Qusqu
Kus-ku
Cusco
Usage
Capital of the Inca Empire, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Grammar Note
Means "navel of the world" in Quechua — the center of the Inca Empire
Machu Pikchu
Ma-chu Pik-chu
Machu Picchu
Usage
The iconic Inca citadel, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
Grammar Note
Means "old mountain peak" or "ancient summit" in Quechua
Titiqaqa
Ti-ti-qa-qa
Lake Titicaca
Usage
World's highest navigable lake, on the Peru-Bolivia border
Grammar Note
Said to mean "rock of the puma"; some argue it has Aymara origins
Tawantinsuyu
Ta-wan-tin-su-yu
Tawantinsuyu (Inca Empire)
Usage
Quechua name for the Inca Empire, meaning "four regions united"
Grammar Note
The empire was divided into four administrative regions
Ollantaytampu
O-llan-tay-tam-pu
Ollantaytambo
Usage
Historic Inca town with a well-preserved temple and fortress
Grammar Note
Gateway to Machu Picchu, named after the legendary Inca hero Ollantay
Pisaq
Pi-saq
Pisac
Usage
Village near Cusco known for Inca ruins and a famous Sunday market
Grammar Note
Known for Inca agricultural terraces and an astronomical observatory in the Sacred Valley
Wankayo
Wan-ka-yo
Huancayo
Usage
City in the central Peruvian Andes, a hub of Quechua-speaking culture
Grammar Note
Near the Junín Plateau, famous for its traditional Sunday market and handicrafts
Ayawiru
A-ya-wi-ru
Ayaviri
Usage
Andean town in the Puno region of Peru where Quechua is spoken
Grammar Note
aya (spirit/dead) + wiru (blood). Andean indigenous beliefs are reflected in place names
Pumaq Markan
Pu-maq Mar-kan
Puma Marca
Usage
Place name meaning "puma's village" in Quechua
Grammar Note
puma is Quechua in origin and borrowed into English. The puma is a sacred animal in Andean culture
Pukara
Pu-ka-ra
Usage
Pre-Inca archaeological site in Puno, Peru
Grammar Note
Means "fortress/fortified place" in Quechua. The name appears across South America
Alejandro Velasco Astete wayra wasi
A-le-han-dro Be-las-ko As-te-te way-ra wa-si
Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, Cusco
Usage
3,310 m. Cusco's airport (CUZ), about 6 km southeast of the centre; signs read "Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete". Take it easy on arrival day because of the altitude
Inka Manqu Qhapaq wayra wasi
In-ka Man-qu Qha-paq way-ra wa-si
Inca Manco Cápac Airport, Juliaca
Usage
3,826 m. Signed "Aeropuerto Internacional Inca Manco Cápac", in Juliaca; the air gateway to Puno and Lake Titicaca, about 45 minutes by road from Puno. Arriving straight at this altitude often triggers soroche
El Alto wayra wasi
El Al-to way-ra wa-si
El Alto International Airport, La Paz
Usage
4,061 m. Signed "Aeropuerto Internacional El Alto" (LPB), one of the highest international airports in the world. La Paz city centre sits more than 400 m below, so the ride from the airport is all downhill
Ayakuchu wayra wasi
A-ya-ku-chu way-ra wa-si
Ayacucho Airport
Usage
2,719 m. Signed "Aeropuerto Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendívil Duarte", just north of Ayacucho city, about an hour's flight from Lima
Antawaylla wayra wasi
An-ta-way-lla way-ra wa-si
Andahuaylas Airport
Usage
3,444 m. Signed "Aeropuerto de Andahuaylas"; one of the highest airports in Peru with scheduled flights, and the way into inland Apurímac
Anta wayra wasi
An-ta way-ra wa-si
Huaraz (Anta) Airport
Usage
2,760 m. Signed "Aeropuerto Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani", in the village of Anta about 23 km north of Huaraz; the air entry to the Cordillera Blanca. Flights are few, so most travellers still come by bus from Lima
Ollantaytampu tren istasyun
