Cusco Itinerary: The Best Things To Do for the Ultimate Vacation

If you are planning to visit the incredible wonder of Machu Picchu or hike the famous rainbow mountain, you will most likely be stopping in Cusco. if you are! Cusco is an incredible city in Peru that has sooo much to see!

Although the heart of Cusco has a lot to do, the area surrounding the city is filled with incredible adventures you will not want to miss,

When I first visited Cusco, I was expecting a charming small town. Oh, boy was I wrong!! Cusco is considered to be the capital of the Inca empire. Although the center is small enough to walk around, this city is actually the 7th largest in Peru.

From the excellent food, architecture, cobble streets, beautiful ancient ruins, and so much history! You are guaranteed a great time. I know planning a trip to an unknown area can be overwhelming.

To make planning easier for you, I have broken down the best Cusco itinerary with all the information you will need for your visit. From where to stay, what to eat, the best places to visit, etc.

Best things to do in Cusco:

There is so much to do in Cusco and something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are looking for an adventure, hiking trip, sightseeing, or browsing traditional markets, you will enjoy your time here.

There are a lot of tours that I recommend you take. These tours will give you a great overview of the main points of Cusco. They include transportation and a great tour guide! You can also go on your own, just make sure to map out the locations and secure a ride to bring you back.

If you are only going for a few days and are looking for ideas on what to do, here are my top recommendations:

City Highlights Tour:

If you are going to be in Cusco for a short time, doing a city overview tour is a great Idea. These tours include transportation and will go through each historic site. You can do the tour in a matter of 6 hours or split it within 2 days.

These tours are more expensive, but not having to worry about transportation makes it worth it. You can also tour each site on your own, there are a lot of other transportation options in the city of Cusco. When doing the city highlights tours, you will most likely visit:

Qorikancha Temple:

Located in the historic center, right at the center of the city. This temple, also known as the Temple of the Sun was a sacred and important place in the Inca empire.

You will be able to learn about the history, art, and architecture of this temple. Getting here is quite easy, as it is located in the center. I was able to walk from my hotel and it took me about 7 minutes!

There is a small admission fee of 15 Peruvian soles, which is about USD$5.

Fortress of Sacsayhuaman:

Located on the outskirts of Cusco, this fortress was known to be a military base for the Incas. Getting to this location is quite easy I recommend taking a taxi from the center.

Getting a taxi in Cusco is easy, there are always plenty around. But make sure to ask the price before getting on. it will take you about 10 minutes. You can also walk, but with the altitude, you will be exhausted walking for 45 minutes.

The ticket is not the cheapest, compared to other tourist attractions in the area. The admission price is around 130 Peruvian Soles, which is USD $35.

Quenqo

This massive temple is known as the labyrinth. The temple has huge rocks surrounding it with man-made tunnels carved around it. This experience is unique, as you will be able to walk through the narrow tunnels and when you look at it from the distance, it does look like a labyrinth.

This stop is quite famous among city tours, that would be the easiest way to visit. But you can also get a taxi from the center and it will take you about 15 minutes. If you are walking, it will take you almost 1 hour to get there.

The admission fee is about $80 Peruvian soles, which is about USD $20.

Baths of Tambomachay

This archeological site was a worship center for water. The site has a few aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls. Although you can visit the site and walk around, you are not allowed to touch the water that is coming out.

This stop was a bit tiring for me, you will need to walk up to get to the top of this location. Just like many other parts of Cusco, you will see people with llamas here and a small artisan shop. Even if offered, you will have to pay to take a picture with the baby llamas.

The admission fee is about $130 Peruvian soles, which is about USD $35.

Plaza de Armas

One of the most famous tourist attractions. The Plaza de Armas is Located in the historic center of Cusco. If you are planning a Cusco Itinerary, you will want to add this to the first things to see. Getting to this location is simple as it is located in the center of the city, you will be able to walk here quite easily.

The plaza itself is really nice, one of my favorite things was walking around and seeing Magnificent architecture, including two of the most important cathedrals in Cusco. Depending on the time of year, the plaza holds different events with music, dancing, and an artisan market.

In this area, you will also see a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars. This is where you will find most of the nightlife in Cusco. There are a lot of restaurants or bars that are open until late, so you will see plenty of people walking around at all times.

Cusco Cathedrals

When visiting the famous Plaza de Armas you will see a lot of architecture, and among all the beautiful historic architecture, there are two iconic buildings. If you are visiting Cusco, you will not want to miss the Cusco Cathedral or the church in the plaza.

The cathedral is covered in beautiful stone and it has a renaissance and gothic style. You can stop by any day and if you want to go inside, the admission fee is about $40 Peruvian soles, which is about USD $10.

San Pedro market

This is one of the most popular stops in Cusco, I recommend you add this to your Cusco Itinerary! Only about a 10-minute walk from the Plaza, this market has soo much to see. The market has hundreds of little stalls with very persistent owners.

You can buy anything from cheese, vegetables, raw meats, fish, and flowers or you can stop by the artisan shops to get some great souvenirs for back home. If you are trying to buy one of the famous “Ponchos” with inca designs, this will be a great place to purchase them.

The food is also really good and inexpensive in the market. You can get some of the traditional meals or have some snacks.

If you are planning to visit and purchase a few things, I recommend you bring cash, it will be harder to pay with a card. The locals are pretty persistent and will try to get your attention to sell you a few things. Don’t be afraid to say no!

Although Cusco is safe, you always want to be careful when stopping in such a crowded place. There are always pickpocketers in crowded places like these!

Choco Museo

If you are looking to have a nice break from some of the historic stops, I recommend you stop by the Choco Museo. This looks like a small chocolate boutique, but it offers a great experience.

If you are a chocolate lover you will love this stop! The tour will show you some history of Peruvian chocolate on how it is made and you can even make your own chocolate at the end! It is a really cool experience.

They will also provide some great testers and you can try the chocolates they show, liquors, jams, etc. Towards the end you can buy some chocolate, this will be a great souvenir if you want to bring something back home.

Day Trips:

Cusco is an amazing city, there is soo much to see and it has a lot to offer. But, this is usually a main stop for a lot of visitors whose main destination is outside of Cusco.

There are soo many amazing experiences that you can take from Cusco! These trips will take you a full day, but here are some of the top recommendations:

Machu Picchu

This has to be the most famous day tour. Who does not want to visit this incredible world wonder?

Getting to Machu Picchu is quite a journey in itself! You will need to buy the tickets ahead of time, otherwise, you might not be able to visit. If you have purchased the tickets you are able to take a train near Cusco to Machu Picchu.

The train will take you 4 hours to get there! Yes, it is quite long but it is worth it. I recommend you take the earlier train so you can enjoy being in Machu Picchu for a longer time! I was there for about 2 hours and it felt a bit short.

There are other alternatives, you can stay in the town near Machu Picchu called Aguas Calientes. But, Cusco is a great place to visit that does have a lot to see.

If you are looking for a whole itinerary and details on visiting Machu Picchu, make sure to see my blog post with a detailed list of what I did.

Rainbow Mountain

If you are doing a Cusco Itinerary, this has to be the second-day trip you plan! Machu Picchu is the first one.

The rainbow mountains are a really unique experience. This tour only opened about 7 years ago, as it was not visible before. So make sure you take advantage of visiting!

Getting to this experience is also another journey! It is not possible to visit this on your own without a guide. You will want to have someone that knows their way around the mountain and possibly even use a vehicle. The hike to this mountain is about 12 hours, so this will be a full day and you will need to be prepared.

When hiking Machu Picchu or rainbow mountain, you will want to pack a few things and you will want to go during specific times of the year. For more information, make sure to check out my posts to make your Cusco Itinerary better.

Ollantaytambo

This stop is a small ancient village that may visit on their way to Machu Picchu. You do not really need to have a tour guide for this stop, it will be easier to get transportation.

I recommend you purchase tickets ahead of time, the admission fee is about $113 Peruvian soles, which is about USD $30.

If you want to see more about day trips to see in Cusco! Make sure to read my post on amazing day trips from Cusco.

Cusco Itinerary | FAQS

Altitude in Cusco:

If you are planning to visit Cusco, you have probably heard a lot about altitude sickness. This is very common and yes, it does happen a lot. The elevation in Cusco is very very high and a lot of us are not used to that altitude.

It is common to feel sick during your first few days. Symptoms might vary, but you do get tired easily and might feel heaviness in your chest. Nausea is also common and some people also experience a fever and headaches. Don’t worry, there are techniques to help with this and you might not even get altitude sickness.

During my visit I felt a little bit of altitude sickness, I mostly had a headache, my chest would feel heavy sometimes and I would mostly get really tired when walking any distance.

Here are some tips to help combat altitude sickness:

Use alternative transportation: When planning a Cusco Itinerary, travelers typically arrive in Lima and take a flight directly to Cusco. This is the quickest way, but it does not give your body time to adjust to the elevation. You can go via bus, and the time will give your body time to adapt

Take time to rest: I know this can be particularly difficult if you planned a heavy itinerary. But part of the altitude sickness is not getting enough oxygen! If you reduce any heavy activity and give your body at least a day to adapt, you will feel better and symptoms will not be as heavy. Simple things like walking will make you feel really tired and out of breath.

Avoid heavy meals or alcohol the first day: This trick was recommended by a few locals. Whenever you visit a new place, it is easy to want to try all the amazing cuisine. The locals told us that altitude can slower our digestion, so it is recommended you stick to a simple meal on your first day.

Drink plenty of fluids: With the high altitude, our bodies get dehydrated a lot quicker. With so much walking in places like Cusco or Machu Picchu, you will need to make sure you are constantly drinking water. Always carry a bottle with you!

Drink Coca: When you arrive in Cusco, everyone will offer you to try Coca Tea. This will help with the altitude. If you are staying at a hotel, you will most likely find a station right in the lobby. Make sure you take advantage and have some as soon as you arrive. Coca was considered sacred for the Incas and was used a lot for medicine.

Take medicine: if you feel really bad, there is medication to help with altitude sickness. You can consult your doctor before the trip to see if there is something you can take.

If you are planning a Cusco Itinerary, altitude sickness is quite common. But do not let this stop you from visiting the incredible city. You just have to be mindful of the symptoms when you are there and try some of my recommendations.

How many days should you spend in Cusco?

If you are planning to do a Cusco Itinerary as a stop before your trip to Machu Picchu or the rainbow mountains, I would plan to stay here for at least 3 days.

There is a lot to see in Cusco and you will want to explore the city and some of the highlights that I mentioned above. If you plan to be there for 3 days or more, it will also give you time to relax and adapt to the altitude change.

For some of the day trips like Machu Picchu or rainbow mountain, you will need to count a whole additional day for that.

During my time in Cusco, I stayed a total of 3 days and this included my trip to visit the world wonder of Machu Picchu. I made sure to arrive there early in the morning and leave really late, this gave me enough time to browse the city.

How to get to Cusco from Lima:

There are different ways to get to Cusco. The most common usually involves stopping in Lima. I recommend you stay in Lima for a few days, there are sooo many things to do there. If you are planning to stay in the capital, make sure to check out my post on things to do in Lima.

There are different ways you can get to Cusco, I recommend using one of the following:

Flight from Lima to Cusco: This is the easiest and fastest way to get there. Cusco has a small airport, but there are flights every hour flying in from Lima. The total flight time is about 1.30! You can depart from Jorge Chavez International Airport and arrive in Cusco at Alejandro Velasco International Airport.

There are a lot of airlines that have cheap flights from Lima to Cusco. You can choose between Latam, Avianca, Viva Air, etc. The flights are always better in the morning, there are more options and you will get to enjoy more of Cusco.

If you are flying, the prices can vary from USD $40 – $120, depending on if you are traveling during peak season.

When traveling by plane the altitude might affect you more, but it will save you a lot of time.

Lima to Cusco by bus: This is the longest route! The total time will take you about 23 hours. If you are doing a short Cusco itinerary, I would not recommend this option. If you do have a lot of time, this will have a lot of scenic routes and you can even make some sightseeing stops along the way.

There are a lot of buses that leave daily to Cusco, you can choose different routes depending on what you want to see along the way. Prices will vary, but you will pay around USD $50 each way.

The route will give your body time to adjust to the altitude more than via airplane. This is a great option if you are worried about getting sick.

Where to stay | Cusco, Peru Hotels:

There are a lot of hotels in Cusco for you to choose from. But you want to be careful about the location you are choosing. Cusco is a safe city, If you are planning a Cusco Itinerary, you will want to stay at a hotel near the Plaza de Armas.

This is the center of the city and where the majority of the museums and restaurants are. If you are staying near the plaza, everything nearby is always a short walk from the main sites.

If you are looking for a hotel, I would recommend using the plaza as your guide. But, there are also other neighboring areas that have great hotels. Here are some of my recommendations:

El Balcon:

El Balcon is one of the most recommended hotels. Not only does it have awesome reviews, but it has a great cost. The hotel is about a 7-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas and other nearby historic sites. The hotel interior is really nice, it has a beautiful courtyard garden and a nice overview of the city.

There is breakfast served or you can eat at some of the local cafe spots near the plaza.

Each night can vary but it is an average of USD $65.

Antigua Casona:

If you are looking for a more excellent place to stay, this is a nice boutique 4-star hotel located in the San Blas area. The rooms are really spacious and decorated in typical inca designs. This hotel has a restaurant, yoga classes, and even a spa.

The service is absolutely incredible and the food is really excellent. This hotel is a bit more expensive than the previous one, but the price is worth the stay.
Each night can vary but it is an average of USD $200.

Anden Inca Hotel:

This is a fun hotel to stay in. The hotel itself is a bit of a maze, but it was really beautiful and the staff was absolutely amazing.

The rooms were a decent size and the beds were pretty comfortable. Breakfast is included and they will even give you a to-go box if you cannot make it in time. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas.

This is a good location, and there is a small supermarket nearby if you want to buy some snacks or food for the road.

Each night can vary but it is an average of USD $80.

Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel:

Staying here is a great experience. The hotel is a 3-star hotel, but it is really nice, comfortable, and cozy! The staff is wonderful and you are only about 6 minutes away from the main plaza.

Not only does it have a great location but it also has a great price. The area nearby has a lot of restaurants and bars nearby.

Each night can vary but it is an average of USD $82.

Palacio del Inka:

If you want to experience a more luxurious hotel, this is my recommendation. This hotel is about 7 minutes from the Plaza de Armas. The hotel has a spa, gym, breakfast and even transportation to the airport included.

What is amazing about this hotel it is an old mansion and it is a few centuries old. You will feel you are staying in a historic area.
Each night can vary but it is an average of USD $200.

Cusco, Peru | Restaurants

What to eat:

One of my favorite things about Peru is the amazing cuisine. There are so many incredible flavors that Peruvian food has that you will not really find anywhere else.

If you are going to visit Peru, make sure you take time to go try authentic Peruvian meals. If you visiting and going on a Cusco itinerary, here are some meals I recommend you try:

Tequenos:

If you love anything fried and cheese, you will love Tequenos. You will easily find these in any restaurant as an appetizer. I recommend you order this at least once!

The tequenos is a crispy fried dough with vegetables, meat, or cheese inside. My favorite is the cheese ones! They are also served with a type of avocado salad that is amazing.

Lomo Saltado:

I am a meat lover! If you are one too, you will absolutely love this. This dish is a stir fry with meat, onions tomatoes and is usually served with fries and rice.

The dish sounds pretty simple, but the amount of flavor makes this my all-time favorite Peruvian dish.

Ceviche:

This is a typical Peruvian dish that you will also find this dish in a lot of restaurants. The dish is a citrus fish that is made from raw fish that is “cooked” or cured with lime.

Alpaca:

If you are in Cusco, they have a lot of different meats that they eat. Alpaca is very common in Cusco and the meat is known to be very tender and soft.

If you feel like trying a new dish, try the typical Alpaca. This dish might not be for everyone, but it is a Cusco delicacy.

Cusco Itinerary | Restaurants:

Andean Grill:

On my first day in Cusco, I did not know where to eat. I was so hungry I walked into the first restaurant I saw and it was the best meal I had during my whole trip. The restaurant is about 3 minutes away from Plaza de Armas, it is really accessible and the staff is really nice.

They offer the traditional Pisco Sour to anyone in the restaurant for free. I ordered a tequeno as a starter and the best chicken salad in an avocado. If you don’t know where to eat, this restaurant has soo many good meals. You will get traditional Peruvian cuisine and some great dishes as well.

Organika:

If you want to try the famous Alpaca dish, this is a great place I recommend you try it. It is only a short 4-minute walk from the plaza and the food is incredible.

I did have to wait to be seated, but the wait was worth it. They offer freshly squeezed juice if you want some and even have some great vegan options on the menu.

Cappuccino Cusco:

If you are looking for an afternoon break and want to have some amazing Peruvian coffee or maybe a quick snack or dessert. You will love stopping in this cute cafe! It has a few balconies overlooking the main plaza.

This location also has great wifi! If you need to connect and do some online work.

Rucula:

Getting to this location was a bit difficult. I had to pass the church and walk uphill, but it was worth it.

The lomo saltado was really good, but my favorite part was the dessert! I ordered the best chocolate dessert and it was absolutely incredible.

The service was really friendly and they even recommended some other restaurants for us to visit during our trip.

Nightlife in Cusco:

Peru has so many cities with great nightlife and Cusco is known to be one of the best places to have a great time. If you are staying in the recommended Plaza de Armas, you will find so many great bars and clubs.

If you want to go dancing, there are some salsa clubs or you can find different styles. There are so many visitors from everywhere, you will see a variety of different sceneries and ambiance.

If you are in a bar, I recommend you try the famous Pisco or Pisco Sour. This is the typical alcoholic drink in Peru.

Here are some recommendations for nightlife:

La Chupiteria: if you are looking for a great happy hour, this is a fun place where you can unwind and have a good time with friends.
Ukukus Music Club: Right near the main plaza, this is a great place to listen to some live music and there is plenty of dancing.

Best time to visit Cusco:

If you are visiting Cusco, their rainy seasons can prevent you from having a great time. If you are going to Machu Picchu, you will want to go during the off-season and when it is not that cold.

The weather in Cusco is best when traveling in October and November. During this time, the weather is perfect! It will be a bit chilly, but it will not be freezing or really hot. With so much walking and hiking, this season will be a good time to visit.

If you are going in October and November, this will be during the off-season. You will avoid large crowds of people and the prices will be lower.

Another great time is during May! Although this is when peak season starts and you will see a lot more people and crowds, the temperature is still really good. It will be hot during the day, but still, be manageable.

If you are visiting Peru, keep in mind the seasons are very different. