Cusco: the Former Capital of the Inca Empire
No list of Peru would be complete without the jumping off point for Machu Picchu. Located in the Peruvian Andes, Cusco is full of archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. With lots of day trips departing from Cusco it is well worth spending a week here.
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Things to do in Cusco city centre
Admire the Cathedral in Cusco’s Main Square
The main square is a fun and safe place to hang out all day and a great place to people watch!
The beautiful historic cathedral is well worth a visit, inside you will find beautiful statues and artwork on display. Make sure you don’t miss the Last Supper with guinea pig on the table!
Spot the Twelve Angled Stone
Placed in the wall of a once Incan Palace, this legendary stone has twelve angles allowing it to fit perfectly between the stones surrounding it, just like a puzzle piece. All the stones are perfectly alighted that you cannot even fit a piece of paper between them.
Visit Saqsaywaman
Built by the Incas in the 15th century, Saqsaywaman is a citadel on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco. It is worth visiting the stone work alone. The way the Incas used the natural landscape to their advantage is clearly seen here. The large stones are massive and carved with such precision.
The tunnels and smooth curved rocks you can slide down are a fun addition.
Top tip: visit in the afternoon for the best lighting.
Buy an “alpaca” sweater
No trip to Peru would be complete without purchasing an alpaca sweater. Artesanias Asunta is a family run souvenir shop with some of the best prices in Cusco (35 soles for a sweater!)
For authentic 100% alpaca wool garments I highly recommend you visit Mundo Alpaca in Arequipa. Alpaca Sol is another store to sell 100% alpaca clothing, in Cusco.
Climb up to a mirador
Surrounded by mountains, it is well worth wondering up to a mirador to get a better view across the city. Some of my favourites are:
- Mirador de San Blas
- Mirador de Plaza San Cristobal
- Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco
Go shopping in San Pedro Central Market
This bustling market is quite the experience. With lots of souvenirs, traditional food and clothing, it is worth exploring what this market has to offer.
Top tip: visit in the morning for the full local experience.
Take a Chocolate Making class
Known for its cacao, what better place than Peru to carrying out a chocolate making class. Learn all about the history behind chocolate as well as how the beans go on to become the chocolate bars we see. You will also have a go at making your own and best of all trying it! I would recommend ChocoMuseo Hatunrumiyoc.
Visit Qurikancha
The Inca ruins of a 15th century temple can be seen in Cusco’s city centre. Here you will find very interesting dichotomies between the Inca and Spanish. You can get a guide to help you explain the history. However, they have QR codes throughout with extra information.
If you don’t want to go in, you can get a nice view of the ruins along Avenue el Sol.
Take a day trip from Cusco
There are also lots of day trips departing from Cusco, making it the perfect base camp for a week.
Check out my blog post on the best day trips from Cusco.
Where to stay in Cusco
While Cusco is a walkable city it is also very hilly, which when at high altitude becomes even more challenging to walk up. Because of this, I would recommend staying close the historic centre.
- Solo travellers: Viajero Kokopelli Hostel, they will even store your bags when you go off treking
- For Couples: Hosteria de Anita, includes breakfast
How to get to Cusco
From Lima or Arequipa
With the airport is less than 20 minutes from the city centre and multiple flights departing each day, flying is the easiest and quickest way to get from Lima or Arequipa to Cusco.
Top tip: if booked in advance you should be able to find flights for under £50.
Check out my guide to Lima here and find out more about Arequipa here.
From Puno
For the budget conscious traveler, the best way to get to Cusco is via the bus. The bus takes about 8 hours to get there.
For those after a unique experience I highly recommend taking the train, a scenic 10 hour journey through the Andes Mountains, with PeruRail Titicaca.
For my guide on Puno and Lake Titicaca click here.
Where to eat in Cusco
- Avocado, toast & more: perfect place for brunch
- L’atelier Cafe Concept: great coffee and snacks
- Nuna Raymi: Peruvian restaurant
- Mr Soup: good spot for lunch
- Cappuccino Cusco Cafe: good coffee with a nice view over Cusco’s main square
Where next?
Ultimate guide to visiting Machu Picchu