O-llan-tay-tam-pu tren is-ta-syun
Ollantaytambo Station
Usage
2,792 m. Signed "Estación de Ollantaytambo"; the main departure station for Machu Picchu trains on both PeruRail and IncaRail, about 1 h 40 min to Aguas Calientes and roughly 2 hours by road from Cusco
Machu Pikchu Llaqta tren istasyun
Ma-chu Pik-chu Llaq-ta tren is-ta-syun
Machupicchu (Aguas Calientes) Station
Usage
2,040 m. Signed "Estación Machupicchu / Aguas Calientes", the end of the line; shuttle buses climb from the town to the ruins in about 30 minutes. Tickets often print the town as "Machupicchu Pueblo"
Wanchaq tren istasyun
Wan-chaq tren is-ta-syun
Wanchaq Station, Cusco
Usage
3,399 m. Signed "Estación Wánchaq", inside Cusco city; this is where the tourist trains to Puno (Titicaca Train / Andean Explorer) leave from — not the Machu Picchu trains
Punu tren istasyun
Pu-nu tren is-ta-syun
Puno Station
Usage
3,825 m. Signed "Estación de Puno", the terminus of the train from Cusco (about 10.5 hours) and within walking distance of the Lake Titicaca jetties
Wankawillka tren istasyun
Wan-ka-will-ka tren is-ta-syun
Huancavelica Station
Usage
3,676 m. Signed "Estación de Huancavelica", the end of the "Tren Macho" line from Huancayo (Ferrocarril Huancayo–Huancavelica). Service is irregular, so check locally before counting on it
Hidroelektrika
I-dro-e-lek-tri-ka
Hidroeléctrica
Usage
About 1,850 m. Signed simply "Hidroeléctrica" (the hydroelectric plant); the start of the budget route to Machu Picchu — vans come via Santa Teresa and travellers walk roughly 10 km (under 3 hours) along the railway to Aguas Calientes
Punu puertu
Pu-nu puer-tu
Puno Port
Usage
3,827 m. Signed "Puerto de Puno" or "Muelle de Puno"; boats to the Uros floating islands, Taquile and Amantaní leave from here, about a 20-minute walk from the town centre
Yunguyu
Yun-gu-yu
Yunguyo
Usage
About 3,850 m. Signed "Yunguyo"; the Peru–Bolivia border town on the south shore of Lake Titicaca, where buses to La Paz via Copacabana clear immigration
Desaguadero
De-sa-gua-de-ro
Usage
About 3,830 m. Signed "Desaguadero", named after the river draining Lake Titicaca; the shortest road crossing between Puno and La Paz, used by freight and long-distance buses
Qusqu–Punu ñan
Kus-ku Pu-nu ñan
Cusco–Puno highway
Usage
3,300–4,338 m. Signed "Carretera PE-3S"; the roughly 390 km road linking Cusco and Puno, 6–7 hours by bus, topping out at the La Raya pass (4,338 m). Tourist buses stop at Raqchi and Andahuaylillas on the way
La Raya
La Ra-ya
La Raya Pass
Usage
4,338 m. Signed "Abra La Raya"; the pass on the Cusco–Puno boundary crossed by both the road and the railway, and the watershed between the Vilcanota river and the Titicaca basin. It is usually the highest point of the journey, so watch for altitude sickness
Piskakuchu
Pis-ka-ku-chu
Piscacucho (KM 82)
Usage
About 2,720 m. Signed "Piscacucho / Km 82"; the hamlet beyond Ollantaytambo where the classic four-day Inca Trail starts and permits and passports are checked at the control gate
Urupampa
U-ru-pam-pa
Urubamba
Usage
2,871 m. Signed "Urubamba"; the main town of the Sacred Valley and, being over 500 m lower and warmer than Cusco, a good base for acclimatising. It sits on the road running the length of the valley
Kalka
Kal-ka
Calca
Usage
2,928 m. Signed "Calca"; a provincial capital in the Sacred Valley and the turn-off for treks towards Lares and the Machacancha hot springs
Chinchiru
Chin-chi-ru
Chinchero
Usage
3,762 m. Signed "Chinchero"; a plateau town higher than Cusco itself, known for its colonial church built on Inca walls and for its weaving workshops. It lies on the road down from Cusco into the Sacred Valley
Maras
