How many photography trips have you made in your life? Peru is one of those destinations with many spectacular places to photograph. There you can get beautiful shots of the Pacific coasts, the Andes mountain range or the Amazon jungle. In the highlands of the country you can take a photography trip to places like Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Learn more about some of the best photos you can get on your trip to Cusco!

• Photography in the city of Cusco
• Photography in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Photography in Machu Picchu
• Photography at the Humantay lagoon
• Photography in the 7 colors mountain
• Photography in the southern valley of Cusco
• Photography in other destinations in Cusco

Prepare your camera and have an incredible photography trip to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Photography in the city of Cusco

A photo tour to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire, will take you back in time; you will see ancient Inca palaces, temples and residences, merged with Spanish constructions from the late Middle Ages.

Some of the best photos of your trip can be taken at the famous 12 Angles stone, at the San Pedro market, at the San Cristobal viewpoint or at the city’s Plaza de Armas.

Streets of the city of Cusco

Photography in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a vast mountainous area of great natural beauty where the Incas built their main temples and citadels. Today there are several Andean villages full of traditions such as the towns of Pisac, Chinchero, Urubamba, Maras or Ollantaytambo.

Some of the best photos can be taken in the textile centers of Chinchero, at the Taray viewpoint, in the salt mines of Maras, the circular terraces of Moray as well as in the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

Photography in Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the most photographed tourist destinations in the world. The Inca city has a special scenic beauty that has gained worldwide fame. Its more than one hundred and fifty Inca constructions are world famous. From the top of its mountains there are scenic views that are difficult for tourists to get. From any angle Machu Picchu gives you the opportunity to get an unparalleled photograph.

The Guardian’s House is the point where you get the classic postcard photo of Machu Picchu. This sector is located in the upper central part of the citadel, after a walk of about 15 minutes. The best scenic photos can be taken at the top of the Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu mountains.

Inca city of Machupicchu

Photography at the Humantay lagoon

The Humantay Lagoon offers one of the most beautiful landscapes of the trip to Cusco. The beauty of this lagoon lies in the turquoise waters and the imposing snow-capped mountains that surround it. It is located about 128 kilometers from the city of Cusco. To get there you must make a long trip by car. The last stretch of 2 kilometers is completed on foot in a wonderful landscape above 4 thousand meters above sea level.

The best photographs of the Humantay Lagoon are taken at the foot of the lagoon. Some visitors even like to get aerial shots using a drone. From the lagoon you can also get interesting photos of Salkantay, the second highest mountain in Cusco (6,271 meters above sea level).

Humantay Lagoon

Photography in the 7 colors mountain

The mountain of the 7 colors is the number two tourist attraction in number of visitors in all of Cusco (the first is Machu Picchu). This mountain is also known as Cerro Colorado for its slopes full of different shades produced by the accumulation of minerals in the place. Despite its location at more than 5 thousand meters above sea level, every day thousands of people hike up there.

From the main viewpoint of the 7 colors mountain you can get the classic photo of this place. Visitors with a drone can also get incredible photos from a better angle. On certain days the mountain can be covered with snow and frost from the rains. So it is impossible to get the classic photo. However, on a normal day this does not happen.

7 colors mountain

Photography in the southern valley of Cusco

The southern valley of Cusco is an immense natural area full of beautiful landscapes, Andean villages and Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites. Among its main tourist attractions are the Huacarpay lagoon, the Huasao wetlands, the archaeological site of Tipon, the archaeological site of Piquillacta or the traditional village of Andahuaylillas.

The South Valley of Cusco is a special place to get excellent photographs. One of the best options to visit its attractions and take good pictures is to hire the tour ‘South Valley of Cusco’ half day (5 hours). This service allows you to visit the archaeological site of Tipon, the archaeological site of Piquillacta and the church of the town of Andahuaylillas.

Tipon in the South Valley

Photography in other destinations in Cusco

Cusco has more tourist attractions worth knowing for its beautiful landscapes worthy of a photograph. Among them all it is worth mentioning: Choquequirao, Waqrapukara, the viewpoint of Tres Cruces de Oro or the archaeological sites of Inkilltambo or Raqchi. All these attractions offer natural landscapes, Inca constructions as well as other perfect ingredients to get a good picture.

Choquequirao is considered ‘Machu Picchu’s sacred sister’ for its scenic and architectural beauty similar to Machu Picchu. Waqrapukara is famous for its architectural landscape in the shape of two horns (its name means ‘fortress in the shape of a horn’). The viewpoint of Tres Cruces de Oro in Paucartambo offers one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Finally Inkilltambo and Raqchi allow you to appreciate original Inca streets and squares.

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, July 10, 2024