10 Best Things to Do in Cusco, Peru

Cusco is the cultural capital of Peru and offers visitors the chance to go deep into Incan history and explore the beautiful landscapes of the Andes Mountains. This guide will help you plan your Peru travel itinerary with the 10 best things to do in Cusco.

If you can only visit one place in Peru, you must visit Cusco! The beloved historic city of Cusco is home of the Inca Empire and high altitude. It is considered the cultural capital of Peru with traditional Incan stone lined streets and Spanish Colonial influences. Prepare for lively parades in the Plaza De Armas, cute alpacas, live music and traditional dancing, amazing cafes and food, lots of stairs, and nonstop shortness of breath.

I quickly fell in love with the charm of Cusco and was impressed with how easy it was to fill my time with places to explore and things to do. Besides being a main stop en route to Machu Picchu, there are lots of other incredible day trips that are easily accessible from Cusco and lots to explore within the historical city.

Things to Consider When Planning Your Trip to Cusco, Peru

How many days do you need in Cusco?

The answer to this question depends on what you prioritize. At minimum, I recommend 3 days, especially if you are planning a trek to Machu Picchu. If you have more time in your travel itinerary, I recommend 1-2 weeks to not feel rushed. There is so much to do in Cusco! This guide will help you narrow down activities you are interested in and then you can better plan your trip timeframe.

Altitude

If you are prepping for a trek or hiking while in Cusco, you’re in the right place. Take your time, hydrate appropriately, and move slowly because Cusco is located at an altitude of 11,000+ feet. Thankfully Machu Picchu sits at lower altitude than Cusco, but to get there you will be hiking in high altitude.

The best thing to do to prep for hiking is to get out and walk around the city. You will quickly find yourself on a challenging set of stairs (they are everywhere 😅) or on an incline walk which will get you ready to hike. The higher you climb, the better the view of the city below!

Cusco’s Tourist Ticket (Boleta Turistico)

Before you start exploring the best things to do in Cusco, Peru you will need to get access to the sites. You cannot enter the majority of archaeological sites and museums around Cusco without the Boleta Turistico (tourist ticket). It is an essential buy to give you access to the most popular attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

There are multiple options for the ticket; the complete ticket is valid for 10 days (from purchase date) and will give you access to 16 tourist sites for 130 soles and 3 partial ticket options for 70 soles, valid for either 1 or 2 days.

I think the 10 day ticket is the best option, but it depends on how long you plan to stay in Cusco and what activities you want to do. Make sure to look over the options to decide what fits best with your schedule and preferences. Also, they do offer a discounted student rate however I am unsure how or if they verify student status.

The 16 tourist sites include:

• Saqsaywaman

• Q’enqo

• Puka Pukara

• Tambomachay

• Pisaq

• Ollantaytambo

• Moray

• Chinchero

• Tipton

• Pikillacta

• Museum of Popular Art

• Museum of the Qorikancha

• Regional Historical Museum

• Museum of Contemporary Art

• Inca Pachacuteq Monument

• Qosqo Native Art and Dance Center

You can buy the ticket directly at any of the sites listed, it is not necessary to purchase in advance and you will need to show your passport. It is important to know that the tourist ticket does NOT include access to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Laguna Humantay, or tours. Of note, if you do purchase it online in advance it will come at an unnecessary higher cost.

10 Best Things to Do in Cusco, Peru

1. Hang out at the Plaza De Armas

To get a feel for Cusco, start by visiting the beautiful Plaza De Armas (the main square), where all the action is. The square is lively and surrounded on all sides with shops, restaurants, cathedrals, manicured gardens, and colonial architecture. Grab a seat, there’s benches throughout the plaza or you can sit on the steps of the cathedral to soak up the energy.

There was always some type of celebration going on in the streets around the plaza during the month of May when I visited, which I loved! There were parades, locals dressed in traditional colorful clothing, music and choreographed dancing, and lots of energy. It was incredible to see a historic plaza still thriving!