Ma-ras
Usage
3,380 m. Signed "Maras", with the salt pans signed "Salineras de Maras" — thousands of terraced evaporation ponds worked since Inca times. Usually visited together with Moray
Muray
Mu-ray
Moray
Usage
About 3,500 m. Signed "Moray"; concentric terraces sunk into the ground like an amphitheatre, each ring a different temperature — thought to have been an Inca agricultural testing ground
Urqus
Ur-qus
Urcos
Usage
3,150 m. Signed "Urcos"; a town on the Puno highway about 45 km southeast of Cusco, beside its crater lake, and the turn-off towards Ausangate
Sikwani
Sik-wa-ni
Sicuani
Usage
3,552 m. Signed "Sicuani"; the second town of the Cusco region, halfway to Puno on both the road and the railway, and a standard rest stop for long-distance buses
Andawaylillas
An-da-way-li-llas
Andahuaylillas
Usage
3,122 m. Signed "Andahuaylillas"; a village on the Puno highway about 40 km southeast of Cusco whose San Pedro church, covered in gilding and murals, is called the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes"
Raqchi
Raq-chi
Usage
3,480 m. Signed "Raqchi / Templo de Wiracocha"; an Inca site on the Cusco–Puno highway with a 12 m high wall from the temple of Wiracocha and rows of round storehouses
Pawqartampu
Paw-qar-tam-pu
Paucartambo
Usage
About 2,900 m. Signed "Paucartambo"; a colonial town northeast of Cusco famous for its Virgen del Carmen festival in July, and the start of the road dropping towards Manu National Park
Machu Pikchu Llaqta
Ma-chu Pik-chu Llaq-ta
Machupicchu town (Aguas Calientes)
Usage
2,040 m. Signed "Machupicchu Pueblo" and widely called Aguas Calientes; the riverside town below the ruins with the hotels, hot springs and the shuttle bus stop. No road reaches it — only the train or walking
Lares
La-res
Usage
About 3,150 m. Signed "Lares"; a hot-spring village north of Calca and the base for the Lares trek through weaving communities, whose passes climb above 4,400 m
Willkamayu
Will-ka-ma-yu
Urubamba River (Willkamayu)
Usage
2,000–3,500 m along its course. Signed "Río Urubamba" (called "Río Vilcanota" upstream); the river that carves the Sacred Valley and loops below Machu Picchu. The Quechua name means "sacred river"
Saqsaywaman
Saq-say-wa-man
Sacsayhuamán
Usage
About 3,700 m. Signed "Sacsayhuamán"; the megalithic fortress on the hill above Cusco, reachable on foot from town by a steep climb, and the stage for the Inti Raymi festival in June
Qurikancha
Qu-ri-kan-cha
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)
Usage
3,399 m. Signed "Qorikancha / Convento de Santo Domingo"; the Inca Empire's principal sun temple in central Cusco, with the Santo Domingo monastery built on top of it. The name means "golden enclosure"
Q'inqu
Q'in-qu
Q'enqo
Usage
About 3,580 m. Signed "Q'enqo"; a shrine carved out of the living rock just beyond Sacsayhuamán, with zigzag channels and an underground altar. The name means "zigzag"
Puka Pukara
Pu-ka Pu-ka-ra
Usage
About 3,680 m. Signed "Puca Pucara"; a small Inca garrison post on the road towards Pisac, some 7 km from Cusco. The name means "red fortress"
Tampumachay
Tam-pu-ma-chay
Tambomachay
Usage
About 3,700 m. Signed "Tambomachay"; springs and channels northeast of Cusco known as the "Inca baths", where the water still runs
Tipun
Ti-pun
Tipón
Usage
About 3,400 m. Signed "Tipón"; an Inca site on the Puno road some 25 km southeast of Cusco, with terraces and finely built irrigation channels that still carry water
Pikillaqta
Pi-ki-llaq-ta
Usage
About 3,250 m. Signed "Pikillacta"; the ruins of a planned Wari city (pre-Inca) southeast of Cusco, with a large grid of standing walls
Wayna Pikchu
Way-na Pik-chu
