The city of Cusco, the navel of archaeological tourism in South America, also has countless wonders of nature. Visit in Cusco some of these wonders still little explored. Almost 100% of tourists who come to Cusco are obliged to visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the sacred valley of the Incas or follow the classic Inca trail; However, in the surroundings of Cusco there are enigmatic natural landscapes that are very few visited and even unknown.
It has been said of Peru that it is a privileged country blessed by the gods and it is true. There is a lot to discover in a country like Peru and, above all, many things to visit in Cusco. Its historical and archaeological legacy, landscape, people, gastronomy, customs, flora and fauna. Longitudinal, from the coast reaching the Andes and from there towards the Amazon jungle and vertically from the north, center and south, many things to visit in one of the 10 most megadiverse countries in the world.
Today we bring you the 10 wonders of nature that you can visit in Cusco. You can explore these amazing places in Cusco in private or group tours.
Pallay Punchu or Apu Tacllo
Summary
1) Visit in Cusco the geological wonder of Pallay Punchu
The Pallay Punchu de Apu Tacllo Mountain (also called the Sharp Mountain of Colors or The Pallay Poncho Mountain or Condor Sayana) is one of the new tourist destinations in Cusco that was shown to local tourists during the coronavirus pandemic.
Located more than 194 kilometers from the city of Cusco, on a mountain elevated to 4,791 meters, it is a large rock formation dyed in various shades as a result of a complex combination of minerals from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic era. The slopes and summit stand out in various colors including red, rosy, purple, green, pink, white, and others. Since 2020, this place has received local visitors and little by little it is becoming more popular with foreign tourists.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Pallay Punchu
Palcoyo
2) Visit the 3 rainbow mountains of Palccoyo
The Palcoyo mountain is very similar to the well-known 7-color rainbow mountain and that is why we know that for some travelers it is very difficult to decide which mountain to go to on their 1-day tours when they are in Cusco or visiting Machu Picchu. Now to help in this decision, which is very important, we will describe the reasons why Palcoyo should be included in your list of natural places to visit in Cusco.
When the number of visitors to the 7-color mountain increased exponentially in 2017, it was when the residents of Palcoyo decided to also show a series of 3 rainbow mountains that is only a 30-minute walk from their village. They had the rainbow mountains of Palcoyo, which until then only they knew about.
The residents of Palcoyo organized themselves internally. They understood the benefits that tourist activity in Cusco brought. They began to promote and pave the way for those mountains of colors, which are three in total and as an extra bonus there is a forest of stones that completes the decoration of the Andean landscape. This is how Palcoyo was shown to foreign tourists in 2018. Thanks to its visitors who increasingly recommended it as an alternative rainbow mountain tour.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Palcoyo
Rainbow Mountain or Vinincunca
3) The famous rainbow mountain
The Mountain of the 7 Colors (also called Vinicunca or simply ‘Rainbow Mountain’) is one of the new and most beautiful nature tourist attractions in Peru. Located more than 100 kilometers from the city of Cusco, on a summit elevated to 5000 meters.
It is a mountainous formation dyed in various shades as a result of the complex combination of minerals. The slopes and the summit are dyed in various shades including: red, purple, green, yellow, pink and other variations. Since 2016, this place has received hundreds of visitors a day, becoming, along with Machu Picchu, one of the places with the most visits in Cusco-Peru.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Rainbow Mountain Vinincunca
Singrenacocha Lake
4) Visit in Cusco the amazing Singrenacocha lagoon
Laguna Singrenacocha or Sirenacocha, is a turquoise lagoon, located in the District of Ocongate, province of Quispicanchis, region of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 4401 meters. It is 3.80 km long and almost 1 km wide. Singrenacocha or also known as the gigantic Humantay lagoon, is located in the Vilcanota mountain range near the Nevado Ausangate (the highest snow-capped peak you can visit in Cusco).
The coloration of the Singrenacocha lagoon is very peculiar since it changes color three times a year: turquoise, lead blue and green, turquoise being the one that characterizes the lagoon in the most usual way, that is what makes it attractive. The water coming down from the snow-capped mountains also brings with it pulverized minerals and finally they end up swimming in the water, without immersing themselves at the base of the lagoon, in this way, on days when it is sunny, the effect of the coloration can be better appreciated.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Singrenacocha Lake
Humantay lagoon
5) The majestic Humantay lake
Cusco offers its visitors a wide variety of attractions that simply leave them amazed through all the history and scenic beauty that each one has. As you can imagine, the Humantay Lagoon is no exception, because a beautiful turquoise lagoon simply cannot go unnoticed by nature lovers. If your visit is destined for Machu Picchu, or some other attraction in Cusco, and if your itinerary includes some free days, then the Humantay Lagoon may be what you are looking for.
