once upon a time, Cusco was the capital city of the Inca Empire. These days, it’s much more like the travel capital of South America.
That’s thanks to the city’s proximity to Machu Picchu — one of the seven Wonders of the world and a major bucket-list item for travellers across the globe.
While you can just breeze through Cusco on your way to the ancient city of the Incas, this fascinating city is well worth a few days. For starters, you’ll need to acclimate to the high altitude before heading off on that epic trek.
There are several amazing things to do in Cusco to keep you busy for several days. before heading to Machu Picchu, you can check out some museums and other Inca ruins in the area to learn much more about the ancient civilization.
Cusco is also full of adventure activities, including mountain biking and whitewater rafting.
After a big day of exploring, you can return to the town to delight in some mouthwatering Peruvian cuisine and some pretty rowdy nightlife. sounds good? read on for much more of the top things to do in Cusco.
Table of Contents
1. explore the Plaza de Armas
2. Take a totally free walking Tour
3. check out the stunning Churches
4. begin Your Machu Picchu Trip
5. Hike to Cristo Blanco
6. check Out Inca Ruins
7. sample the local Cuisine
8. study Spanish
9. museum Hopping
10. Go mountain Biking
11. San Pedro Market
12. See the 12-Angled Stone
13. Day trip to the Salt Ponds
14. shop in San Blas
15. learn how to Make Chocolate
16. Go Whitewater Rafting
17. drink Chicha and Play Sapo
18. Experience a local Festival
19. See a Football Match
20. get a Massage
21. delight in the Nightlife
Now You know What to do in Cusco
1. explore the Plaza de Armas
Your exploration of Cusco ought to begin in the Plaza de Armas.
As is the case in so numerous places in Latin America, this is the historic centre of town. In Cusco, the main square has a beautifully manicured garden, a central fountain, and a statue of the Incan ruler Pachacuti.
Speaking of the Incas, this was once the site of Haukaypata — the terrific Inca Square. While the Spanish conquistadors built over the original square long ago, you’ll still find traces of the Incas around every corner in Cusco.
Walk around the Plaza de Armas, and you’ll rapidly notice the different layers of history that are present here.
Around the Plaza de Armas, you’ll find some of the most essential cultural and historical landmarks, such as the beautiful Cusco Cathedral.
The plaza is also surrounded by stone arcades that the Spanish built, which are now mostly full of shops and agents catering to the enormous amounts of tourists who check out Cusco.
There are also plenty of cafes and bars in the area, numerous of which offer an outstanding view of the plaza.
One of the best things to do in Cusco is simply grabbing a window seat in one of these places to delight in a drink and view the goings on below. I particularly delighted in the Cappucino Cusco Cafe, which you can find on the map here.
2. Take a totally free walking Tour
While it’s fun to explore the Plaza de Armas on your own, it’s much better with a well-informed local guide and a group of fellow travellers. That’s precisely what you get to do when you sign up for a totally free walking trip of Cusco.
Inkan Milky way runs walking trips of the city each day at 10AM in both English and Spanish (groups are separated, not bilingual). If you miss the morning tour, you can just jump on the 1PM or 3:30 tour.
These totally free walking trips give you a terrific introduction to Cusco.
You’ll learn a lot about the city’s long history, from the terrific achievements of the Incas to their collapse and conquest at the hands of the Spanish. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of chances to ask your guide questions and get some recommendations for what to do after the tour.
Tours meet in the Plaza Regocijo in front of the chocolate museum (check the map here). just look for the guides wearing their bright yellow vests. speaking of the guides, they rely on your generous suggestions for their income and to keep these trips running.
3. check out the stunning Churches
There are several stunning churches in Cusco that are well worth a visit. the most noteworthy is the Cusco Cathedral, which took nearly a century to build. It’s a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, and is an absolutely beautiful building.
As is the case in much of Latin America, the Spanish built a cathedral over an indigenous temple. before the conquest, this site was home to the palace of Viracocha, oneof the most essential deities for the Incas.
While the church is amazing from the outside, you’ll have to go in to really appreciate it.
Inside, you can admire the fancy altars covered in gold leaf. The cathedral also holds a large range of archaeological relics and colonial art.
The many well-known piece is a replica of DaVinci’s “The Last Supper.” look closely and you’ll see that a local specialty – guinea pig – appears on one of the plates.
You can check out the Cusco Cathedral if you purchase the religious Circuit ticket. These cost 30 soles ($10) and also allow you to check out the Church of San Blas, the Church of San Cristobal, and the museum of religious Art.
Alternatively, you can just purchase a ticket for 25 soles ($8) to check out the cathedral on its own. As you can see, it’s a good deal to just get the combo ticket.
4. begin Your Machu Picchu Trip
Cusco is a terrific city on its own, but the main reason many people come here is its proximity to Machu Picchu.
If you’re wishing to check out the ancient city of the Incas – and I’m sure you are – then you’ll end up passing through town before and after your trip there.
One of the best things to do in Cusco is setting out on your Machu Picchu adventure.
Every single travel agent and trip operator in Cusco can help you plan the trip of a lifetime to Machu Picchu. You have several different options for going to one of the seven Wonders of the World, depending on your interests and budgets.
After much deliberation, we chose to do the Machu Picchu jungle trek.
This adventure-filled trip includes downhill mountain biking, rafting (weather pending), ziplining, and even a bit of hiking on the Inca Trail. You can sign up for a 4D/3N trip for less than $300 per person. considering all the activities that are covered in this trip, it’s an outstanding deal.
