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Things to do in Cusco, Peru
Cusco is a charming little city in Peru with tons of great things to do in and around the city. Cobblestone plastered streets wind up the Andean mountains in this former capital of the Incan empire. Cusco features beautiful colonial architecture, amazing restaurants and creates the perfect starting point to travel all over Peru.
Located 3200 meters above sea level, people often visit Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude, especially before heading to Machu Picchu or rainbow mountain.
- Tip: if you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu, spend a couple of days in Cusco first to get used to the high altitude. Altitude sickness can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches and diarrhea.
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How to get around
Cusco is a fairly small city so you can see and do all the things in this guide by foot. Keep in mind the high altitude and that it may take some time to get used to it.
Since Cusco is built on the side of the Andean mountains, the streets are mostly uphill, so take it easy and don’t plan to see and do too much in a day.
- Tip: cocoa tea helps against altitude sickness. You can get it anywhere in Cusco, and most hotels offer it for free.
San Blas neighborhood
San Blas is a hip neighbourhood in Cusco, and a great place to walk around and admire the beautiful historic colonial architecture.
It’s also full of amazing cafes, bars and restaurants with delicious local food.
Wander through the little streets around Plaza San Blas and enjoy the creative vibe away from the main tourist areas.
- Tip: Check out the food section for some great vegan places.
Qoricancha, Temple of the Sun
Qoricancha (sometimes also spelled Coricancha), or Temple of the Sun, is a complex in the old part of Cusco. It is dedicated to Inti, the sun god of the Incas.
In the native language, Quechua, Qoricancha means as much as Golden Courtyard, and the complex got its name from literally being covered in gold during Inca times.
Qoricancha is part of the Santa Domingo convent, built in the 15th century, and was once the richest temple in the Inca empire.
- Tip: the entry fee is 15 soles per person, and includes entry to the entire complex.
Cusco's historical center
The historical center of Cusco is lined with Andean and Spanish buildings. The main square, Plaza de Armas, is a lively place with plenty of restaurants and iconic buildings like the Cusco Cathedral.
Enjoy a stroll through the winding streets, have a cup of world-famous Peruvian coffee and take in the sunset over the Andean mountains.
San Pedro Market
San Pedro Market is an enclosed market space in the south-west of Cusco.
The stalls sell anything from ponchos to food, at a very affordable price.
If you’re planning on taking home a traditional Peruvian souvenir, San Pedro Market is a great place to find one.
- Tip: all the stalls have the same prices for their products, but haggling is still very much a part of the experience.
Trendy, sustainable and local shopping
When thinking of Cusco you don’t usually think of shopping, but the city has hundreds of great shops lining its little streets. You can find traditional clothing mixed with modern elements all over Cusco’s boutique shops and concept stores.
A lot of those stores put a high focus on sustainability and no-child-labour.
Isa Luna
A less mainstream kind of store is Isa Luna, a little gem in the San Blas neighbourhood offering jewelry, clothing and accessories. Beautiful products, a lot of them hand-made, are great if you’re looking for something a little more unique.
L'atelier Cafe
A cafe and store in one, L’atelier Cafe in the San Blas neighbourhood is a cute little place for great coffee while browsing their beautiful products. Sit on their tiny balcony and enjoy world-class coffee with a gorgeous view over little streets of the San Blas neighbourhood.
- Tip: if you pay cash instead of card, you’ll get a discount!
A taste of Peru
Cusco is a foodie’s paradise! There are so many great restaurants and cafes offering locally grown ingredients that there is something for every taste.
We’ve rated these places by yummy factor, enjoy!
A great little place for breakfast offering smoothie bowls and the famous Peruvian coffee.
Cappuccino, hot chocolate, Acai bowl, macambo bowl = 47 soles
All-vegan menu, organic, and with an amazing courtyard-style garden to sit and eat.
Smoothie, beer, tacos to share = 85 soles
Bruschetta, samosas, smoked sushi to share, beer = 105 soles
Vegan churros with different dips, from classic molten chocolate to traditional dulce de leche.
Delicious tapas sharing platters and a huge selection of the famous pisco sour cocktail.
Tapas sharing platter (shrimp & bacon, mozzarella bruschetta, potatoes, cured pork, duck), pisco sour = 102 soles
Boutique store offering yummy cakes, famous Peruvian coffee, and unique hand-made clothing and accessories.
Cappuccino, chai latte, chocolate cookie, carrot cake = 30 soles
Typical restaurant favoured by the locals serving deep fried guinea pig.
Guinea pig, beer = 102 soles
Day trips from Cusco
There are a ton of day trips from Cusco, and you don’t have to book any of them in advance. Almost every store in the city sells a tour, the most popular ones being to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.
Other day trips you can take from Cusco include Humantay Lake, Sacsayhuaman, and the Sacred Valley. Although the Sacred Valley has so much to offer that we would recommend spending more than 1 day to visit all the places.
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Hi, I’m Nadine
Part-time traveler with full-time wanderlust.
I explore the world one weekend and one vacation at a time and share my experiences, travel and photography tips, and food recs on this blog.
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