that made this area of Peru what it is today.
While visiting the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, it's worth investing a few hours to gain deeper insight into what some consider the navel of the world. The best part? Most of the following museums in Cusco are located a short distance from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.
Plan your trip following this Kenko Adventures' selection of the best museums in Cusco located in the ancient Inca capital.
Located in the Nazarenas Plaza in Cusco's relaxed arts district of San Blas, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum (Museo de Arte Precolombino, also known as MAP Cusco) exhibits mystical archaeological pieces and works of art from all regions of ancient Peru. Transporting visitors back in time some 3000 years, many of the 400 pieces on display belong to the Larco Museum, one of the best museums in Lima, Peru.
To help you better understand how these ancient cultures gave rise to the Incas, explore the ten exhibition rooms with an audio guide (available in English, Spanish and French). Then, enjoy a tranquil rest at the excellent on-site MAP Café restaurant.
Address: Nazarenas 231, Cusco
How to Get There: From Plaza de Armas, head southeast on Calle Plateros until reaching Plaza Haukaypata. Cross the plaza and head east on Cuesta del Almirante, turn right onto Córdoba del Tucumán until reaching the museum (across from Plazoleta de las Nazarenas).
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8am-10pm
Take advantage of your stay in the ancient Inca capital by learning all you can about the ingenious culture that built Machu Picchu and its enduring legacy. The Inka Museum (Museo Inka) is housed in a former palace filled with pre-Hispanic ceramics, jewelry, goldsmithing, textiles and even Inca mummies and skulls. The portraits of the Incas painted in the 17th century artistic tradition known as the Cusco School (Escuela Cusqueña) make this museum particularly significant.
Note that there is no official Inca museum in Lima, so be sure to visit this one before returning to the capital city.
Address: Ataúd 154, Cusco
How to Get There: On the corner of Ataud and Córdoba del Tucumán, this museum is one block before the Pre-Columbian Art Museum.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm; Saturday, 9am-4pm (closed Sundays)
Hidden inside an 18th century colonial building is the world's most complete collection of Inca artifacts gathered from the ancient citadel, Machu Picchu. Nearly 400 archaeological pieces are on display at the Casa Concha Museum (Museo Casa Concha), including the findings of Hiram Bingham, the American explorer who made the Inca citadel's existence public.
Whether a prelude or continuation of your Machu Picchu adventure, Casa Concha is a must-visit site for better understanding the Incas' lifestyle, craftsmanship and hardships.
Address: Santa Catalina Ancha 320, Cusco
How to Get There: From Plaza de Armas, head southeast on Calle Plateros and cross diagonally through Plaza Haukaypata to reach Portal Belén. Turn right on Santa Catalina Angosta then left on Santa Catalina Ancha.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm (Closed Sundays)
Though relatively small, the Cusco Regional History Museum (Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco) gives travelers an idea of the importance of this area in terms of politics, architecture, and of course, history. Artifacts from the pre-Hispanic era through colonial times can be seen at this museum in Cusco pictured above.
The museum itself is something to marvel at, as it was once the home of the colonial-era poet (and one of the first Peruvian mestizos), Garcilaso de la Vega.
Address: Calle Garcilaso, Cusco
How to Get There: From Plaza de Armas, head southeast on Calle Plateros then cut right onto Del Medio. Continue straight (toward Plaza Kusipata) then right onto Calle Garcilaso.
Hours: Monday-Sunday 8am-5pm
This museum is founded upon what was once the 14th century palace of the Inca Roca and part of its outer wall houses the mind-bending 12-angled stone. Enter through the Moorish-style doors to examine a collection of colonial religious paintings as well as a magnificent collection of unique Cusco paintings.
Don't forget to look up and admire the carved wood ceilings and large Renaissance-style courtyard in the center of the Religious Art Museum before moving on to the next museum in Cusco.
Address: Herrajes 38, Cusco
How to Get There: Cross Plaza Haukaypata the same way you would to reach Casa Concha Museum, just continue east on Portal Belen. This museum is located on the corner of Calle Hatunrumiyoc and Calle Herrajes.
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 8am-6pm
These are only some of the many museums that one can find in the ancient capital of the Incas, though many more options are scattered in the region, KenkoAdventures' experienced take on these museums allows us to recommend these over the other many options available in Cusco.
Let us know if you may need assistance during your trip in the Andes. We'll be glad to be of any help.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley are top destinations in Peru, but these places captivated us so much that we couldn't bear to leave before thoroughly exploring as many sites as possible and experiencing the best they have to offer.
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