The Qoricancha Cusco Perú was the most important temple during the Inca period. The cult in the interior of the temple was reserved for the most important personalities of the time and they went to the place populations of all the Empire to worship and tribute to the Gods of Tahuantinsuyo.
The Coricancha Sun Temple was a sacred place where the Inca Sun god was worshiped, so they could only enter the place fasting, barefoot and with a load on the back as a sign of humility, as indicated the senior priest Willaq Umu. The shape of Coricancha Perú was of a sun, and the roads that came out of it, were the rays that illuminated in the direction of the sacred sites for the Incas, more than 320 sacred places.
At the time of the Inca Empire, the walls of the Coricancha Sun Temple up to a certain height were finely carved stone and then continued with adobe finishing off in an artisanal thatched roof. When the first Europeans who arrived in Cusco saw this sanctuary, they were dazzled by so much wealth that Coricancha Peru kept inside. All its walls were decorated with sheets of pure gold, and in each of the niches were found idols and ritual objects finely worked in native gold and silver.
In the most sacred place of this enclosure the Inca ordered the placement of a solid gold disk with the representation of the Sun god. Thus, from that moment, the Sun ceased to be an exclusive divinity of the group of the Incas, to become the official religion of the entire empire.
What to see in the Coricancha?
- The Temple of the Sun: During the Incas this site was covered by gold and other precious metals. It was the main altar where the Sun god was worshiped.
- The Temple of the Rainbow: It is a room that was covered almost entirely by gold during the Inca period. The upper part is distinguished by the shape of a rainbow, a phenomenon adored by the Incas because it came from the sun.
- The Temple of the Stars: Bone remains of auquenidos were found here, so it is believed that animal sacrifices were made there. The Hall of Sacrifices - This room was named for the rock carved as sacrificial table in the lower part.
- The Temple of the Thunder: This rectangular enclosure has 3 doors whose origin is in tripartite worship of lightning, thunder and lightning.
- The Sacred Gardens: Space of green areas that in time of the Incas probably had decorations of gold and precious materials. Currently, it can be seen from outside the temple.
- The Sacred Gate: A kind of corridor surrounded by two finely carved stone walls. Drive to the main campus.
Coricancha Facts
The Inca held celebration of the festival of the sun (Inti Raymi) and important rites within the venerable halls of the Coricancha, it was the main place of work of the high priest, the Villac Umu. The holy temple of the sun god Inti and the creator god Viracocha could only be entered sober, barefoot, following the instructions of a Villac Umu and as a sign of humility with a load on the shoulders.
The splendor that greeted the humble visitor was simply overwhelming. The floor and the walls of the sun temple were covered with 700 plates made of pure gold, the sun disc in human form was enthroned, also made of solid gold. At sunrise it caught the sun's rays and the gold and gems shone in a truly otherworldly light. In trapezoidal niches in the walls, royal mummies with golden masks, dressed in costly robes, sat on golden thrones, which were traditionally provided with ritual food and drink by servants.
The room next door served Mama Killa, the moon goddess and was accordingly kept in pure silver. The counterpart to the golden disc of the sun god was a 10 meter high disc in the shape of a woman, weighing almost a ton, made of shimmering silver platinum. Here, too, mummies kept watch, this time the embalmed queens of the earlier empires.
Gold as "beads of sweat from the sun" and silver as "tears of the moon" were worshiped in several gardens made entirely of the precious metals. The chronicler Pedro Cieza de León told of parks in front of the temple courtyards, whose blades of grass, branches, fruits, snakes, beetles and fountains were made entirely of silver and gold.
The Coricancha Site Museum
Coricancha Site Museum has five rooms where the history of the ancestors who lived in Cusco is explained didactically, with pre-Inca, Inca and colonial pieces, mostly from the excavations carried out in the Koricancha, during the period of 1992-1995.
In the Coricancha Site Museum you will find canvases, clothes, religious objects and works of contemporary art, giving an idea of the multifunctionality of Coricancha Sun Temple in Inca´s times.
Nowadays concerts, art exhibitions, works of theater and almost any cultural representation that can be imagined in the city of Cuzco are celebrated inside the Coricancha Site Museum.