Huayna Picchu
Usage
About 2,720 m. Signed "Huayna Picchu"; the pointed peak standing behind the ruins in every photograph. Climbing it needs a separate timed ticket and means steep stone stairs with big drops. The name means "young peak"
Inti Punku
In-ti Pun-ku
Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
Usage
About 2,745 m. Signed "Intipunku / Puerta del Sol"; the gateway on the ridge where the Inca Trail enters Machu Picchu, about an hour's climb up from the ruins. The name means "sun gate"
Warmi Wañusqa
War-mi Wa-ñus-qa
Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass)
Usage
4,215 m. Signed "Abra Warmiwañusca"; the highest point of the Inca Trail, crossed on day two. It is the hardest stretch of the four days and where altitude sickness usually shows up
Inka Ñan
In-ka Ñan
Inca Trail
Usage
2,650–4,215 m. Signed "Camino Inca"; the 43 km, four-day route from KM 82 to Machu Picchu. Permits are capped and sell out months ahead, and the trail closes each February for maintenance
Qhapaq Ñan
Qha-paq Ñan
Qhapaq Ñan (Inca road system)
Usage
Sea level to 5,000 m. Signed "Qhapaq Ñan"; the Inca road network of more than 30,000 km running from Colombia to Chile, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name means "royal road"
Awsanqati
Aw-san-qa-ti
Ausangate
Usage
6,384 m. Signed "Nevado Ausangate"; the highest peak in the Cusco region and the most revered apu (mountain spirit) of the southern Andes. The circuit trek crosses passes above 5,000 m
Salqantay
Sal-qan-tay
Salkantay
Usage
6,271 m. Signed "Nevado Salkantay"; the peak on the five-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, whose pass reaches 4,630 m. It needs no permit, which is why it is the usual alternative to the Inca Trail
Winikunka
Wi-ni-kun-ka
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
Usage
5,036 m. Signed "Vinicunca / Montaña de Siete Colores"; a ridge striped by mineral layers, done as a day trip from Cusco. The trailhead is already at 4,300 m, so going without acclimatising is genuinely risky
Q'iswachaka
Q'is-wa-cha-ka
Q'eswachaka (Inca rope bridge)
Usage
About 3,700 m. Signed "Q'eswachaka"; a woven grass suspension bridge over the Apurímac river in Canas province, rebuilt by the local communities every June. UNESCO intangible heritage
Waqrapukara
Waq-ra-pu-ka-ra
Usage
About 4,300 m. Signed "Waqrapukara"; an Inca site on a cliff edge in Acomayo province, built between two horn-shaped rock towers. The name means "horned fortress"
Chuqikiraw
Chu-qi-ki-raw
Choquequirao
Usage
About 3,050 m. Signed "Choquequirao"; a large Inca complex on a ridge above the Apurímac canyon, reachable only on foot — four days there and back. The name means "cradle of gold"
Willkapampa
Will-ka-pam-pa
Vilcabamba
Usage
1,450–3,400 m. Signed "Vilcabamba"; the region where the Inca held out longest against the Spanish. The ruins of Espíritu Pampa lie in cloud forest at about 1,450 m, while the modern town sits near 3,400 m
Apurimaq
A-pu-ri-maq
Apurímac Region
Usage
1,000–5,235 m. Signed "Región Apurímac"; the mountainous region west of Cusco where most people speak Quechua, with Abancay as its capital. The name means "the god who speaks", after the roaring river
Awankay
A-wan-kay
Abancay
Usage
2,377 m. Signed "Abancay"; capital of the Apurímac region on the main Cusco–Lima road, about five hours by bus from Cusco
Antawaylla
An-ta-way-lla
Andahuaylas
Usage
2,926 m. Signed "Andahuaylas"; the largest town in the Apurímac region, with its own airport, and the base for Lake Pacucha (3,100 m) and the Sondor ruins
Ampay
Am-pay
Usage
