Museo Inka (Incan Museum), Cusco
The Inca Museum is housed in a colonial mansion. Photo by DC Maggie.
Inca vessel. Photo by Doug Downen.
Elongated Inca skulls. Photo by Doug Downen.
Inca mummies in the Museo Inka. Photo by Jack.
The Museo Inka (Incan Museum), also known as the Archaeological Museum of Cusco, contains artifacts that trace Peruvian history from pre-Inca civilizations and Inca culture to the impact of the Conquest and colonial times on these native cultures.
The building was once the palace of Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado, hence its common designation as the Palacio del Almirante (Admiral's Palace).
The palace itself is one of Cusco's finest colonial mansions, with a superbly ornate portal indicating the importance of its owner. The mansion was built on top of an Inca palace at the beginning of the 17th century.
The main draw of this archaeological museum is its collection of Inca mummies, but the entire facility is Cusco's best introduction to pre-Columbian Andean culture, including the rich cultures that thrived before the Incas.
The museum's exhibits include ceramics, textiles, vases, jewelry, architectural models, and an interesting collection (reputed to be the world's largest) of Inca drinking vessels (qeros) carved out of wood, many meticulously painted. In the courtyard is a studio of women weaving traditional textiles.
Quick Facts
| Address: | 103 Cuesta del Almirante, Cusco, Peru |
| Location: | Corner of Ataúd and Córdoba del Tucumán |
| Phone: | 084/237-380 |
| Hours: | Weekdays 8-5, Sat. 9-4. |
| Cost: | Not included in boleto turístico; S/5 ($1.50) adults, S/2 (60¢) students |
| Time: | Allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours to see the entire collection. |
| Photos: | Not allowed. |
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Museo Inka in Cusco (center marker). Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Archaeological Museum of Cusco – Cusco-Peru.org
- Fodor's Peru, 1st edition.