As with any popular tourist area, there are lots of vendors trying to get your attention to sell tours, art, massages, etc. Make sure to avoid the KFC and McDonald’s on the square, you can do SO much better. Support the local restaurants, they are wonderful.

You can also get a cafe or restaurant table with views overlooking the Plaza De Armas. It may be a little overpriced, but you’re paying for location and atmosphere. Check out Cappuccino Cafe (my favorite) and Cafe Plaza.

From the square you can walk off in any direction of the surrounding side streets and find more shops and restaurant options. Alternatively, there is a smaller plaza one block away called Plaza Regocijo (Kusipata). If the main square is overwhelming for you, check out this area, it is more chill with less vendors.

2. Visit Sacsayhuaman Ruins

There are several different spellings of “Sacsayhuaman” and the pronunciation is exactly how it looks, “sexy woman.” Make no mistake, you will hear the vendors in Cusco yelling out “sexy woman” while trying to advertise for their tours and without knowing, you could easily wonder if they are cat calling out to you 😂

This historical Incan ruin sits on a hill above Cusco with panoramic views of the city. The site is expansive and known for the Incan’s iconic stonework on display. You can really get a feel for the Incan’s skilled masonry as you wander through the remaining structures, doorways, and marvel at the architecture. The Incas were truly experts at their craft!

As you examine the colossal stones and the precision cutting and fit, it will leave you in awe. It is said that some of the stones weight up to 125 tons! It’s easy to see how this site was important for the Inca civilization.

Exploring Sacsayhuaman Ruins is a great acclimatizing activity while you are preparing for hiking in the Cusco region. Starting from the Plaza De Armas, it’s about a 30-45 minute uphill walk and the site itself sits at 12,000 ft above sea level. Spending a few hours walking around will help your body adjust to higher altitudes.

You can buy the Boleta Touristic at Sacsayhuaman for entrance into the site, or use it if you already purchased it. We visited the site independently without a tour, however a guide would be helpful for learning about the history and cultural significance. There’s lots of cute llamas around for photo ops as well.

3. Eat your way through Cusco

You are in for a treat, Cusco has bomb food! The restaurants are all small and boutique feel with farm to table ingredients. You can absolutely taste the freshness. One of my favorite memories of Cusco is planning out where we wanted to eat each day. There were so many good restaurants we wanted to go back to, but our list of places to try was so long that we struggled. I mean there’s only so many meals in a day. 😂

When you factor in the favorable exchange rate of USD to Peruvian Sol, the price for good food is very affordable in Cusco. From bougie to backpacker friendly, local to international cuisine, and plenty of vegan options you are in a foodie paradise.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Qura – so many healthy options, I loved the bowls.

• The Vegan Temple – loved the zen vibes and omg the smoothies are unreal!

• Organika restaurant – organic farm to table ingredients from their own farm in the Sacred Valley. Try the grilled alpaca.

• El Jardin – amazing decor, food, and location!

• Nuna Raymi – best place for local cuisine, the specialty is roasted guinea pig (cuy).

• La Bodega 138 – Italian food, we carb loaded here the night before starting the Salkantay Trek.

• Morena Peruvian Kitchen – bougie dinner with views of the Plaza De Armas.

• Jack’s Cafe – my favorite place for breakfast, get the huevos rancheros!

• San Pedro Market – plenty of food court style options, but I recommend the fresh juice stands.

• Qucharitas – desserts, no further explanation needed.

This is not an all-encompassing list by any means. I encourage you to branch off of the list, follow your nose or the locals and find your own personal favorite restaurants and cafes while in Cusco. Sometimes unplanned finds are the best! A few of my favorite places were found by chance while exploring the streets.

