🇵🇪 Peru

Castles near Cusco

8 castles, fortresses, palaces and ruins within 100 km of the city centre — every one on the interactive map, with photos, distances and directions.

See them on the map →Castles in Peru →

The closest is Sacsayhuamán, 1 km north of the city centre; the most famous is Machu Picchu — #2 of 5,814 worldwide — 73 km north-west. The oldest dated site in the circle is Pikillaqta, founded 500.

Every one of them stands in Peru — the country page shows the full national picture.

Within 25 km of Cusco

Sacsayhuamán
1 km north · Fortress · #80 worldwide
Sacsayhuamán or Saksaywaman is a citadel on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire.
Písac
17 km north-east · Ruin
Písac or Pisac is a Peruvian town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is situated on the Urubamba River.
Huchuy Qosqo
17 km north · Ruin
Huchuy Qosqo,, is an Incan archaeological site north of Cuzco, Peru. Its name is Quechua for "Little Cuzco".

Day trips: 25–60 km

Ollantaytambo
42 km north-west · Fortress · #125 worldwide
Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 72 km by road northwest of the city of Cusco.
Pikillaqta
31 km east · Ruin
Pikillaqta (Quechua piki flea, llaqta a place, "flea place", also spelled Piki Llacta, Pikillacta, Piquillacta, Piquillaqta) is a large Wari culture…

Farther afield: 60–100 km

Machu Picchu
73 km north-west · Fortress · #2 worldwide
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a mountain ridge at 2,430 meters.
Choquequirao
98 km west · Ruin · #395 worldwide
Choquequirao is a 16th-century Incan site in the Cusco Region of southern Peru.
Waqrapukara
64 km south-east · Ruin
Waqrapukara or Waqra Pukara is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Acomayo Province, Acos District.

Distances are straight-line from the city centre. City coordinates and population: Wikidata Q5582862.

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are near Cusco?

The Castlemap atlas maps 8 landmarks (3 fortresses · 5 ruins) within 100 km of the centre of Cusco, measured straight-line — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the closest castle to Cusco?

Sacsayhuamán, a fortress 1 km north of the city centre.

What is the most famous castle near Cusco?

Machu Picchu, ranked #2 of 5,814 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking — 73 km north-west from Cusco.

What is the oldest castle near Cusco?

The oldest dated landmark in the circle is Pikillaqta, founded 500 — 31 km east. Earlier structures may have existed; this is the oldest with a documented founding year.