Cusco’s Museums
To be honest, no museum can compete with the archeological sites in and near the city of Cusco. However, if you need a break from the sun (or rain), or if you want a few hours that don’t involve hiking or climbing stairs, here are your best options.
Museo de Arte Precolombino
This is absolutely my favorite museum in Cusco.
Qorikancha
This is much more than a museum, but the museum part of the Qorikancha is an absolute must for any visit to Cusco. It is the best example of how Inca and colonial history coexist in modern Peru.
Museo Historia Regional
The Regional Historical Museum has a small but excellent collection and it’s included on the Boleto Turistico del Cusco so if you bought the full tourist ticket, you don’t have an excuse not to go.
Museo Casa Concha
When Hiram Bingham excavated Machu Picchu in the 1910s, he took countless artifacts back to the US that were housed at Yale for 100 years. The artifacts that have been returned are at the Casa Concha, which also has some fascinating artifacts found in the old house upstairs.
Museo Inka
The Inka Museum has the biggest collection of any Cusco museum but it’s poorly labeled. If you have a guide, this is a fantastic museum but on your own some artifacts are unclear. Some are obvious, like the guinea pigs making more guinea pigs.