The city of Cusco is the capital of the department of Cusco and is located in the valley of the Huatanay River in the south east Andean mountain range at an altitude of 3,350 meters or 11,200 feet above sea level. Cusco is located within the latitude and longitude of 13° 30′ 45″ S, 71° 58′ 33″W.

Cusco covers an area of 617 sq km and has a population density of 596.1 inhabitants per sq km. According to INEI, the Institute of Statistics of Peru, in 2009 the city had a population of 367,791 and is the seventh largest city in Peru in terms of population.

Since the mid 1990s and with the decline of terrorist activity in the country, tourism has greatly increased and it is estimated that around 1.5 million tourists visit Cusco every year, the city has become the main tourist attraction in Peru and one of the most visited cities in South America.

Today, the city of Cusco is a vibrant city that thrives on tourism. The city has a poverty rate of 28.2%.  However, the population of the department of Cusco has marginally benefited from the increase in tourism and from the economic boom brought by high prices of commodities such as gas and minerals. The poverty rate of the department has remained high at 51.1% in 2009 compared to an average of 34.8% for the country.

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Additional information about Cusco

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Cusco weather

Weather in the Andes is characterized for having many climates, or micro climates, that vary according to its altitude. Cusco enjoys a very stable climate that can be observed throughout the year.

Cusco Travel

Cusco is the most popular tourist destination in Peru, about 1.5 million tourist come to Cusco every year.

Inca Cusco

Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire and a pilgrimage center. It is where the old world met the new world.

Machu Picchu, Cusco

The lost citadel rediscovered by Hiram Bingham, a Yale University explorer and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

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