Qibla · Cuzco Department
Qibla direction in Cusco
To face the Kaaba in Cusco, turn to 72.4° measured clockwise from true north, which is east (17.6° north of east). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 12,779 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Cusco should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Cusco as a needle at 72.4°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 72°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Cusco
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards east and move a further 17.6° towards north: the result is the bearing of 72.4°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at east would leave you about 18° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Cusco, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Cusco to Mecca points to 72.3°, only 0.1° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 72.4° bearing remains the exact one.
The value of 72.4° is the direction in which the shortest route from 13.5319° S, 71.9670° W sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Cusco to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 12,779 km from Cusco as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 12,786 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 15 h 32 min, although most pilgrims from Cusco connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Cusco run 8 hours behind Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Cusco rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Cusco
On 163 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Cusco while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in March (31 days); for example, on 15 February 2027 it happens at 11:50 local time.
On 69 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in November (30 days), for instance on 15 January 2027 at 14:18.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 14:18 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 12:52 |
| 15 February 2027 | 11:50 | — |
| 1 March 2027 | 10:50 | — |
| 15 March 2027 | 09:52 | — |
| 1 April 2027 | 08:40 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 07:42 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 06:33 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | — | — |
| 1 June 2027 | — | — |
| 15 June 2027 | — | — |
| 1 July 2027 | — | — |
| 15 July 2027 | — | — |
| 1 August 2027 | — | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 06:55 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 07:59 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 08:48 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | 09:44 | — |
| 15 October 2027 | 10:35 | — |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 11:44 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 12:50 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 14:37 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both happen at night in Cusco (04:18 and 04:27 local time), so they cannot be used here. Instead, on 13 January 2027 at 16:29 and 28 November 2027 at 16:09 the sun is over the point opposite the Kaaba, and every vertical shadow in Cusco points straight to Mecca.
Cusco compared with other cities
The Qibla here is practically the same as in Lima (72.0°), and Mecca is 472 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Ayacucho (248 km), prays towards 72.4°, the same bearing to the tenth of a degree.
Across the 20 cities in Peru on this site, the Qibla ranges from 68.0° in Sullana to 74.1° in Tacna, a spread of 6.1°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Peru.
Qibla in cities near Cusco
Qibla in Cusco: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Cusco?
It is 72.4° from true north, which is east: 17.6° north of east.
How far is Cusco from Mecca?
12,779 km in a straight line over the globe, and 12,786 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Cusco?
On 163 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in Peru?
No. It ranges from 68.0° to 74.1° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 72.4° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.