4. Explore the San Blas neighborhood

The San Blas neighborhood is home to some of the best cafes, artisan shops, and charming streets in Cusco. The cobblestone streets of San Blas are picturesque with colorful accents of blue doors, hanging potted plants, and is much calmer than the historical center of Cusco. It’s an ideal place to base yourself while staying in Cusco, however it will require a steep walk up from the Plaza De Armas.

First stop, coffee!

Start your morning in this lovely neighborhood at L’Atelier Cafe. This cute cafe has two window seats that open to a balcony overlooking the beautiful San Blas street below with mountain views in the distance. The coffee and pastries are delicious and they sell boutique clothing and handmade products.

Calle Siete Borreguitos

Calle Siete Borreguitos is known as the most scenic street in the San Blas neighborhood. The narrow “street” is actually a set of stairs with hanging flower pots and colorful murals. This is a perfect place for photography if you are lucky enough to find a few minutes of respite from other tourists. It is also important to note that you can visit this street en route to Sacsayhuaman, it’s on the direct path to the entrance.

Colonial Aqueduct of Sapantiana

If you make the effort to walk all the way up the hill and stairs to visit Calle Siete Borreguitos, you might as well visit the nearby Colonial Aqueduct of Sapantiana. It is a three level stone aqueduct that preserves a bit of Cusco’s history. It is interesting, but not really something I would go out of my way to see.

Calle Siete Diablitos

Another noteworthy street in San Blas is Calle Siete Diablitos. It used to be somewhat known as a “lovers lane.” It’s a quiet and narrow walkway with high rock walls and flowers growing down the sides of the wall.

There is a stop worthy viewpoint (Mirador de San Blas) that will give you sweeping views of Cusco…you’ve definitely earned it after all those stairs. A few steps away from the viewpoint is the Limbus Restobar. It offers the same incredible city view but with food and music. This is an ideal place to stop, enjoy the vibes, and end your day in the San Blas area. If you time it right, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset from Limbus Restobar’s terrace and watch the city transform into lights at night.

5. Simply Wander the Streets

One of the best things to do in Cusco is simply walk. All of the main attractions in the historic area of Cusco are walkable. Exploring on foot is the preferred mode of transportation, it’s free and the best way to get the lay of the land. Despite crowds of tourists in the main areas, there is beauty around every corner in this historic city!

The Twelve Angled Stone

The Twelve Angled Stone on Hatunrumiyoc Street is a testament to the Incan’s flawless precision with stonework and architecture. The twelve angles of the stone fit seamlessly into the wall of surrounding stones like the perfect fitting puzzle piece. It’s another impressive example of Incan construction that has survived earthquakes and the test of time. It will make you scratch your head and ponder how they did it.

Arco de Santa Clara

You will inevitably pass through the Arco de Santa Clara while walking between the main square and San Pedro Market. It’s a charming piece of architectural history in the center of Cusco. The area is quite busy, but if you catch it at the right time you’ll have a beautiful photo op.

You cannot miss the beloved “alpaca ladies” of Cusco. The ladies are adorned in their traditional colorful embroidered outfits toting cute and furry alpacas for petting and photo ops. As far as I could tell, the animals looked well cared for and loved. If you spend time with the animals and take pictures, make sure to tip the ladies.

Another well known street in Cusco that is worth exploring is Calle Resbalosa, which means slippery street. It’s a cobblestone pedestrian only walkway that is more like stairs than an actual street. After a steep climb you will reach the San Cristobal Plaza. This viewpoint looks directly down at the main square and offers plenty of open space to sit and enjoy the panoramic view.

Finally, if you want to learn history and get a local’s perspective, try a free walking tour. There are several companies that offer daily (English speaking) free walking tours with multiple start time options.

6. Shop at the Markets

The shopping in Cusco is incredible, from the large markets to the street vendors there is so much to browse. The Peruvian textiles are so vibrant, it’s hard not to get drawn into the shops to admire all the beautiful handmade goods.

