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Coricancha

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Landmark
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Coricancha (Peru)

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Coricancha, meaning 'Golden Enclosure' in Quechua, was the most sacred and important temple in the entire Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God. Located in the heart of Cusco, its walls were once covered in solid gold plates, and its gardens were filled with life-sized gold statues of llamas, corn, and people. The craftsmanship of the remaining Inca walls is considered the finest in the world, with stones polished and fitted with such precision they resemble a single piece of rock. After the Spanish conquest, the Church of Santo Domingo was built directly on top of the temple, creating a striking and symbolic architectural layering. Today, visitors can see the perfectly preserved Inca chambers beneath the colonial arches, a powerful reminder of the collision between two worlds.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May, Aug, Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C998888789999
Rain mm129127964494118186372137

📋 Practical info

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Visiting
Coricancha is a former Inca sun temple in Cusco, upon whose ruins the Spanish built Santo Domingo church. The entire complex is accessible as a museum; entry is ticketed.
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Typical hours
The museum is typically open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, with variations on public holidays. Queues may form at the entrance in high season; online booking is recommended.
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Photography
Photography is allowed throughout the museum without flash; inside the church, photos may be restricted. The blend of Inca stonework and Baroque church provides exceptional photo subjects.
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Time needed
A thorough visit of the temple and church takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. An audio guide or guided tour deepens understanding of the historical layers.
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Combine with
Coricancha is in central Cusco, a few minutes' walk from the main square Plaza de Armas. It combines well with the Cusco Cathedral and the Inca Museum.
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Getting there
The entrance is on Avenida El Sol; easily reachable on foot from Plaza de Armas. Taxis and buses stop nearby; car parking is scarce in the city centre.
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Insider tip
Book your ticket online in advance to skip queues, especially in the dry season (May-September). A late afternoon visit gives beautiful light on the Inca stonework.

Geography

Coordinates
-13.52020, -71.97520

Facts

  • Originally named Intikancha or Intiwasi, the House of the Sun.
  • The interior walls were reportedly lined with 700 solid gold plates, each weighing 2 kilograms.
  • A massive gold disc, representing the Sun, was positioned to reflect sunlight into the temple.
  • The temple served as the observatory for Inca astronomers to track solstices and equinoxes.
  • Was the starting point for the 'ceque' system, a network of 41 sacred lines across the empire.
  • Most of the gold was stripped by the Spanish to pay the ransom for the Emperor Atahualpa.
  • Inca walls here survived major earthquakes in 1650, 1950, and 1986 that damaged the church above.
  • The complex included smaller temples dedicated to the Moon, Stars, Rainbow, and Thunder.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Cristo BlancoCristo Blanco<1 km · EExplore →
TambomachayTambomachay2 km · NEExplore →
Potato Park of PisacPotato Park of Pisac14 km · NExplore →
TipónTipón17 km · NExplore →
UrubambaUrubamba17 km · SEExplore →
MorayMoray26 km · SExplore →
PikillaqtaPikillaqta29 km · NExplore →
OllantaytamboOllantaytambo33 km · SExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Coricancha (10)

Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán⛪ monastery

Colonial monastery built on Inca sun temple foundations in Cusco.

Qurikancha🏛 museum

Museum in the former Inca sun temple, displaying religious artifacts.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo⛪ church

Colonial church built atop the Qurikancha in Cusco.

Museo Quechua🏛 museum

Museum with exhibits on Quechua culture and history.

Museo de Sitio Qorikancha🏛 museum

Underground museum on the Qorikancha grounds, showing archaeological finds.

Galería de Arte Moderno

Modern art gallery in Cusco.

Palacio Inka del Kusikancha

Former Inca palace, now a cultural venue in Cusco.

Cusco Theatre of Indigenous Art

Theatre for indigenous art performances in Cusco.

ICPNA

Cultural centre of the Peruvian-North American institute in Cusco.

Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Sena

Dominican convent in Cusco.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, there are ramps for most areas.
Do I need to pay extra?
Yes, a separate ticket is necessary.
How long is a tour?
Plan for about 45 to 60 minutes.
Are there guided tours?
Yes, guides offer tours on-site.
Is filming allowed?
Photos yes, professional filming only with permission.
Coricancha: where is it located?
Coricancha is located in Peru.
Coricancha: what is there to see?
Highlights include Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Qurikancha, Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
Coricancha: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Aug, Sep.
Coricancha: why is it worth visiting?
Coricancha, meaning 'Golden Enclosure' in Quechua, was the most sacred and important temple in the entire Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.
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Nearby cities

Cusco — Coricancha (Peru)
Cusco
Former capital of the Inca Empire.

History & landmarks

Cristo Blanco — Coricancha (Peru)
Cristo Blanco
A large white statue of Jesus on Pukamoqo Hill, watching over the city of Cusco with open arms.
Cusco Cathedral — Coricancha (Peru)
Cusco Cathedral
The magnificent main church on the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, built on the foundations of an ancient Inca palace.
Q&#39;enqo — Coricancha (Peru)
Q'enqo
One of the largest Inca sanctuaries in the Cusco region, known for its channels and altars carved into the limestone rock.
Sacsayhuamán — Coricancha (Peru)
Sacsayhuamán
A massive Inca fortress near Cusco, known for its massive, seamlessly fitted stone blocks.
Tambomachay — Coricancha (Peru)
Tambomachay
An Inca archaeological site that served as a sanctuary dedicated to water or baths of the Inca.
Pisac Ruins — Coricancha (Peru)
Pisac Ruins
An extensive Inca site in the Sacred Valley, known for its huge agricultural terraces and ceremonial centers.
Moray — Coricancha (Peru)
Moray
An Inca archaeological site consisting of deep, circular terraces dug into the earth.
Ollantaytambo — Coricancha (Peru)
Ollantaytambo
One of the best-preserved Inca towns with an impressive fortress, located in the Sacred Valley.

Nature

Urubamba River — Coricancha (Peru)
Urubamba River
The Urubamba River forms the Sacred Valley of the Incas and flows past the historical site of Machu Picchu.

More places

Qorikancha — Coricancha (Peru)
Qorikancha
The most important temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the sun god Inti, on which the Spanish built a monastery.
Puka Pukara — Coricancha (Peru)
Puka Pukara
An Inca military ruin whose name means 'Red Fortress'.
Potato Park of Pisac — Coricancha (Peru)
Potato Park of Pisac
An agricultural zone managed by indigenous communities that protects over a thousand native potato varieties.
Pisac — Coricancha (Peru)
Pisac
Inca ruins with extensive agricultural terraces above the Sacred Valley.
Tipón — Coricancha (Peru)
Tipón
An impressive Inca complex known for its advanced agricultural water system.
Pikillaqta — Coricancha (Peru)
Pikillaqta
One of the few well-preserved pre-Inca ruin cities of the Wari culture near Cusco.
Constancia Mine — Coricancha (Peru)
Constancia Mine
An open-pit copper and molybdenum mine located in the Chumbivilcas province of Cusco.
Megantoni Sanctuary — Coricancha (Peru)
Megantoni Sanctuary
A hard-to-reach protected region that forms a vital bridge between the Andean highlands and the Amazon rainforest.