5,235 m. Signed "Santuario Nacional de Ampay"; the snow peak directly above Abancay, protected as a national sanctuary with glacial lakes and intimpa forest
Ayakuchu
A-ya-ku-chu
Ayacucho
Usage
2,761 m. Signed "Ayacucho"; a colonial city of 33 churches, famous for one of South America's biggest Semana Santa festivals. The name means "corner of the dead" in Quechua
Wamanga
Wa-man-ga
Huamanga Province
Usage
2,300–4,000 m. Signed "Provincia de Huamanga"; the province whose capital is Ayacucho city, which is itself historically called Huamanga — the name that appears on buses and official signs
Wari
Wa-ri
Wari archaeological site
Usage
About 2,750 m. Signed "Complejo Arqueológico Wari"; the capital of the pre-Inca Wari empire (7th–11th c.), some 22 km northeast of Ayacucho, its stone walls standing among cactus
Kinwa
Kin-wa
Quinua
Usage
About 3,300 m. Signed "Quinua"; a pottery village northeast of Ayacucho on the plain where the 1824 Battle of Ayacucho sealed South American independence, marked by an obelisk
Wanta
Wan-ta
Huanta
Usage
2,628 m. Signed "Huanta"; a warm valley town about 50 km north of Ayacucho, nicknamed the "emerald of the Andes", with a lively fruit market
Willkaswaman
Will-kas-wa-man
Vilcashuamán
Usage
About 3,470 m. Signed "Vilcashuamán"; a major Inca provincial centre some 110 km south of Ayacucho, with a five-tiered ushnu pyramid and a sun temple. Rough roads make it roughly four hours by car
Wankawillka
Wan-ka-will-ka
Huancavelica
Usage
3,676 m. Signed "Huancavelica"; a regional capital that grew rich on colonial mercury mining and one of the highest in Peru. It is cold, with nights below freezing
Waytara
Way-ta-ra
Huaytará
Usage
About 2,700 m. Signed "Huaytará"; a town in western Huancavelica whose colonial church stands directly on intact Inca temple walls, on the mountain road (PE-24) between the coast and Ayacucho
Anqash
An-qash
Ancash Region
Usage
Sea level to 6,768 m. Signed "Región Áncash"; the north-central region holding the Cordillera Blanca and Huascarán National Park, with Huaraz as its capital. The name means "blue" in Quechua
Waras
Wa-ras
Huaraz
Usage
3,052 m. Signed "Huaraz"; the trekking and climbing base for the Cordillera Blanca, about eight hours by overnight bus from Lima. The town was destroyed by the 1970 earthquake and rebuilt
Waskaran
Was-ka-ran
Huascarán
Usage
6,768 m. Signed "Nevado Huascarán" and "Parque Nacional Huascarán"; the highest mountain in Peru. The surrounding national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and requires registration to enter
Yungay
Yun-gay
Usage
2,458 m. Signed "Yungay"; the town buried by the debris avalanche off Huascarán in the 1970 earthquake, its old centre preserved as the Campo Santo memorial. It is the gateway to the Llanganuco lakes
Llanganuku
Llan-ga-nu-ku
Llanganuco Lakes
Usage
About 3,850 m. Signed "Lagunas de Llanganuco" (Chinancocha and Orconcocha); glacial lakes in the valley between Huascarán and Huandoy, about an hour by road from Yungay, and the access point for Laguna 69
Chawin
Cha-win
Chavín de Huántar
Usage
3,180 m. Signed "Chavín de Huántar"; one of the oldest temple complexes in the Andes (from about 1200 BC), with underground galleries and the Lanzón monolith. About three hours from Huaraz over a 4,500 m pass. UNESCO World Heritage
Pastoruri
Pas-to-ru-ri
Pastoruri Glacier
Usage
5,240 m. Signed "Glaciar Pastoruri"; a glacier visited as a day trip from Huaraz. The car park is already at 4,900 m, so the short walk is breathless work. The ice is retreating fast
Laguna 69
La-gu-na se-sen-ta i nu-e-ve
Usage
4,600 m. Signed "Laguna 69"; a turquoise glacial lake about three hours up from Llanganuco, the classic day hike out of Huaraz. It gains 600 m fast, so acclimatise first
