The Main Square is one of the most beautiful central places in the city of Cusco, also known as the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. It is the meeting point where many tourists of different nationalities gather and begin their visit to the various attractions of this historic city.
The Main Square of Cusco is the historical and symbolic heart of the city. In times of the Tahuantinsuyo, this square was known as Huacaypata or Aucaypata, Quechua words meaning "place of weeping" or "warrior's square." It was a ceremonial space of great importance, where the Incas held religious festivals, parades, and political acts. The original square was much larger and was divided by a canal that brought water from the Saphy River.
With the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the square was transformed. The conquerors demolished the Inca buildings that surrounded it and erected temples and colonial mansions in their place. The Cusco Cathedral, the Church of the Society of Jesus, and the old colonial houses still preserve that architecture that blends Andean and European styles.
During the colonial period, the Main Square was the scene of important events, such as the execution of Túpac Amaru II in 1781, leader of the largest indigenous rebellion against Spanish rule. Today, the Main Square is a vibrant space where parades, festivals like Inti Raymi and Corpus Christi are celebrated, and it is a meeting point for locals and tourists. It is surrounded by colonial arches, restaurants, shops, and wooden balconies.
As soon as you set foot in Cusco you will be amazed, as its Inca and colonial buildings still preserve their infrastructure.
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According to writings, the Main Square was one of the most important gathering places; it was the political and economic epicenter of different civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish invaders in 1534.
Historically, we are told that the city of Cusco was a 60 km valley in which there was a lake called Morkill that over time became three rivers: the first was called Sipas Pucquio to the west, Saphy in the center, and finally Tullumayo to the east near the San Blas neighborhood.
This means that the Main Square was initially immense, but when the Spanish invasion came, it destroyed this and divided the square, currently being one-third of what was once a large square. We also find the accounts of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who tells us about the first founders of the city of Cusco.
We all know the legend of Manco Capac and Mama Occllo, who were the first founders of the city. It is said that the god Inti entrusted them with this great mission so they could teach and learn with other people and thus begin the Inca Empire.
But to form the Inca empire he gave them a staff and told them to form the empire of the Incas where the staff would sink, and so they did. They searched for the place until they managed to make it sink, and this happened when they passed through a swamp, which is currently called the Main Square of Cusco.
However, it was Manco Capac’s successor, Inca Sinchi Roca, who ordered the swamp to be dried up to build a cultural center. This was done to build works such as the cultural, religious, and administrative center, which were completed by Governor Pachacútec.
In Inca times, the Main Square was called Aucaypata, Huacaypata or Huacapata and was used for important gatherings, and not only that, it was also used as a battlefield.
After the arrival of the Spanish in the Inca capital of Cusco, it was redesigned by the Spanish invader Francisco Pizarro, dividing it into four squares: Main Square, Plaza de Regocijo, Plaza San Francisco, and Plazoleta Espinar.
Likewise, two important events took place in this square. The first was the execution of Tupac Amaru I in 1572. This character was one of the last Inca emperors who took refuge in Vilcabamba and did not agree with Spanish rule, but ended up being captured and executed by decapitation.
The second figure is Tupac Amaru II in 1771, a descendant of the first Tupac Amaru I, who was also unhappy with Spanish decisions. Together with his family, he decided to rebel against the Spanish, but ended up being quartered by four horses and then beheaded.
This marked the end of the noble bloodline of Inca descendants and the evident abusive imposition of the Spanish.
Today the Main Square of Cusco still preserves buildings from the Inca period, which you can see through its Inca walls, which in many cases were used as foundations for Spanish buildings, including churches, monasteries, and mansions.
Now, in Cusco you will not only find this; there are also restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and various international brands around the Main Square.
The Inca found in Cusco's Main Square is the statue of the first Inca Manco Capac, placed on top of the fountain. Previously, there was the statue of the Indian, but as they saw that it did not represent us, they removed it, and years later they decided to place the current statue we see today.
The Main Square still preserves the Inca walls on which colonial buildings were constructed, which also continue to maintain their style. Thanks to this, we c
Visit the churches, in the main square you can visit the famous churches located there. For example, you can visit the great Cusco Cathedral or the incredible Church of the Society of Jesus. Both preserve the baroque style and inside you can see paintings from the Cusco school, liturgical objects made of gold, silver, and some precious stones among others.
You can visit for free during mass hours; at this time you don’t pay and you can take advantage of it. But if you miss it, you can also buy a religious tourist ticket that allows you to visit these two and others at different times.
Relaxation, if you want to spend a quiet moment watching the tourist life in this city and admire the incredible landscapes surrounding the square, this is a good place. But don't forget that Cusco is a tourist place, so its inhabitants tend to sell some products and it is possible they will offer them to you while you are in the Square.
Gastronomy, here you can find a variety of restaurants offering a range of dishes, from local specialties to dishes from other regions. Although first you have to evaluate the costs of each one; some may have affordable prices and others higher, this will depend on how you see the place and the quality of service they show on their websites.
Traditional festivals, if you are in Cusco during the Cusco festivals, then the Square is the best place to see all that Andean tradition. Here all the institutions gather and present traditional dances, Inti Raymi, Corpus Christi, among other activities that you can see from this magnificent place.
To see these types of events you have to organize your trip with the travel agency Tierra de los Andes which will advise you on the ideal dates to visit the different attractions of Cusco.
From the Main Square to Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport Cusco it is a distance of 5 km. Walking will take you a long time, so we recommend taking a taxi or you can also go by public transport.
Generally, all the taxis inside the airport will charge you a slightly higher price, around 20 US dollars. They are safe and will take you to your destination. Note: this does not mean that the taxis outside the airport are unsafe. No.
And here is our recommendation: if you want to pay a fair price, then you should go outside the airport and find one there. Don’t worry, all the taxi providers are safe and will take you to your destination. Also, the transfer cost is less than those inside.
Most of these drivers will charge you 15 to 20 soles depending on the luggage you have, but they are economical and I emphasize they are safe; they will even kindly give you advice on where to eat, what places to visit, or any other tips. If you want, they will give you their number so they can take you wherever you want.
It is also allowed to negotiate prices and agree on a fair price. It is preferable to have soles coins on hand, although they may also accept dollars. Remember that dollars are not widely used, and they may not give you change. Therefore, if you come to Cusco it is better to use the soles currency as it will make it easier to go anywhere.
Cusco’s Main Square is surrounded by different businesses including restaurants. Here are some of the restaurants you should visit if you are in Cusco:
Among the hotels we have around the Main Square, we have these:
