Visiting the Cristo Blanco Statue: One of the Best Views of Cusco
Last Updated on April 14, 2024 by Kelly
High on top of a hill overlooking the city of Cusco is the statue of Cristo Blanco. The statue depicts Jesus Christ with outstretched hands. We walked a short trail from Sacsayhuaman to Cristo Blanco, and we thought it was a must-see experience while in Cusco. We thought that the statute itself wasn’t all that big, but we really liked the view from the hilltop!
We realized that the Cristo Blanco statue was right next to Sacsayhuaman, and we were really glad we were able to combine both visits in the same day.
In this post, we’ll share everything about our visit to Cristo Blanco in Cusco.
Directions
It’s very easy to reach Cristo Blanco while in Cusco. There are two primary options for reaching the ruins from downtown Cusco. You can walk to Cristo Blanco, or you can take a taxi.
When we visited Cristo Blanco, we chose to walk to the statue. The walk was a bit uphill, but it was manageable even though we were still adjusting to the altitude. We thought it was a great warm-up for our upcoming hike on the Inca Trail!
The Cristo Blanco statue is located adjacent to Sacsayhuaman, so we recommend combining both sites in the same day to be the most efficient. We easily visited Cristo Blanco after seeing Sacsayhuaman by walking east. As I recall, there was easy signage showing the way. The trail was fairly short… perhaps a 10-minute walk.
When we visited the Cristo Blanco statue, we walked from the Plaza de Armas to Sacsayhuaman. After exploring the ruins, we then walked to Cristo Blanco before walking back to our hotel. You could also easily take a taxi to Cristo Blanco if you don’t want to walk up the hill from the Plaza de Armas. (And it would be a lot easier walking back down if you still want to see that route!)
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About the Cristo Blanco Statue
Cristo Blanco was constructed on Pukamoqo Hill, which means “red hill.” The Inca considered Pukamoqo Hill sacred. The hill overlooks the entire city of Cusco. It’s believed that the Inca transported soil from all four regions of their empire. (They called this suyos). The Inca named their empire Tawantinsuyo, which roughly translates to 4 suyos (or 4 regions).
After World War II, Arab-Palestinians gifted the statue to the city of Cusco out of gratitude for allowing them to seek refuge in Peru during the war.
Construction for the Cristo Blanco statue began in 1944 and it was completed in 1945. It was created by Francisco Olazo Allende, who was a sculptor from Cusco. Cristo Blanco is approximately 26 feet tall. (For comparison, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil is 98 feet tall.)
The view from Cristo Blanco is one of the best views you’ll find of Cusco. From its position high on top of the hill, you can see the entire city of Cusco below you.
Visiting Information
Cristo Blanco is open every day of the year. During the evening, Cristo Blanco is lit up. The best time to visit the statue is prior to sunset, as you’ll be able to have a clear view of Cusco during golden hour.
Visiting Cristo Blanco is completely free. There is no entrance ticket. Admission is required, however, at the nearby Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman.
Tips for Visiting
- Be mindful of the altitude: If you just recently arrived in Cusco, it’ll take time for your body to adjust to the altitude. If you choose to walk to the statue, take your time and rest often.
- Bring water: Keep yourself hydrated as you explore.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged and download offline maps: You’ll want to use your phone for navigation and photos. It helps to download offline maps ahead of time so that you can use your phone for navigation even if you don’t have cell service or WiFi.
- Bring soles with you: Make sure that you bring small change in the local currency (soles). If you want to purchase snacks or souvenirs along the way, many businesses only accept soles.
- Save time for Sacsayhuaman: The Cristo Blanco statue isn’t far from Sacsayhuaman. It’s only about a 10-15 minute walk. We recommend visiting both in the same day. To make the most of your visit, we recommend setting aside a few hours in order to be able to see both Sacsayhuaman and Cristo Blanco.
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Nearby Activities
Here’s a list of attractions near the statue:
- Sacsayhuaman
- Plaza de Armas
- Hatun Rumiyoc Street
- Qoricancha Temple
Summary
We enjoyed learning about the Cristo Blanco statue. We found the trail to be pleasant, and we were especially impressed with the view. From the viewpoint, we could see practically the entire city of Cusco! We were so glad we took the time to walk to the statue.
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