The abode of the gods, or Apukunaq Tianan (in the Quechua language), is a modern tourist attraction made up of several stone sculptures that reach up to 8 meters in height. It is located only 12 kilometers from the city of Cusco. The visit is a magical journey to the most representative symbols and figures of the Inca culture. There are one-day tours to this place. In addition, it is possible to go on your own even by public transport or bicycle.

• What is?
• Where is it?
• How to get there?
• Map
• What will I see?
• Tours
• How to go on your own?
• Photo gallery
• Tips
• More information
• Questions and answers about the abode of the gods

Abode of the Gods – Cusco

What is?

• The Apukunaq Tianan is one of the most recent tourist attractions in Cusco. Its name translated into Spanish means ‘The abode of the gods’ and refers to dozens of sculptures dedicated to the Inca and Andean gods.
• In the place there are monuments carved in stone in the middle of nature such as the Pachamama (mother earth), the puma (symbolizes the earthly world or kaypacha), faces of Incas, Andean men and more.
• The works were carved by the Cusco artist Michael de Titán Monteagudo Mejía in a private area (it is not an archaeological site nor does it belong to the municipality of Cusco).
• The magnificent works of art are made from the local stone. They have a height of up to 8 meters. There are sculptures of faces of Andean men, Amazonians, pumas, a three-dimensional door, female goddesses and more.

Where is it?

• The abode of the gods is located just 8 kilometers from the city of Cusco, in the Poroy district (Sencca sector). The site rises to about 3,850 meters above sea level.

How to get there?

The tours to the abode of the gods already include the tourist transport service.

If you go on your own you must follow these steps:

• Take a public transport bus from the company ‘Expreso Santiago’. I can board the bus at the Puente Rosario bus stop, right in front of the famous Coricancha temple (a few steps from the Plaza de Armas). The trip takes approximately 30 minutes. The cost is only 1 Peruvian sol (0.3 US dollars).
• The final whereabouts is in the Poroy district. From there you must take a collective taxi (cost of 2 Peruvian soles) or a private one (cost of 10 Peruvian soles). The trip takes only 15 minutes.
• Another option is to do this last section on foot. The road is in a straight line on a trail. The walk takes 1 hour on average.

The return trip to the city of Cusco can be done in the same way as the outward trip.

Dwelling Map of the Gods

Map to get to the Abode of the Gods

What will I see?

The place is not an archaeological site. In reality it was just a vacant lot where stone proliferated. On this site, the artist Michael de Titán Monteagudo Mejía made several works of art in stone that made it one of the new tourist destinations in Cusco.

These are some of the works of art in the place:

• The Puma – This animal was revered by various Andean cultures. The Incas considered it as a symbol of the underworld, also called kaypacha.
• the Pachamama – This Quechua name refers to the land, a source of food and, therefore, life for men.For the Incas, the pachamama was a goddess who had to be thanked through rituals of ‘payment to the earth’.
• The three-dimensional door – This work represents an entrance inside the stone formation, similar to a cave. For the Incas, the caves communicated the world of the living (kaypacha) with the world of the dead (ukupacha).
• Andean man – Man, according to the Inca cosmovision, was created by the sun. The first son of the sun was Manco Cápac who led the Inca tribe to the Cusco valley where the largest empire in South America would be founded.
• The man of the jungle – There is no evidence that the Incas entered the deep jungle plain. Even so, the trade between Incas and jungle settlers was constant. The mysterious jungle was the source of products such as the coca leaf.

Tours

• The tours to the abode of the gods are perhaps the cheapest in Cusco. For only half a day (5 hours) and have an approximate cost of 15 US dollars. Includes: transportation, entrance and tour guide.
• There are also other tours that include ATV transportation. This service, the favorite of tourists who visit the abode of the gods, costs approximately 20 US dollars.
• In any case, you can contact the tourism agency of your choice. Most are located in the immediate vicinity of the center of Cusco.

How to go on your own?

• Most people who visit the abode of the gods do so on their own. To do this, you only need to take public transport (or a taxi) to the place.
• The entrance to the Apukunaq Tianan costs only 2 Peruvian soles (0.6 US dollars).

Photo gallery Abode of the Gods

Tips

• The Apukunaq Tianan is a new option to the traditional tourist attractions of Cusco. The great advantage is that it is an economic destination. During your visit, don’t forget to bring good shoes, a hat, sunscreen, cash, and a poncho in case it rains.
• Do not damage the sculptures or paint in the vicinity of the site. If you will make your visit with snacks, fruits or drinks, use the garbage cans. Don’t dump litter on the road either (if you’ll get there on foot).

More information

• The Cusco district of Poroy is also famous because one of the train stations to Machu Picchu is located there. In addition, there is a sports center there, the famous Action Valley, where extreme sports such as bungee jumping or slingshot are practiced.
• The climate in Poroy is very similar to that of the city of Cusco. During the day maximum temperatures of 21ºC are recorded. At night, the cold can drop to a minimum of 3ºC. The average temperature is 13ºC.

Questions and answers about the abode of the gods

• 1) How to get to the abode of the gods?

  This tourist attraction is located just 8 kilometers from the city of Cusco, in the Poroy district (Sencca sector). The site rises to about 3,850 meters above sea level.

• 2) What does Apukunaq Tianan mean?

  This Quechua name means in Spanish ‘The abode of the gods’. It refers to dozens of sculptures dedicated to the Inca and Andean gods.

• 3) How much does the ticket cost?

  The entrance to the Apukunaq Tianan costs 15 soles for foreign tourists, 10 soles for Peruvians and 2 soles for Cusco.

• 4) What are the opening hours?

  The opening hours of the abode of the gods in Cusco are from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon.

• 5) How much does a tour to the abode of the gods cost?

  The tour lasts from 2 to 4 hours depending on the tourism agency you choose. Prices range from 15 to 25 dollars per tourist. They include full transportation, professional guide and, in some cases, entrance fee.

• 6) Can I ride an ATV to the abode of the gods?

  The ATV tour to the abode of the gods costs approximately $25 per person. Includes transportation, guide, ATV equipment and, in some cases, entrance fee.

• 7) When is the best date to go?

  The dry season (from April to October) are the best months to visit the abode of the gods. On those days the rains are not constant in Cusco.

• 8) How to get there by public transport?

  The buses of the company ‘Expreso Santiago’ take you to the district of Poroy. From there you must take a collective taxi to the abode of the gods.

• 9) Where to have lunch during the visit?

  The abode of the gods has a cafeteria. It is also possible to have lunch at nearby restaurants in the Cusco district of Poroy.

• 10) What to see in the abode of the gods?

  This tourist attraction in Cusco stands out for its beautiful and large stone sculptures with Inca and Andean figures such as: the puma, the pachamama, the Andean man, the man of the jungle, the three-dimensional door and more (under construction).

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 15, 2024