Karas
Ka-ras
Caraz
Usage
About 2,285 m. Signed "Caraz"; a quiet town at the north end of the Callejón de Huaylas, lower and warmer than Huaraz, and the base for Laguna Parón (4,185 m) and the Santa Cruz trek
Wayllas
Way-llas
Callejón de Huaylas
Usage
2,200–3,100 m. Signed "Callejón de Huaylas"; the Santa river valley between the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra, strung with Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz. Shared minibuses along it are the way to get around
Cordillera Blanca
Kor-di-lle-ra Blan-ka
Usage
4,000–6,768 m. Signed in Spanish as "Cordillera Blanca"; the largest tropical glaciated range in the world, with over twenty 6,000 m peaks. Huaraz is the base and the dry season runs May to September
Punu
Pu-nu
Puno
Usage
3,827 m. Signed "Puno"; the regional capital on the shore of Lake Titicaca and the port for the lake islands. Known as Peru's folklore capital, with the Candelaria festival in February. Expect altitude effects on arrival
Huliyaka
Hu-li-ya-ka
Juliaca
Usage
3,825 m. Signed "Juliaca"; the largest commercial city in the Puno region, with the airport and the railway junction. Puno is about 45 km (one hour) away. Not a sightseeing town, but the transport hub
Lampa
Lam-pa
Usage
3,892 m. Signed "Lampa"; the "pink city" about 35 km northwest of Juliaca, known for its stone church of Santiago Apóstol and its catacombs
Huli
Hu-li
Juli
Usage
3,869 m. Signed "Juli"; a town on the south shore of Lake Titicaca with four colonial churches, nicknamed the "Rome of the Americas". It sits on the Puno–Yunguyo bus route
Chukuytu
Chu-kuy-tu
Chucuito
Usage
3,841 m. Signed "Chucuito"; a lakeside village about 18 km southeast of Puno, with colonial churches, an Inca sundial and the Inca Uyo fertility temple
Sillustani
Si-llus-ta-ni
Usage
About 3,970 m. Signed "Sillustani"; cylindrical stone burial towers (chullpas) on a peninsula above Lake Umayo, some 34 km northwest of Puno. It stands higher than Puno, so the walk is breathless
Makusani
Ma-ku-sa-ni
Macusani
Usage
About 4,315 m. Signed "Macusani"; the town at the centre of Peru's alpaca country in Carabaya province, Puno, surrounded by glacial lakes and rock-art plateaus. At over 4,300 m the town itself is always cold
Taquile wat'a
Ta-ki-le wa-t'a
Taquile Island
Usage
3,950–4,050 m. Signed "Isla Taquile"; a Quechua-speaking island on Lake Titicaca whose men's knitting is UNESCO intangible heritage. Two to three hours by boat from Puno, then a long stone stairway up from the jetty
Amantani wat'a
A-man-ta-ni wa-t'a
Amantaní Island
Usage
3,817–4,150 m. Signed "Isla Amantaní"; one of the largest islands on Lake Titicaca, normally visited as an overnight homestay, with a climb to the Pachatata and Pachamama shrines on its two summits
Uru wat'akuna
U-ru wa-t'a-ku-na
Uros floating islands
Usage
3,810 m. Signed "Islas flotantes de los Uros"; artificial islands built up from layers of totora reed, about 30 minutes by boat from Puno port — the easiest lake community to reach
Colca wayq'u
Kol-ka way-q'u
Colca Canyon
Usage
2,300–3,700 m from the floor to the rim. Signed "Cañón del Colca"; at 3,270 m deep one of the deepest canyons on earth, and the best place to see Andean condors. Three to four hours from Arequipa over a 4,910 m pass
Chiway
Chi-way
Chivay
Usage
3,635 m. Signed "Chivay"; the gateway town of the Colca Canyon, where the hotels and the La Calera hot springs are, and the end of the bus run from Arequipa
Cabanaconde
Ka-ba-na-kon-de
Usage
3,287 m. Signed "Cabanaconde"; the village at the far end of the Colca Canyon and the trailhead for the descent to the Sangalle oasis (2,100 m) on the canyon floor. About two hours by bus from Chivay
