The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cusco, Peru

Cusco is a magical city located high in the Andes mountains of southeastern Peru. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, was once the capital of the Inca empire, and it’s the destination everyone travels to when making their way to Machu Picchu.

If you’re planning a trip to Peru, you will undoubtedly spend some time in Cusco- I actually extended my stay more than once because I just didn’t want to leave. It’s a beautiful city with charm, incredible views, fantastic food, and wonderful people. It also has a very high altitude, something most travelers need to acclimate to.

In this guide, I’m going to cover it all. Everything you will need to know about visiting this unique destination! If you’re in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Cusco, you’re in the right place and I hope that by the end of this guide, you will have a great idea of how you will spend your time there. Let’s get started!

Things To Know Before You Go

First off, let’s cover some important things you’ll want to know before traveling to Cusco. This information will come in handy throughout your time there or will help with the planning process:

Best Time To Visit

Cusco has two seasons- dry season and rainy season. Dry season is the time to visit, which takes place from March through October. Ideally, you’ll want to visit during the shoulder months of dry season to avoid the extremely heavy crowds which flock there from June to August. The best times to plan your trip would be between March-May or October- September.

I visited towards the end of March and had pretty decent weather. It was a little chilly, but very bearable, and experienced just a little rain.

Is the Altitude That Bad?

In short, I’d say yes. It is something that can really take a toll on your body if you’ve never experienced it before. Obviously, everyone is different. I encountered some people who got violently ill from altitude sickness, and others that went on a strenuous hike after being in Cusco for only 24 hours. Personally, I struggled to acclimate, and even after being in Cusco for a week, I still huffed and puffed every time I had to walk even slightly uphill.

Please feel free to check out my blog post all about how to acclimate to the high altitude. Hopefully, this will come in handy in preparing you for the altitude change so it won’t be such a shock to your body.

Best Way To Get There

Regardless of where you’re coming from, chances are you’ll want to fly to Cusco. Flights from Lima are non-stop and very affordable- as with many cities within the country. When I visited Cusco I flew in from Tarapoto, which is much farther north than Lima, and still managed to get a reasonable flight with just one layover.

Your other option would be to take a bus, which takes over 20 hours from Lima. In my opinion, you’re not saving yourself enough money for how much time you’re trading in.

What’s the Currency?

The currency in Peru is Peruvian Sol or soles. I highly suggest going to your local bank before your trip and having some money converted over prior to leaving. Cash is always king! Although you can find many places in Cusco that will take credit cards, you will surely encounter some that don’t. Also note, ATMs are not always reliable there. Sometimes you need to try a few before finding one that actually works. You will also rack up conversion fees and/or ATM fees if you plan on using them regularly.

How Long Do You Need?

If you have the time, I’d say you could easily spend five to seven days in Cusco. It’s one of those cities you’ll want to wander around and get to know. There are fantastic day trips to do from Cusco and so many amazing hikes. There’s also excellent food and great markets so you’ll never run out of dining options.

If you’re short on time, give yourself at least three days. With three days you’ll be able to experience the highlights of Cusco and get a real taste of what this amazing city has to offer. Chances are you’ll want to stay longer!

Don’t Drink the Water

This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s worth the reminder! The water in Cusco and in Peru in general is NOT safe to drink. Stick with bottled water and avoid drinks with ice cubes. The water is perfectly fine for washing hands, showering, and brushing your teeth- as long as you don’t swallow it.

What To Do In Cusco

Cusco is one of those cities that you could spend tons of time in and always find something new. There are so many great restaurants to discover, local hikes to do, incredible day trips/ weekend trips, and fun markets to explore. During the time I spent there, these were some of my favorite things I did and top recommendations:

Go on a Free Walking Tour

Walking tours are always a great way to get familiar with a new place. The guides are generally funny, interesting, and passionate about the place they’re introducing you to. You’ll always get to know more about the history and the main areas of attraction. I also love walking tours because it’s a great way to meet other travelers and potentially make new friends! I did my free walking tour with GuruWalk and had a fantastic experience. They offer tours daily at 10 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm which lasts 2 hours. As I said, it is a free tour, however, it’s recommended to tip at the end. Book at least a day in advance to make sure you get a spot!

Stroll around Cusco Main Square

Cusco Main Square also known as The Plaza de Armas of Cusco is the heart of the city. It’s a beautiful area filled with history and amazing architecture. Here, you will also see how the Spanish conquerors impacted the city through the colonial buildings, cobbled streets, and terracotta tiled roofs that surround the square.

The Cusco Cathedral is a major point of interest, built in the 16th & 17th centuries, this is something that should not be missed. The square is also filled with many popular restaurants, bars, and cafes. Here, you will also find many tour companies if you’re interested in day trips from Cusco, and of course shopping!

Explore San Pedro Market

San Pedro Market is one of those places you must visit in Cusco to really experience the energy of the city. It’s a bustling market at all hours of the day with an extensive variety of foods, clothing, souvenirs, produce, and fresh juices. You can find so many interesting treasures here and it’s honestly just fun to walk around and take it all in. One of my favorite things about this market was discovering different fruits, vegetables, and popular snacks that are native to Peru. Most of which I’d never even heard of or seen before!

Take a Hike up to Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco

The Cristo Blanco is known as the protector of Cusco- it’s the most famous monument in the whole city. This giant statue of Jesus Christ reaches over 26 ft and can be seen from the Main Square. However, if you want to see it up close you can take a really challenging but fun hike to where The Cristo Blanco stands. The main thing that makes this hike challenging is the altitude because it is mostly all uphill. Bring water and remember to take breaks. The loop is about 1.7 miles and takes over an hour to complete.

Day Trip to Pisac

Pisac is a charming little town located in the Sacred Valley just about an hour from Cusco. It’s a perfect day trip as it doesn’t take long to get there and it’s a lovely place to experience. If you have the time it could be worth spending a night there, but if not, it’s a doable destination to see in one day. It’s filled with lots of great restaurants and cute cafes. The scenery is gorgeous, especially along the river. There are also colorful markets and interesting historic ruins to check out. Getting to Pisac from Cusco is very easy and inexpensive. A common way to get there is by colectivo, which are basically minivans used as public transportation. You can catch one from Calle Puputi for about $ 2 USD. They leave around every 15 minutes.

Try Alpaca

Unless you’re a vegetarian or vegan (more power to you) I’d highly suggest giving alpaca a try while in Cusco. I’m a firm believer in immersing myself in a new culture when traveling to a country I haven’t been to before and this involves trying different foods that are a part of the said culture, which are usually not a part of mine. This makes traveling all the more fun and interesting!

Alpaca is a very popular, traditional meat in Peru but I found it on more menus in Cusco than in other parts of the country. It is served similarly to steak and I found it to have a similar texture and taste. Overall, I thought it was outstanding and I would definitely eat it again.

Visit the San Blas District

The San Blas District of Cusco is located within the Historic Center. This picturesque neighborhood is an absolute must-visit and is often referred to as the cultural and artistic district of the city. Here, you will find adorable cafes, beautiful galleries, lovely clothing and souvenir shops, and so much more. This area is characterized by its narrow, steep cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, and the obvious charm you can see and feel just by walking around.

Take a Day Trip Hike to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain

One of the most popular day trips from Cusco is to Rainbow Mountain. When I visited last March there was a local protest going on and tourists were unable to visit the famous Rainbow Mountain. But what a lot of people didn’t know until then, is that it’s a chain of mountains and Palccoyo is just as beautiful but much less crowded. This was our alternative and I couldn’t have been happier with it. The hike is also not nearly as difficult, which was a huge plus.

Where To Eat in Cusco

Cusco is a foodie haven as it’s filled with incredible restaurants and amazing dishes. You can also eat at fairly upscale places for a fraction of the price that you would pay in other countries or cities. While I was there I really enjoyed trying traditional Peruvian restaurants but managed to get a great variety of other cuisines as well. These were some of my favorite places I dined at and my top recommendations of where to eat while in Cusco.

Cafe D’Wasi

Cafe D’Wasi is a perfect place to start out the day and grab a good breakfast. This cafe is cute and cozy but does get busy early! They have a wide variety of delicious breakfast dishes, sandwiches, desserts, and fantastic coffee & teas.

Green Point

This all-vegan restaurant is absolutely worth going to even if you’re not vegan. The menu is creative and diverse. Each dish is well thought out and filled with wonderful, fresh ingredients. The atmosphere is also really calming and beautiful! Everything about this restaurant impressed me and I would go back in a heartbeat if I ever find myself back in Cusco.

Limo

At one point during my trip, I found myself craving Japanese food and Limo happened to be the perfect place to go! Limo is a fantastic restaurant with a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian food. It’s located right in the Plaza de Armas so you get beautiful views of the square. I particularly loved their sushi and gyoza.

Morena Peruvian Kitchen

Morena is another outstanding restaurant located right in the Plaza de Armas. I would consider this place somewhat “fine dining.” The presentation of each dish was excellent and the taste was even better. The ambiance is cozy yet chic and the food is colorful and flavorful. I decided to go all out with this meal and I was not disappointed! I recommend starting out with the croquettes, having the rice with seafood as a main, and finishing off with the cacao for dessert!

La Huerta de Tata

La Huerta de Tata was so wonderful I ended up there multiple times. The quality of the food is outstanding with colorful, delicious options and wonderful presentation. This is where I tried alpaca and it couldn’t have been better! We also really enjoyed the ceviche, salmon, and desserts. The atmosphere is very cozy and the service was fantastic.

Pepe Cafe

This adorable cafe was located across from my hostel so my friends and I ended up there most mornings. The woman who runs Pepe Cafe was such a delight! The menu consists of simple but delicious breakfast options and sandwiches. They also have amazing smoothies! This is a perfect place to go for breakfast or a quick, easy lunch.

Thank You For Reading

I hope you found this guide helpful for future Cusco trip planning! Peru was one of my favorite travel destinations of 2022 and I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone who is thinking of visiting. Cusco, in particular, is such a special city. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below and wishing you very happy travels throughout 2023!

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