The best souvenir to buy from Peru is alpaca wool. You can find everything from sweaters, beanies and chullos (knit style hat with earflaps), scarves, socks, gloves, blankets, etc. I loved the colorful vibes and bought pillowcases, a tapestry, a hat, way too many cute little alpaca souvenirs, and multiple items of clothing to remind me of Peru. My bag was bursting at the seams by the end of my trip.

Besides textiles and alpaca souvenirs, other plentiful options for gifts or mementos include handmade jewelry (you’ll find lots with the Inca cross, Chakana), artwork, Andean dolls, coffee, and chocolate.

San Pedro Market

San Pedro Market is the ultimate shopping experience in Cusco, this place is bustling with energy! It’s a sensory delight of vibrant colors, aromatic smells, and interactions with the vendors. You can easily spend an entire day wandering through all the stalls of this expansive indoor market, but if you are short on time it’s a one stop shop for all your shopping needs.

The shops around the perimeter of the market are mostly clothing and souvenirs and the inner portion of the market houses the produce, raw meats, juice and food stands. If you don’t like strong smells, I advise to avoid the meat section because it’s a little intense, but also very interesting to meander through.

San Blas Market

The San Blas Market is a smaller local market worth visiting if you are in the charming San Blas neighborhood. There are fewer shops and souvenirs, but the food stalls serve up delicious meals at a cheaper cost than most restaurants.

Avenida El Sol

If you still haven’t shopped till you dropped, take a stroll down Avenida El Sol. You’ll find the Artisan Market known for handicrafts. It’s less crowded and offers a variety of handmade crafts.

Shopping tips:

• Browse before buying. A lot of shops offer similar items with different designs and colors. This gives you the advantage to shop around and haggle for the best price.

• Bring a re-usable tote bag to carry home all your goodies so you can avoid using plastic bags.

• Know when to negotiate prices and when not to. Haggling for better prices in the market is generally acceptable, but in well established stores prices are set.

And last but not least, if you didn’t buy an alpaca sweater, did you even go to Peru?!

7. Immerse Yourself in Peruvian History at the Museums

If you want to dig deeper into the Incan and Peruvian history and culture, there are many museums in Cusco that offer interesting exhibits. There is a good variety with something of interest for everyone. We did not spend a lot of time in the museums, but it was a good activity on our “rest days” in between hiking.

Out of the many museums in Cusco, only four are included with the Cusco Tourist Ticket and the others have a small entrance fee.

Here are a few museums that I recommend:

• Qorikancha – Formerly the Sacred Temple of the Sun God which the Spanish conquerors stole all of the gold and built over the temple.

• Coca Museum – Located in the San Blas Plaza this small museum provides interesting history of the coca leaf plant and ceremonial use. You can buy coca leaf products in their gift shop.

• Inka Museum – This is the best museum to learn about the Inca civilization and history leading up to the Spanish Invasion. You can even see preserved mummies and skulls.

• Choco Museum – This is more of a chocolate shop, but you are able to watch the chocolate making process, which loosely classifies it as a museum I guess. It’s free to enter, but you will likely want to make a purchase after trying a few of the free chocolate samples.

8. Take a Trip to the Sacred Valley

To truly understand the soul of Peru, a visit to the Sacred Valley is essential. Stretching between Cusco and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu, this breathtaking valley is a place of profound historical significance and natural splendor. It’s not just a stopover on the way to Machu Picchu; it’s a destination in its own right.

The Sacred Valley is home of the Urubamba River and ancient Inca ruins, picturesque villages, and terraced fields. Beyond the archaeological wonders, the Sacred Valley offers vibrant markets, artisanal crafts, and the warm embrace of the local Quechua communities.

Here’s a list of must-visit places in the Sacred Valley:

• Pisac: Explore the charming village famous for its market and archaeological ruins. Don’t miss the stunning Inca terraces that overlook the valley.