The Humantay Lagoon takes its name from the nearby snow-capped mountain (Humantay, 5,473 m) and is considered one of the most beautiful and sacred lagoons in Cusco. Its turquoise waters adorned with the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay and Humantay, directly whisper to you the reason for its popularity. In addition to the tourists who make day trips to the lagoon, there are the more adventurous tourists who make the so-called «Salkantay Trek», which is a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu that allows them to visit the Humantay lagoon.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Humantay Lake
The 7 lakes of the Ausangate
6) The seven lagoons of different colors of the Ausangate
Visit in Cusco the set of lagoons that make up this impressive tourist attraction, which are fed by the melting of the snow-capped mountains of the Vilcanota knot, the highest mountains in Cusco (whose highest snow-capped peak reaches 6,384 meters above sea level). . The local inhabitants decided to take advantage of the natural beauty of the place to create a circuit of 7 lagoons that are: the Pucacocha lagoon, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, Orco otorongo, China otorongo and the Azulcocha lagoon.
The circuit of the 7 lagoons, and the Vilcanota mountain range, is home to several species of wild and domesticated animals. It should be noted, first of all, the presence of camelids such as the llama and the alpaca (both domestic animals) as well as the vicuña, a wild species with extremely valuable fur. These are used to grazing in the immense extensions of icchu, or wild straw of the Andes. It is worth noting the existence of other species such as the vizcacha (a rabbit-like rodent) and even the Andean condor. In the surroundings of these lagoons, the Andean priests also perform ancestral ceremonies of Wachuma and Ayahuasca.
Get detailed information about this attraction: The 7 lakes of Ausangate
Perolniyoc waterfall
7) Visit in Cusco the imposing Perolniyoc waterfall
The Perolniyoc waterfall is a natural tourist attraction of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Due to its strategic location close to important Inca citadels such as Ollantaytambo, the falls are valued as a sacred site. On the Perolniyoc falls is the archaeological site of Raqaypata – Perolniyoc, recognized as an important Inca site. From there you have a privileged view of the Pillcobamba and Soqma valleys. The falls are a place of relaxation for local tourists and the few foreigners who dare to go there. Some people even perform ancestral ceremonies such as the Kintu and the Offering to the Pachamama.
If you want to visit in Cusco the Perolniyoc waterfall, you have 2 options: the first is to rent a private car that will take you to the Socma community from where you walk for 2 hours round trip to the waterfall or rent the services of an operating agency in Cusco.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Perolniyoc Waterfall
Poc Poc waterfall
8) Visit the Poc Poc waterfall
The Poc Poc waterfall is one of the most beautiful natural tourist attractions in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is only a 3 kilometer walk from the town of Chinchero. This hike is through a part of the Inca trail that connected the potato-producing highlands with the more temperate lands of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which were corn producers. After almost 1 hour of hiking, we arrive at this beautiful waterfall that reaches a height of approximately 35 meters. This adventurous route is completely free for all tourists and a place to visit in Cusco if you are a nature lover.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Poc Poc Waterfall
Waqrapukara
9) Waqrapukara a magical place to visit in Cusco
If you have free days, without a doubt Waqrapukara is one of the places to visit in Cusco. The archaeological site of Waqrapukara has nothing to envy to the other Inca complexes in Cusco. Its name comes from a Quechua word that means in Spanish: ‘Horn-shaped fortress’. The reason for this name is its immense summit with rocky mountain formations, as if they were two horns. The tour there offers history, walks, beautiful landscapes and all the ingredients for an unforgettable visit.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Waqrapukara
Veronica Sungate
10) The gate of heaven or Intipunku
One of the most enigmatic places to visit in Cusco is without a doubt the sacred gate of Apu Veronica. Inti Punku or Intipunku, which translates as «Gate of the Sun», and which is in itself a modest architectural complex, compared to the citadel of Machu Picchu, but no less important, it is an astronomical, sacred and spiritual aligned perfectly with the snowy Wakay Willka or «Sacred Tears» a snowy peak that was sacred to the Incas.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Veronica Intipunku
Tres Cruces de Oro
11) Tres Cruces de Oro or the Door of the Sun
The Tres Cruces de Oro viewpoint offers one of the best sunrises in the world. It is located a few hours from the town of Paucartambo, 105 kilometers by road from the city of Cusco. But this natural spectacle does not happen every day of the year. It only occurs on the winter solstices, that is, on June 20, 21 or 22. If you are lucky and there are no clouds at dawn that prevent you from seeing the landscape, you will enjoy one of the best natural spectacles in Peru.
If you have planned a tour in Machu Picchu between the months of June and July, you must visit in Cusco, the famous Tres Cruces de Oro, which is a natural observatory on top of a mountain from where you have a panoramic visit of 1 of the best sunrises in the world. It is also recognized as the
«Most beautiful sunrise in the world» or as the «Balcón de Oriente» because from there the Manu National Park extends into the jungle of Peru.
Get detailed information about this attraction: Tres Cruces de Oro
You might also like
Leave A Reply