Coricancha Church
The Coricancha Church was founded on the foundations of the famous Temple of the Sun for the year 1534 and the 'Santo Domingo' Convent, next to the Coricancha Church, was built over the Qoricancha Cusco Perú.
The Catholic Temple has been erected on the same Inca Temple, as to demonstrate the destruction and annulment of the ancient cult, today it is the apse of the Dominican temple.
The Coricancha Church has three naves and a construction platform in the shape of a Greek Cross, the facade is of 'Plateresque' characteristics and the church tower is 'Baroque' with a tendency to 'Churrigueresque'.
How to get to Qoricancha Cusco Peru?
The Qoricancha Cusco Perú is the best previous to what you will see in Machu Picchu. The Coricancha Sun Temple is located at the intersection of 'Sol' Avenue and 'Santo Domingo' street. To get to the Coricancha Site Museum it is advisable to go to the Main Square of Cusco, since it is 2 blocks from the square. On foot you can do the tour in less than 10 minutes. While in car the delay is 7 minutes.
You can visit the Coricancha Site Museum from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 hrs. to 17:00 hrs.
When is the best season to visit Coricancha?
The best season to visit the Coricancha is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
Coricancha Tours
After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco. From here, there are 3 ways in which you can visit the Qoricancha Cusco Peru:
City Tour and Coricancha Tour
It is the most usual way to visit the Coricancha Sun Temple. The City Tour lasts half a day and includes the Coricancha entrance fee as well as transportation and tourist guide service. This tous package also includes visits to other archaeological sites of Cusco: the Cathedral, the Main Square, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.
How much does the Coricancha tour cost?
The price of the City Tour Cusco, which includes a Coricancha Tour, averages $ 20 per person. The cost includes the income to all the archaeological sites including the Coricancha Cusco Peru. Tours can be booked online. Also, you can hire this tour at a tourist agency in the Center of Cusco.
Visit to the Coricancha with the Tourist Ticket of Cusco
You can visit the Coricancha Perú if you buy the Tourist Ticket of Cusco. This is a ticket designed for tourists who wish to visit the main tourist attractions of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Among this archaeological sites is the Coricancha Site Museum.
How much does the Tourist Ticket of Cusco cost?
The cost of the Tourist Ticket depends on the type of ticket you buy:
| TYPES OF TOURIST TICKETS | HOW LONG IS THIS TICKET VALID? | WHICH TOURIST PLACES YOU CAN VISIT? | PRICES |
| INTEGRAL TOURIST TICKET | This ticket is valid for 10 calendar days. | You can make the visit to 16 tourist places in Cusco, including the Coricancha Site Museum. |
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| PARTIAL TOURIST TICKET (Circuit 2) | This ticket is valid for 2 days | This ticket allows you to enter the attractions of interest located in the historic center of Cusco and the southern valley, which are:
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Visit to the Coricancha without a Tour
You can buy the Coricancha entrance fee directly at the main entrance. Most visitors, however, prefer to buy a City Tour Cusco or buy the Tourist Ticket from Cusco. Both, besides the Coricancha Sun Temple include the entrance to the other archaeological sites of Cuzco.
What is the entrance fee for Qoricancha?
It should be noted that the Coricancha entrance fee to the museum is included in the Tourist Ticket that is usually purchased to visit some historic centers in Cusco. Nevertheless, the entrance to the Coricancha church is not included in the Tourist Ticket. The cost of the Coricancha entrance fee to is S / 15.00, which approximately to the change is about US $ 5.00. The Coricancha Site Museum opens from 8:30 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays they attend from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. It has the highest number of visits between 2:30 and 4 pm, with the most concentrated point being at 3:00 p.m. So it is advisable to go early to enjoy the explanations of the guides and the environments.
Other Tours in Cusco:
The famous Inca Trail Tours are the most popular excursions in Cusco - Peru; and considered among the best walks in the world.
- Salkantay Trek 5 Days
- Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days
- Machu Picchu 3 Day Hike
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with camping
- Inca Jungle Trek 4 days
- Lares trek to Machu Picchu
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