If you’d choose to do the classic Machu Picchu trek (4 nights, 5 days), you’ll want to book that well in advance. learn much more in this comprehensive post about trekking Machu Picchu.
Only a certain number of people are allowed in every day, and that number is even less for being able to hike up one of the two mountains inside. book early to avoid disappointment!
5. Hike to Cristo Blanco
Once you’ve gotten your Machu Picchu trip in order, it’s time to get back to exploring this amazing Peruvian city. one of the top things to do in Cusco is certainly hiking up to the Cristo Blanco statue.
This large statue of Jesus sits atop Pukamuqu mountain at a height of 3,600 metres. just look up from the Plaza de Armas, and you’re sure to see the bright white statue off in the distance.
While you can get up to Cristo Blanco through trip bus or taxi, the best way to appreciate these panoramic views is by earning them the hard way! It’s about a 30-40 minute hike up from the centre of town. just be sure to bring some sunscreen and plenty of water with you.
A check out to the Cristo Blanco statue can easily be combined with a trip to the next item on our list.
6. check Out Inca Ruins
Before you head to Machu Picchu, it’s worth it to check out some of the other Inca ruins that surround Cusco. The closest option from town is Sacsayhuaman, which is located atop the hill near the Cristo Blanco statue.
There are a few theories as to what function Sacsayhuaman had. because of its location high on a hill and its well-fortified walls, it is believed to have been a fortress. The large plaza here also points to it once serving as a ceremonial centre.
Whatever function it served, the ruins at Sacsayhuaman are quite impressive. It’s estimated that upwards of 20,000 men worked to extract the stones and then haul them up the hill. They also cut the boulders so carefully that they were able to fit them together without mortar.
Many locals jokingly refer to this Inca citadel as “sexy woman,” as it’s not that far off from the native pronunciation of the name. It sure is a good trick to help you remember the name!
One problem with going to Sacsayhuaman is that you can’t just purchase a ticket to check out this one site. You need to either purchase the full traveler ticket for 130 soles ($47) that gives you entrance to 16 different sites, or the partial ticket (circuit one) for 70 soles ($25) that allows you to check out three other ruins.
If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is. read much more about the various options here.
The ruins are open each day from 7AM-6PM. You can find the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Cristo Blanco both on the map here.
7. sample thelocal Cuisine
Without a doubt, one of the top things to do in Cusco is sampling the local cuisine. Of course, you can find Peruvian classics like ceviche and lomo saltado, but you’ll also want to try some dishes that are specialties of Cusco.
To start your day off, join the queue of locals at the market to purchase up a piping hot bowl of caldo de gallina, a delicious chicken soup. another local preferred is chicharrón – fried pork that’s typically served alongside potatoes and corn.
While walking around Cusco, you’re sure to spot plenty of alpacas. Not only are these animals kept for their wool, but they’re also on the menu. In restaurants around Cusco, you can try alpaca steak and even alpaca burgers.
You may think of guinea pigs as cute pets, but here they’re a delicacy. Called cuy in Spanish, they have been an essential food source in the region for centuries. It’s grilled up and served whole, with the head, teeth, legs, and all.
8. study Spanish
As a major traveler hub, Cusco is very used to gringos with awful Spanish. While you can certainly get by with English and body language here, you’ll have a much better trip if you pick up a bit of español.
There are numerous Spanish schools in Cusco that can help you get beyond simply “hola” and “gracias.” No matter your level, you can find a Spanish course that’s best for you in Cusco.
Most schools offer private lessons, group lessons, and immersion programs where you live with a local family in a homestay. With so numerous amazing things to do in Cusco, this is a terrific place to hunker down for a while and improve your Spanish.
I didn’t actually take Spanish class while we were in Cusco, but the folks at Peru Hop have put together this valuable guide to the various Spanish schools in town.
9. museum Hopping
If you delight in going to museums when you travel, then you’re in for a real treat in Cusco. The city is home to tons of outstanding museums covering art, history, archaeology, and much more. There’s even a museum dedicated to the coca leaf here!
Which museums you choose to check out in Cusco depends on your interests and whether or not you want to purchase the traveler ticket. That’s because some of the museums can only be went to with the ticket.
It’s kind of annoying, but that’s just the way it is in Cusco. here are some you can check out without the problems of the traveler ticket:
The museum of Pre-Columbian Art is the only one of its kind in Peru. here you’ll find hundreds of artifacts that were sent to Cusco from the popular Larco museum in Lima. entrance is 20 soles ($7) for foreigners and they’re open each day from 8AM to 10PM. get directions by checking the map here.
If you want to learn much more about the Incas, you’ll certainly want to check out the Museo Inka. It’s located in a grand colonial mansion and has gold, pottery, jewelry, and even mummies.
It’s open from 8AM-6PM from Monday to Friday and 9-4 on Saturday. entrance for foreigners is 10 soles ($3).
10. Go mountain Biking
For the adrenaline junkies out there, one of the top things to do in Cusco is heading out of the city on a mountain biking tour. With so numerous hills and such an abundance of stunning scenery in the sacred Valley, the options for mountain biking are practically unlimited here.
Many trip operators in town run half or full-day trips that include a bit of mountain biking mixed in with check outs to some of the surrounding Inca sites. many of the half-day trips are pretty relaxed, while some of the full-day outings feature a bit of uphill biking.
In addition, you can also sign up for multi-day mountain biking adventures that take you all the way to Machu Picchu. For advanced riders, there are some pretty amazing single track trails as well.
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