Área 21 Cusco: The Alien Landscape You Never Expected in the Andes

Área 21 is one of the most original and fun stops on the Cusco Tourist Tram route (www.tranviacusco.com). Here the tram makes a full stop so every passenger can get off, walk among the giant sculptures, and take the craziest photos of the entire trip.

The visual impact hits you the moment the tram door opens: an entire hillside covered with huge extraterrestrial figures made of metal and concrete, some up to 5 meters tall. You’ll see gray aliens with enormous black eyes, elongated heads, and long fingers that appear to be waving or pointing at the sky. At the highest point stands a crashed flying saucer 10 meters in diameter—silver, slightly tilted, as if it just fell from space.

The terrain is a reddish-dirt hillside with well-marked paths that wind up and down between the sculptures. The artworks are painted in metallic, gray, and neon-green tones that shine brightly under the Andean sun. Some even have LED lights that turn on at sunset, creating an even more otherworldly atmosphere. In the background, the scenery is pure Andes: tall eucalyptus trees, green fields, and the classic Cusco mountains in the distance.

Highlights you won’t want to miss:

• A giant alien sitting on an Inca chakana.
• A “landed” UFO with an open door and stairs—perfect for photos inside.
• Funny signs like “Abduction Zone” and “Welcome Earthlings” in Spanish and Quechua.
• Ancient-astronaut figures mixed with Inca motifs.

During the tram stop (about 20–25 minutes) you have plenty of time to explore the entire circuit, climb the elevated platforms, pose inside the flying saucer, and take as many photos as you want. It’s the perfect spot for unique, fun shots that nobody else has from Cusco.

Book your tour on the Cusco Tourist Tram and get ready for the most “out-of-this-world” stop of the trip! We promise it will be the story you tell everyone when you get home.