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Museum · Cusco, Cusco
Museo de Arte Precolombino
The MAP, in a colonial mansion on the Plazoleta de las Nazarenas, displays about 450 selected pieces from the Museo Larco collection: ceramics, gold, silver and wood from cultures spanning more than three millennia.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Museo de Arte Precolombino
The Museo de Arte Precolombino, the MAP, occupies the Casa Cabrera, a mansion built on Inca walls in the Plazoleta de las Nazarenas, one block from the Plaza de Armas. It opened in 2003 and brings together selected pieces from the Museo Larco collection, from Lima, presented as works of art, with gallery lighting and sober rooms.
The rooms cover cultures from the Peruvian territory, from about 1250 BC to the 16th century: Cupisnique, Paracas, Nazca, Moche, Wari, Chimú and Inca. There are ceramics with portraits and animals, textiles, wooden and shell objects and, in the metal rooms, crowns, breastplates, earrings and cups of gold and silver used by the elite.
The labels are short, in Spanish and English, and include quotes from artists and writers about the pieces, which reinforces the idea of showing pre-Columbian art alongside Western art. The visit is calm and on a single floor, which helps on high-altitude days.
The colonial courtyard, covered by glass, houses a restaurant. The museum usually opens every day, into the evening; check the opening hours before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 1 to 1½ hours for the galleries.
Best time
In the late afternoon or evening, when the museum is usually open and the center has already emptied. It's a good option for a rainy day. Check the opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on the Plazoleta de las Nazarenas, one and a half blocks from the Plaza de Armas, a 5-minute walk up the street behind the Cathedral.
Tip
Combine the visit with the Plazoleta de las Nazarenas and the adjacent Siete Culebras street, with Inca walls. Those who go to the Museo Larco in Lima will see different pieces here, chosen from the same collection.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo de Arte Precolombino
Is the MAP the same museum as the Larco in Lima?
No, but the pieces come from the Museo Larco collection. The MAP shows a smaller selection, about 450 pieces, organized like an art gallery.
How long does the visit take?
From one hour to an hour and a half. The rooms are on a single floor.
Is the MAP included in the tourist ticket?
No. The museum is private and has its own ticket. Confirm before going.