Cruz del Cóndor
Krus del Kon-dor
Usage
About 3,700 m. Signed "Mirador Cruz del Cóndor"; the viewpoint over the Colca Canyon where condors ride the morning thermals, best between roughly 8 and 10 am. About 90 minutes from Chivay
Patapampa
Pa-ta-pam-pa
Patapampa Pass
Usage
4,910 m. Signed "Mirador de los Volcanes" or "Abra Patapampa"; the high point of the Arequipa–Chivay road, with a panorama of the volcanoes. Buses stop for a few minutes — do not run around at this altitude
Chuqiyapu
Chu-qi-ya-pu
La Paz
Usage
3,200–4,100 m, with the centre near 3,640 m. Signed in Spanish as "La Paz"; Bolivia's seat of government, spread through a bowl-shaped canyon — the higher the district, the colder it gets. The Mi Teleférico cable-car network is the practical way to move around
El Alto
El Al-to
Usage
About 4,150 m. Signed in Spanish as "El Alto"; the sister city on the plateau above La Paz, holding the airport and the long-distance bus terminals. One of the highest large cities in the world — expect to be breathless on arrival
Copacabana
Ko-pa-ka-ba-na
Usage
3,841 m. Signed "Copacabana"; the Bolivian pilgrimage town on Lake Titicaca, home to the shrine of the Dark Virgin, with boats to Isla del Sol leaving from its harbour. The Peruvian border at Yunguyo is about 8 km away
Inti Wat'a
In-ti Wa-t'a
Isla del Sol
Usage
3,812–4,075 m. Signed in Spanish as "Isla del Sol"; the Bolivian Titicaca island of the Inca origin myth, one to two hours by boat from Copacabana. There are no roads — everything is reached by stone stairways
Tiwanaku
Ti-wa-na-ku
Usage
About 3,850 m. Signed "Tiwanaku" (older Spanish spelling "Tiahuanaco"); the pre-Inca megalithic capital on the altiplano some 70 km west of La Paz, with the Gate of the Sun and the Kalasasaya temple. UNESCO World Heritage
Illimani
I-lli-ma-ni
Usage
6,438 m. Signed "Nevado Illimani"; the triple-summited ice peak southeast of La Paz, visible from all over the city and the landmark people orient themselves by
Oruro
O-ru-ro
Usage
3,706 m. Signed "Oruro"; a mining city on the Bolivian altiplano famous for its Carnaval and the Diablada dance (UNESCO intangible heritage). It is the transfer point on the rail and bus route between La Paz and Uyuni
Potosí
Po-to-si
Usage
About 4,090 m. Signed "Potosí"; one of the highest cities in the world, made rich in colonial times by the silver of Cerro Rico (4,782 m) behind it. UNESCO World Heritage. Nights drop below freezing and the air is thin
Uyuni kachi pampa
U-yu-ni ka-chi pam-pa
Salar de Uyuni
Usage
3,656 m. Signed in Spanish as "Salar de Uyuni"; the largest salt flat on earth, about 10,000 km². In the wet season (December–March) a film of water turns it into a mirror; in the dry season it is a field of salt hexagons. Fierce sun by day, hard frost at night
Uyuni
U-yu-ni
Usage
3,656 m. Signed "Uyuni"; the altiplano town where salt-flat tours start, with the railway station and the "train cemetery". About ten hours by overnight bus from La Paz, or by train from Oruro
Quchapampa
Qu-cha-pam-pa
Cochabamba
Usage
2,558 m. Signed "Cochabamba"; the city with the largest Quechua-speaking population in Bolivia, in a mild valley and known for its food. The name comes from Quechua qucha (lake) + pampa (plain)
Sucre
Su-kre
Usage
2,810 m. Signed "Sucre"; Bolivia's constitutional capital, a white-walled colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearly 1,000 m lower than La Paz and much easier on the body. Quechua is the everyday language in the villages around it
More Quechua phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences