15 Things to do in Cusco Travel Guide
Many travelers to Cusco use the city as a launching pad to hike the Inca trail, visit Machu Picchu and/or explore the Sacred Valley. With so many travel options just outside of the city it is easy to forget that Cuzco has a lot to offer in and of itself. The following Cusco travel guide is our attempt to showcase what the city has to offer in terms of attractions, things to do, shopping, dining, museums and nightlife. In our opinion, you'll want to budget several days to take it all in and acclimatize to the higher altitude if you're thinking of going on hiking excursions afterwards.
Our visit Cusco travel guide covers some of the top attractions including the best in arts, entertainment, museums, nightlife and restaurants. We also cover off-the-beaten-path activities that you won't find in your typical tourism brochure or Cusco city guide.
1) Cusco Cathedral (Viracocha) - Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin (Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus)
2) Inca Wall
3) Traditional Peruvian Folk Dance at Centro Qosqo
4) Barrio de San Blas Neighborhood
5) Artisan Market on Ave del Sol
6) Cusco Food (Alpaca meat skewers - alpaca a la parrilla
7) Pisco Museum (Museo del Pisco)
8) Plaza de Armas (Square of the warrior)
9) Inca Museum (Museo Inka)
10) Chocolate Museum (ChocoMuseo)
11) Temple of the Sun (Qurikancha)
12) Templo de la Compañía de Jesús (Jesuit Church)
13) Cuy - eating Guinea pig for dinner
14) El Templo de la Merced del Cusco
15) Nightlife in Cusco - drinking a pisco sour
Alternate Cuzco/Cusco spelling: (Quechua: Qusqu or Qosqo)
15 Things to do in Cusco, Peru | Top Attractions Travel Guide:
If you're planning to walk the Inca Trail or visit Machu Picchu, you'll likely end up spending at least a few days in Cuzco. With it's lively square, quirky museums, artisans markets and traditional performances, this is exactly the type of destination you'll want to linger in...plus let's not forget, it's also a good place to adjust to the altitude! The following video will showcase 15 things to do in Cuzco:
Cuzco Cathedral is a place you shouldn't miss. The cathedral sits on the site of Viracocha Inca’s palace, and it was also built using blocks from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywamán. Inside you'll find impressive works of art done in the cuzqueña style.
In the evenings, you can go watch a traditional dance performance at Centro Qosqo.
San Blas
San Blas is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Cuzco and it is a great area to explore on foot. The neighbourhood is known for its bright blue doors and window shutters, and it has a nice little square with a church and a water fountain. The neighbourhood has some really cool lookout points with great panoramic views of Cuzco, so you'll want to bring your camera.
Plaza de Armas is the beating heart of Cuzco. The square is flanked by a Jesuit church and cathedral, and there are also plenty of bars, restaurants, and tour agencies around the perimeter. During the day you'll find locals and tourists hanging out in the square, and if you get lucky, you might just encounter a performance followed by a demonstration like we did.
The Inca Museum is one of the main museums in town and it has rooms dedicated to different periods of Inca and Spanish history. You can also see women weaving rugs and tapestries by hand in the central courtyard.
Qurikancha was an Inca temple built to the Sun God, Inti, and it is believed that the walls of this temple were once covered in sheets of gold. If the temple looks like it has various layers of construction, that's because when the Spaniards arrived, they demolished the original temple and used the foundations to build the Church of Santo Domingo on the site.
The Church of the Society of Jesus is a historic Jesuit church. It's worth a quick visit if you're in the area.
Templo de la Merced is another church located one block from Plaza de Armas, and it contains the tomb of two famous conquistadors.
And that's a wrap for Cuzco! We hope you enjoyed this video and that it showed you a few of the places you can visit while you're in the city. We recommend spending at least 3 days here, or perhaps a few more if you also want to tour the Sacred Valley. As always, if you have any other suggestions of things to do in Cuzco, feel free to share those in the comments below.
This is part of our Travel in Peru series. We're making a series of videos showcasing Peruvian culture, Peruvian arts, Peruvian foods, Peruvian religion, Peruvian cuisine and Peruvian people. All things Peruano. The best of Comida Peruana and Cocina Peruana.
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All photos and video taken by Samuel Jeffery (Nomadic Samuel) and Audrey Bergner (That Backpacker).
Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network
7 Things To Do in Peru (That Aren't Machu Picchu)
7. Sandboarding and racing dune buggies in Huacachina
This hidden oasis provides ample opportunity for adrenaline-junkies and thrill seekers to explore. Just four hours south of Lima, travellers can begin their day by boarding down sand dunes or racing across the desert in dune buggies for a truly exhilarating experience.
6. Explore the Peruvian Amazon
Considered to be less popular than its Brazilian counterpart, the Peruvian Amazon is home to a diverse wildlife population and winding rivers that you need to visit while in Peru. To access the diverse jungle terrain, you can take a flight from the city of Puerto Maldonado with flights leaving daily from Cusco and Lima. And the good news? Tours through the Amazon on the Peru side are significantly cheaper – meaning you can save your dollars for a bonus round of pisco sours.
5. Go deep into Colca Canyon
When in Peru, make time to visit one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons in the world, the Colca Canyon. Accessible from Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon is Peru’s third most-visited attraction yet many hikers seem to skip this impressive site. Don’t make the same mistake as those hikers and add a trip to the Colca Canyon to your itinerary. Also, if you’re still yet to be impressed, the Colca Canyon is actually twice as deep as the United States’ Grand Canyon. See for yourself how it compares.
4. Embrace the serenity of Lake Sandoval
Lake Sandoval is part of the Madre de Dios region of Peru, which is part of the Amazon basin. To reach this majestic site, you can start your hike near Mare de Dios River and marvel at the impressive wildlife including parrots, macaws and other exciting creatures. Once you arrive, you will be greeted by an unforgettable sunset.
3. Taste the mineral-rich salts of Maras
Just outside of Cusco you will find the town of Maras which is held in high esteem across the world for its impressive collection of salt mines that date back to the Inca times. Here, you will find thousands of salt pools that make up the hillside that build an intricate network of channels that feed spring water into the ponds. For a small fee, you can taste the warm water and sample some of the finest salt in the world. The mineral rich salt is great for cooking and is believed to help reduce stress.
2. Walk the streets of Arequipa
You’ve heard all about Cusco and Lima, but what do you really know about Arequipa? This city is filled with charming baroque architecture built from white volcanic stone. Surrounded by breathtaking volcanoes, Arequipa has well and truly earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage destination.
1. Do as the Peruvians do in Huilloc
There’s a reason why we saved the best until the very end. To wrap up your time in Peru, there’s no better way to experience Peru than by immersing yourself in local culture. Make time for a visit to the Quechua village of Hilloc and learn more about the fine art weaving from the female villagers who have been perfecting the craft since a young age. Then, sit down for a pachamanca lunch where stones and grass are used to cook cuy (guinea pig), fava beans and potatoes using traditional cooking methods. The hospitality and generosity of the Quehchea villagers will leave you feeling humbled and grateful for the experience.
Special thanks to our friends at World Expeditions ( and Free & Easy Traveller ( who contributed the stunning footage that made this video possible. Check out their action-packed adventures to exhilarating destinations around the world on TourRadar.
Hikes & Things to do in Cusco, Peru (incl. Machu Picchu, Lares Trek, Rainbow Mt, Humantay…)
I show you some of the best things to do in Cusco and the Cusco region with its many Inca sites and beautiful multi day treks in this episode from Peru in partnership with G Adventures.
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To produce this video I spent almost 2 weeks in the Cusco region in order to provide a wide selection of activities I recommend doing on your trip to Peru. Because it was my second time after my first visit in 2012 I chose to introduce an alternative Machu Picchu experience with the Lares Trek - for this part I worked together with G Adventures and decided to extend my stay to do all the other things independently.
Cusco and the area around is full of history and beautiful landscape which makes it worth it to spend about 1-2 weeks in the region. For your time you should definitely take on some day hikes or go for one of the multi day hikes which end up taking you to Machu Picchu. What many don’t know: a multi day hike to go to Machu Picchu is the most budget friendly option if you look at the price-value ratio!
The things to do in Cusco I covered here is a selection of my personal favorites and offers a good mix of historic sites, hikes (partially in very high altitude), food experiences and panoramic views which will leave you speechless. Moreover I also focussed on some community projects which are connected to G Adventures and their NGO Planeterra.
Things to do in Cusco featured in this episode:
- Old town of Cusco / Cuzco
- Saksaywaman / Sacsayhuaman
- La Cusquenita (restaurant)
- Barrio San Blas
- Barrio Ceviche (restaurant)
- San Pedro market
- Jack’s Cafe (restaurant)
- Rainbow mountain / Vinicunca
- Sacred Valley (part of G Adventures Lares Trek tour)
- Pisaq
- Ollantaytambo
- Parwa restaurant
- Lares trek
- train to Aguas Calientes
- Machu Picchu
- Humantay lake (first day of Salkantay trek)
About my Cooperation with G Adventures
For many years I was searching for a suitable partner who offers tours in South America which align with my style of traveling as well as my values. After many meetings I’m glad I found this partner with G Adventures who offer many adventurous tour packages for travelers like me…but who also care about the environment and local communities in order to execute sustainable tourism. I forced this cooperation because I like the products and the philosophy of the company. Nevertheless all opinions, recommendations and views are my own.
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Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru’s arid Pacific coast is Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cusco.
Colca Canyon.
Huascarán.
Islas Ballestas.
Machu Picchu.
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima.
Sacred Valley.
Larco Museum.
Saksaywaman.
Santa Catalina Monastery.
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Best Places to Visit in Peru, South America
Best Places to Visit in Peru, South America
Peru is a destination that begs to be explored. In this vast and storied land, ancient, colonial, and modern traditions meld together for an unforgettable cultural experience. No matter the type of traveler—history buff, adventurer, or foodie—Peru offers a myriad of activities to satisfy every appetite. It’s no surprise that its ancient sites, beautiful topography, and diverse ecosystem attract visitors from all over the world, making it one of the most popular destinations in South America. Let’s explore one of the most coveted destinations in all of South America comes complete with breathtaking fortresses built by the Incas, soaring cloud forests, the snow-topped Andes, the dusty Atacama and the misty Amazon rainforest alike.
1.Machu Picchu
2.Lima
3.Cusco
4.Sacred Valley
5.Chan Chan
6.Nazca Lines
7.The Amazon
8. Huaraz
9.Arequipa
10.Trujillo
Top Things To Do in Cusco, Peru
Plan your visit to Cusco, Peru, with this selection of the top things to do.
Discover Cusco, Peru—one of the most beautiful cities in South America. As the former capital of the ancient Incan empire, Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is full of history, culture, bustling markets, and amazing food. In and around Cusco, you’ll find many Incan Ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Pucapucara, Ollantaytambo—and the most famous one of all: Machu Picchu, a can’t-miss destination located just a few of hours away.
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From Ollantaytambo to Cusco. What to see in the Sacred Valley of Peru
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the perfect place to acclimate to the altitude of Cusco for those looking to make the visit to Machu Picchu.
We spent a few days in the Sacred Valley to explore all the amazing places to see in the region. Exploring the Sacred Valley with Kids is an incredible way to get a feel for the local life in Peru.
You can read all about our experience in Urubamba, Maras, Moray, and Ollantaytambo on our blog:
TRIP TO CUSCO PERU - TOP THINGS TO SEE - VLOG
Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire. In 1983, Cusco was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and has become a major tourist destination, attracting over 2 million visitors per year. In this vlog, we cover the Incan archaeological sights and the Spanish Colonial historic sights.
Our Peru Tour:
We travel from Lima to Cusco with Latin Escapes Tours. Cusco has a high altitude of about 11,000 feet. The first day we rested and sipped the local remedy, coca tea to adjust to Cusco's high altitude.
Our city tour of the Inca Royal City of Cusco starts in the very impressionable Central Square, known as the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by a beautiful stone arcade. Plaza de Armas is also the city's center point for activity, including performances, music, and fútbol parades.
In the Plaza is the Cathedral, which is exceptional because of its contrasts of styles. The first cathedral built in Cusco is the Iglesia del Triunfo, built in 1539 and the basilica was constructed using the stone extracted from the blocks of Incan fortress Saksaywaman.
The Church of the Society of Jesus, (commonly known as the Jesuits), was constructed in 1576 and its main altar is made of carved wood covered with gold leaf.
The Covent of Santo Domingo was built above the most important Inca Temple, the Temple of the Sun, or Koricancha, as it was known in the Inca language Quechua. Gold laminas or sheets covered the original Inca Temple walls.
Near the City of Cusco, you will visit the extraordinary Inca Fortress Sacsayhuaman, made up of three gigantic terraces, superimposed in a zigzag form, and surrounded by enormous walls of rock, some of which are up to 300 meters in length.
Qenqo, was a religious center formed by a singular flowering of calcareous rock. It has underground galleries and a semicircular amphitheater with a series of stone seats.
Puca Pucará or the Red Fort was military base made up of stone stairways, terraces, and walls. Nearby is Tambomachay, well known as Baths of the Incas, a place dedicated to the cult of the water, formed by aqueducts, channels and small cascades worked in the rock.
We visit Museo de Arte Precolombino which has an impressive collection of indigenous crafts, jewelry, and ceramics drawn from all regions of pre-Columbian Peru.
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TOP 5 Things to do in LIMA. We Can't Believe this place! What to do in Lima, Peru
We spent a day exploring the sights of Lima, Peru to come with a list of the top 5 things to do in Lima in one day!
We start off in the touristy area of Miraflores, where first we visit a lighthouse (La Marina Lighthouse ). We then make our way down the boardwalk area to a famous park called Lover’s Park or The Parque Del Amor. It has a big statue in the middle with lovers embracing.
After that we headed to a different area of the city called Barranco where we walked across the Bridge of Sighs. Rumour is that if you hold your breath all the way across your wish will come true.
Later we made our way again to another area, this time to the historical centre of Lima to explore the Main Square of Lima, or the Plaza De Armas. Here you’ll find lots of old historical buildings, the presidential palace and the Cathedral of Lima. We also walked a little bit and visited the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima.
Lastly we made our way to the Park of the Reserve of Parque de la Reserva which has an amazing fountain, light and music show a few times a week.
ABOUT LIMA
Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It's home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.
ABOUT PERU
Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru’s arid Pacific coast is Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.
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TOP 10 Places to Visit in Peru
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10. Puno
Puno is a port city on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano of Peru. Despite its picturesque hillside setting, the city itself is a ramshackle collection of mostly unfinished modern buildings. Its biggest attraction is as a departure point for the famous floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca.
9. Mancora
Once just an attractive roadside fishing port, Mancora is now the most trendy beach in Peru, attracting a surf crowd from around the globe. It’s a highly welcome and very enjoyable stopover when traveling along the north coast.
8. Trujillo
Trujillo is a moderately large city in Northwestern Peru, near the Pacific Coast. The city was founded in 1534 among 4 Chimu settlements to enable the Spanish to ally with them against the Incas. Trujillo is close to the pre-Columbian site of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the ancient world and the beach resort of Huanchaco.
7. Nazca Desert
The Nazca Desert occupies a strip along the northern Pacific coast on a high arid plateau. The famous Nazca Lines are located between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. Created between 200 BC and 700 AD the figures range from simple lines to stylized spiders, monkeys, lizards and human figures.
6. Iquitos
Iquitos is a unique city in that it is the largest city in the world inaccessible by roads, leaving planes and boats as the primary ways of entrance. However, that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most popular places to visit in Peru.
5. Lima
As Peru’s capital and largest city, Lima is a sprawling metropolis constituting an architectural blend of pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern infrastructure. The city was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and offers a rich history as well as exceptional food, a vibrant culture and lively nightlife.
4. Sacred Valley
Once the heartland of the Inca Empire, The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a valley in the Andes, close to Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The valley was appreciated by the Incas due to its special geographical and climatic qualities.
3. Arequipa
One of Peru’s most visited cities, Arequipa is surrounded by three picturesque volcanoes in the country’s Southern Coastal region. Arequipa embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. Examples of Spanish colonial architecture can be found throughout the center of the city.
2. Cusco
Often serving as a popular base to explore nearby famous ruins like Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Located in southeastern Peru, Cusco one of Peru’s most important tourist destinations.
1. Machu Picchu
As Peru’s most popular tourist attraction and one of the world’s most famous archaeological wonders, Machu Picchu is located 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above sea level in the Andes Mountains. Although this magnificent Inca site provokes more mysteries than facts.
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