Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas is the main square in Cusco surrounded by colonial-era buildings and structured as a rectangular open space with manicured gardens. Stone paths divide the area and connect several seating sections where people move through or pause to rest.

The square began as Haukaypata, a central gathering place in the Inca realm. When Spanish colonizers arrived in 1534, they built Catholic churches and grand houses, replacing earlier Inca structures and creating a new identity for the space.

The plaza functions as the social heart where locals and visitors naturally gather throughout the day. You will notice traditional dress mixed with contemporary life, street musicians performing, and an everyday rhythm that makes this square feel genuinely lived-in rather than just historical.

The square is open year-round and easy to reach on foot from anywhere in the center of town. Around the edges you will find cafés, restaurants, and shops where you can rest and grab food or browse for local items.

The square sits where four major routes of the Qhapaq Ñan intersect, the ancient Inca road network that once connected their entire realm. This old arrangement still shapes how people move through the city today.

Location: Cusco Department

Location: Cusco Province

Location: Cusco District

Elevation above the sea: 3,400 m

Length: 141 m

Width: 78 m

Part of: City of Cusco - Main Square and Historic Centre

GPS coordinates: -13.51671,-71.97882

Latest update: December 20, 2025 02:46