• Ollantaytambo: Visit the well-preserved fortress and temple complex of Ollantaytambo and climb the steep terraces for panoramic vices of the valley below. This Sacred Valley village is the start of many hiking trails and the train station for the Inca Rail.

• Moray: Explore the otherworldly circular agricultural terraces, which showcase the Inca’s innovative farming techniques.

• Maras Salt Mines: Visit the ancient salt-extraction site and view thousands of salt pools across the mountainside.

• Awana Kancha: Textile center where you can learn about traditional dyeing of alpaca wool and textile weaving. You can also visit their alpaca and llama farm.

It’s impossible to see everything in one day, but there are a lot of full day tour options from Cusco that offer a well-rounded experience that capture the highlights of this remarkable region in Peru. If you have the time, consider basing yourself in the Sacred Valley for a few days up to a week to really soak it all in and explore at a slower pace, there is so much more to see than what’s on this list!

9. Hike at High Altitude to Rainbow Mountain

Sitting high in the Andes Mountains, Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is known for its multicolored mountain slopes created by layers of minerals. Hiking Rainbow Mountain is a bucket list adventure that combines a colorful display of natural beauty and a thrilling experience in the Cusco region.

Rainbow Mountain is located about three hours from Cusco, making it a full day trip of driving and hiking. There are many tour operators in Cusco that offer guided excursions to Rainbow Mountain. It is easiest to let the tour companies manage the details and you can enjoy the day.

The 6.2 mile round trip hike to Rainbow Mountain is both arduous and rewarding. The high altitude (17,000 feet!) will be your biggest challenge, so acclimatization in Cusco beforehand is essential. Weather changes quickly at high altitude, so come prepared with layers of warm clothes. Also, don’t forget sunglasses, sunscreen, and to hydrate prior to and while on the hike. Once you reach the viewpoint, the sight of Rainbow Mountain’s vibrant mineral deposits in shades of red, orange, yellow, and turquoise will make every step and shortness of breath worth it.

10. Experience the Beauty of Laguna Humantay

Peru is absolutely full of beauty, and another gem that you must experience when visiting Cusco is Laguna Humantay. The mesmerizing turquoise blue lake is surrounded by the massive Humantay and Salkantay mountains. This is one of the most beautiful high altitude lakes I’ve ever seen!

The hike to Laguna Humantay begins at Soraypampa, a small village situated at the base of the trail. The hike is relatively short, approximately 4 miles round trip, but don’t underestimate it because the trail is steep and the air is thin. Pace yourself. Hopefully by now you are well acclimated to the high altitude of the Cusco region because the pristine lake is at 13,800 feet elevation.

The lake is sacred to the local Quechua people, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn about its cultural significance from your guides. As always, be respectful of the land, leave no trace, and give reverence to Pachamama (Mother Earth in Incan culture).

The start of the trail is approximately 3-4 hours from Cusco, making it a full day excursion for a relatively short hike. Booking a through a tour company is the easiest way to get to Laguna Humantay. Many tour operators in Cusco offer daily guided tours, which include transportation, meals, and experienced guides.

Of note, Laguna Humantay is a stop on the larger Salkantay Trek. If you are interested in a beautiful long distance trek to Machu Picchu and visiting Laguna Humantay, consider combining the two efforts and book the Salkantay Trek.

Final Thoughts

Before ending this blog post, I must address the elephant in the room. I did not mention Machu Picchu on the list of best things to do in Cusco. Unimaginable, I know! However, Machu Picchu completely deserves its own post. It is such a special place, and an absolute must do if you are traveling all the way to Cusco, Peru! Stay tuned for all my recommendations and details about the Salkantay Trek and visiting Machu Picchu.

The Cusco region is loaded with activities to explore its rich culture, fascinating history, and jaw dropping landscapes. I absolutely loved Cusco and dream of returning to visit my favorite places and to experience more of its beauty. Comment below if you have visited Cusco and have any additional recommendations!

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