What to do in Cusco?
Shield of the City of Cusco Recovers the historical center of Cusco to walk through the town that the Incas designed. It is walking through colonial buildings built in the royal palaces of the Incas.
What can several alternative circuits on foot know about all these beautiful places marked in the streets? To visit the interior of some of these places, one must pay an admission ticket (see Tourist Ticket)
Introduction to Cusco
Cusco, the historic heart of the Inca Empire, sits in the Peruvian Andes at an altitude of 3,399 meters (11,152 feet). Known for its mix of Inca ruins, Spanish colonial architecture, and vibrant culture, it’s a must-visit for travelers exploring Peru. While most come here to acclimate before hiking the Inca Trail, Cusco itself offers endless adventures.
Explore the Historic Center
Cusco’s Plaza de Armas is the city’s lively hub, surrounded by colonial churches, restaurants, and shops. Visit the Cusco Cathedral, built on Inca foundations, and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. Wander cobblestone streets like Hatun Rumiyoc to see the famous 12-angled stone, a marvel of Inca engineering.
Visit Sacsayhuamán
Just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuamán is an Inca fortress with massive stone walls. The site offers panoramic views of Cusco and hosts the Inti Raymi festival every June. Entry is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which costs 130 PEN (~$35 USD) for a 10-day pass.
Day Trips to the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley, stretching between Pisac and Ollantaytambo (2,792 meters / 9,160 feet at Pisac), is ideal for day trips. Highlights include:
- Pisac Market: Buy handmade textiles and pottery.
- Ollantaytambo: A living Inca town with terraces and a fortress.
- Moray: Circular agricultural terraces used as an Inca “laboratory.”
Hike the Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca, aka Rainbow Mountain (5,200 meters / 17,060 feet), is a 3-hour drive from Cusco. The 2-hour hike rewards you with striped mineral-colored slopes. Go early to avoid crowds and consider hiring a horse (50–80 PEN) if altitude hits hard.
Experience Local Food
Cusco’s food scene blends Andean and Spanish flavors. Try:
- Lomo saltado: Stir-fried beef with fries, served at Pachapapa.
- Cuy: Roasted guinea pig, a traditional dish.
- Chicha morada: A sweet purple corn drink.
For a local vibe, hit up San Pedro Market for fresh juices and empanadas.
Discover Q’eswachaka Rope Bridge
This handwoven Inca rope bridge, rebuilt annually by locals, is 3.5 hours from Cusco. It’s a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site and offers a glimpse into Inca traditions. Tours cost around 50–50–70 USD.
Attend a Traditional Festival
Cusco hosts vibrant festivals like Inti Raymi (June) and Corpus Christi (May/June). Expect parades, music, and traditional dances. Check dates in advance, as accommodations fill quickly.
Tips for Altitude Adjustment
Cusco’s high elevation can cause headaches or fatigue. Drink coca tea, avoid heavy meals, and rest for 24–48 hours upon arrival. Pharmacies sell altitude pills (soroche pills) if needed.
Safety and Logistics
- Taxi fares: 5–10 PEN (~$1.50–3 USD) for short rides—always agree on prices first.
- Cash: Many places don’t accept cards. Withdraw soles at ATMs.
- Weather: Layers are key—days can be sunny (18°C/64°F), nights chilly (5°C/41°F).
15 FAQs About Cusco
What’s the best time to visit Cusco?
Dry season (May–September) offers sunny days, but nights are cold. Rainy season (November–March) is quieter but trails can be muddy.
Is Cusco safe for tourists?
Yes, but watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. Avoid walking alone at night in empty streets.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
Most travelers get a 90–180 day visa on arrival. Check your country’s requirements before flying.
How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
Take a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (2 hours), then a bus or hike to the site.
Can I drink tap water in Cusco?
No. Stick to bottled water or use a filter. Restaurants serve safe agua de mesa (filtered water).
Are credit cards widely accepted?
In tourist areas, yes. Smaller shops and markets prefer cash.
What’s the local currency?
Peruvian Sol (PEN). USD are accepted but often at poor exchange rates.
How to avoid altitude sickness?
Acclimatize slowly, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol. Coca tea helps.
Are there direct flights to Cusco?
Yes, from Lima (1.5 hours), Arequipa, and La Paz.
What’s the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
A pass granting access to 16 sites, including Sacsayhuamán and Pisac. Buy it at COSITUC offices.
Can I visit Machu Picchu without hiking?
Yes. Trains run from Ollantaytambo or Poroy (near Cusco) to Aguas Calientes.
Is bargaining acceptable in markets?
Yes, but politely. Start at 50% of the asking price.
What vaccines do I need?
Yellow fever (if visiting the jungle) and routine vaccines. Consult a doctor before traveling.
How to get around Cusco?
Walk the historic center. Use taxis or colectivos (shared vans) for longer trips.
Are there vegan/vegetarian options?
Yes. Green Point and Organika are popular vegan spots.
Cusco Travel Guide Essentials
Best Time to Visit
May–September for dry weather. June has Inti Raymi, but book accommodations early.
Getting There
Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ). Buses from Lima take 20+ hours.
Accommodation Tips
Stay near Plaza de Armas for convenience. Hostels like Pariwana suit backpackers; Belmond Hotels offer luxury.
Packing Checklist
- Layers: Thermal shirts, waterproof jacket.
- Sun protection: Hat, SPF 50+.
- Altitude aids: Coca candies, reusable water bottle.
Cultural Etiquette
Ask permission before photographing locals. Tipping 10% in restaurants is standard.
Health Precautions
Carry altitude pills and anti-diarrheal meds. Avoid street food if you have a sensitive stomach.
Transportation Options
Use Uber or official taxi apps for safety. Colectivos to Pisac/Ollantaytambo leave from Puputi Street.
Money-Saving Tips
Eat menú del día (set lunch) at local eateries. Buy the BTC ticket for discounted site entries.
Emergency Contacts
Tourist Police: +51 84 249654. Hospitals: Clinica Pardo (private), Hospital Regional (public).
Sustainable Travel
Support community-run tours (e.g., Ccaccaccollo weaving villages). Avoid single-use plastics.
Parade ground
It occupies Plaza Huacaypata, a square traced by Manco Capac when Cusco was founded in the twelfth century. Around it, the nobles such as the Incas Pachacútec, Sinchi Roca, Viracocha, and Tupac Yupanqui built the royal palaces, Huayna Capac and the Acllahuasi (Temple of the Virgins). It was where the Inti Raymi celebrated the time of the Incas, the military holidays after the triumph in battle. Since the arrival of the Spanish, the perimeter constructions preserved today, such as the Cathedral, the portals, arches, and large houses, have been somewhat diminished.
Cathedral
Catholic temple was built on the Inca Viracocha royal palace in 1,560 by the Spanish architect Juan Veramendi and then by the master Juan Correa. It is a jewel of colonial architecture, in Baroque style, with ten chapels; it venerated the Lord of the Tremors, patron of Cusco. The main altar is covered with pure silver sheets, the choir is carved, and in front of the altar is a double-row ashlar, a work of art carved in wood. The plateresque pulpit is a gallery with more than 400 paintings and paintings of the Cusqueña School; the custody is an impressive work of art goldsmith, is solid gold of 27.7 kg, and measures 120 cm. Of height, with incursions of 331 pearls, 263 diamonds, 221 emeralds, 89 amethysts, 43 topazes, 17 brilliants, five sapphires, and one agate. The bell of the tower of the gospel, called Maria Angola, was cast in bronze and gold, and its sounds are heard 40 km away, in front of the Plaza de Armas.
Church of the Company of Jesus
It is one of the most beautiful in the city of Cusco; it has a central nave with six lateral chapels, underground chapels surrounded by labyrinths, and secret passages that buried notable characters of the Spanish conquest and colony. The temple is adorned with large canvases and wood sculptures. What was rebuilt in 1651, Located opposite the Plaza de Armas?
La Merced Church and Convent: (1,536)
The temple is adorned with stunning canvases of the Cusqueña School. His most valuable treasure is custody, an incredible value: a goldsmith’s piece of gold weighing 22 kg and measuring 1.3 meters high, which contains two giant pearls and 615 smaller sizes, 1,581 diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and topaz. In the church’s cellars lie the remains of the Spanish conquistadors Diego de Almagro, Almagro El Mozo, and Gonzalo Pizarro. They are located in Mantas S/N, two blocks from the Plaza de Armas.
Church and Convent of Santa Catalina – Acllahuasi
The convent was rebuilt in 1,653, and the church dates back to 1,669. It did build on the Acllahuasi. The chapel has beautiful baroque architecture, a religious museum, and colonial art. It is located on the corner of Santa Catalina Angosta and Loreto streets. The Acllahuasi (Quechua voice of the chosen ones), or Temple of the Virgins, was the Inca place where the acllas (women determined by their lineage and beauty, offered like eternal wives of the God Inti—the sun). Only the Coya (queen), the Ñustas (princesses), and the Inca king could enter; They lived permanently between 500 and 1000 acllas.
Santo Domingo Church
Located in Plazoleta Santo Domingo, Calle Santo Domingo s / n. This place is the base of the Dominican colonial church and the convent of Santo Domingo, built on the bottom of the Coricancha.
Archeological Museum.
Coricancha (or Koricancha) (Quechua, an enclosure of gold)
The Temple of Inti (the supreme god—the sun), the principal Inca temple, is a jewel of Inca architecture, with built-in blocks of carved granite and melted gold at the joints of the blocks. Inside the temple was a garden with trees, birds, animals, etc. A cornice of gold surrounded the temple, and all the walls were covered with gold plates. A large gold disc (Punchau) represented Inti in the sanctuary. The mummies of the Inca kings to Huayna Capac (12th king) were seated in golden chairs and adorned with jewels, expressing being alive.
Attached to the Coricancha were the temples of Quilla (moon), Illapa (ray), the stars, Chuychu, and the lodgings of Uíllac Umu (supreme priest). At the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, he was savagely looted and demolished to banish Inti’s veneration. The Catholic temple of Santo Domingo was built on it.
Temple and Convent of San Francisco
Located in Plaza San Francisco s / n. (Visits: L-S 9: 00-17: 30.)
Founded in 1.645, it has two facades and a unique tower made of stonework in the old Spanish style. In the convent’s interior, a monumental canvas by Juan Espinoza de los Monteros, measuring 12 x 9 m and portraying the genealogy of the Franciscan family, stands.
San Blas
The bohemian neighborhood’s artistic district has narrow, tall streets, small, beautiful squares, and a beautiful Paqcha. Many artists and artisans live there, so the workshops of famous artisans such as the Mendivil, Olave, and Mérida are located with panoramic views of Cusco. San Blas has various hotels, restaurants, and entertainment centers.
Church of San Blas
This colonial Catholic temple, built in 1562, is in the San Blas neighborhood. The pulpit is an invaluable wood carving jewel representing images of saints and angels; the author discussed Juan Tuirupata, Luis Montes, or Diego de Arias. Also outstanding is the altarpiece of the high altar and the paintings and canvases that adorn it.
Archbishop’s Palace
It is located in Herrajes s / n and Hatunrumiyoc street. It is a beautiful colonial building, emphasizing its cover and balconies. Headquarters of the Museum of Religious Art, the exhibition of religious art from the colonial period. It was built on the royal palace of the Inca Sinchi Roca. On one of its megalithic walls, on the side of Hatun Rumiyoc Street, is the famous “stone of the 12 angles,” a block of cut stone and carved stone that has 12 vertices and is assembled in perfect form, not being able to get in a razor blade between its joints.
House of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
He was located at the junction of Garcilaso and Heladeros streets. Headquarters of the Regional Historical Museum of Cusco since 1.984, the exhibition of pictorial works of the Cusqueña School. The Inca Garcilaso (1539-1616) was the son of the Spanish conquistador Sebastián Garcilaso de la Vega and a royal Inca princess, the Palla Isabel Chimpu Ocllo. He was a chronicler of the Spanish conquest, the first literary man of America, and the author of “The Royal Commentaries of the Incas.” This work is the testimony of tearing, exploitation of his country’s misfortunes and personal conflicts, the narration and exaltation of Tahuantinsuyo, and the painful justification of the Spanish conquest. He lived his childhood in this house, a shrine of colonial art, beautifully restored.
House of the Admiral
(S. XVII) Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado is an old colonial house with a stone facade showing the nobiliary shields and beautiful cofferdams. The Archaeological Museum of the National University of San Antonio de Abad exhibits archaeological pieces of Inca culture and objects and furniture of the colonial era. Located on Calle del Almirante No. 103.
House of the Four Busts
A beautiful colonial house that the legend says belonged to the brothers Pizarro, Spanish conquerors of Peru. Its cover has four busts and a shield. It is currently a hotel. Located in the street San Agustín N ° 400.
Within the historic center, it is also recommended to visit the colonial mansions of the Marquises of San Juan de Buenavista and Rocafuerte, the house of the Counts of Cabrera, the house of Concha, the place of the Counts of Peralta, the area of the Marquis of Picoaga, and the site of the Marquis of Valleumbroso.
Monument to the Inca Pachacutec
They were erected in honor of one of the greatest Incas of the Tahuantinsuyo, a statesman and a great conqueror.
Paqchas
It was built in the last years, similar to those in the Inca city of Cusco. They are fountains or springs of water in which What worshiped water worship. The most important are Pumaqchupan (corner of Av. El Sol and Tullumayo), Pumacpampa (Santa Catalina Street), and the San Blas neighborhood.
