The puma’s tail
The name tells you where you are. Pumaqchupan is Quechua for “the puma’s tail.” Inca Cusco is traditionally described as laid out in the shape of a puma, with Sacsayhuamán as the head, and this low ground at the southern tip of the old city as the tail.
Orellana Pumaqchupan Park sits here at Av. El Sol 954. Avenida El Sol is Cusco’s main straight road: banks, hotels and traffic run its length. This park is a pause along that stretch. Most visitors walk straight past it on their way to somewhere else, which is why it stays under the radar.
Getting there on foot
It’s downhill the whole way from the centre. From the Plaza de Armas, walk south down Avenida El Sol. You’ll pass Qorikancha, the Inca sun temple under the Santo Domingo convent, then keep going down the avenue to number 954.
- From the Plaza de Armas: a straight walk down El Sol, all downhill.
- From Qorikancha: continue south down the same avenue.
- Coming back: the return is uphill at roughly 3,400 metres. Go slowly, or flag a taxi on El Sol.
Pair it with Qorikancha, or with the walk down from San Blas. It works as a short stop of 20–40 minutes, not a half-day outing.
When the bench is yours
Timing makes the biggest difference. On weekdays it’s calmest between 7am and 8am. That’s when the avenue is waking up and you can sit without company.
Try not to show up on weekends between 8am and 11am, or from 4pm to 11pm. Those are the busiest windows, with families and groups filling the space. Google lists the park as open 24 hours at the moment. Even so, daylight is the sensible time for a visitor to come, and Cusco mornings are usually the clearest part of the day.
Using a Cusco public park
Treat it as a neighbourhood space, not a sight. It’s a public park with no ticket booth. Locals use spaces like this to wait, eat a snack or meet friends, so the etiquette is about sharing.
- Keep off planted beds and follow any signs about the grass. Cusco’s parks are tended by the municipality.
- Ask before photographing people. That includes women in traditional dress, who may expect a tip for a posed photo. Carry small soles coins for this.
- Bin your rubbish or carry it out. Bins along El Sol are easy to find.
- After dark, keep your phone and bag close, as you would anywhere on a main avenue. Use a registered taxi or an app ride back uphill rather than walking alone late.
- Altitude: if you arrived in Cusco recently, this flat stop is a good place to rest between the steeper streets of the centre.
Many people in Cusco speak Spanish and some speak Quechua. A simple buenos días when you sit down near someone goes a long way.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Orellana Pumaqchupan Park?
It's at Av. El Sol 954, Cusco 08002, in the Pumaqchupan area at the lower end of Avenida El Sol, south of Qorikancha.
When is the quietest time to visit?
On weekdays it's quietest between 7am and 8am. Avoid weekends between 8am and 11am and from 4pm to 11pm, which are the busiest windows.
How do I get there from the Plaza de Armas?
Walk south down Avenida El Sol past Qorikancha to number 954. It's all downhill. Coming back is uphill at altitude, so many people take a taxi.
How long should I spend there?
About 20–40 minutes. It's a short rest stop that pairs well with a visit to Qorikancha on the same avenue.
Is it open at night?
Google currently lists it as open 24 hours. Daylight is the better time to visit, though, and after dark a taxi back to the centre is the safer choice.
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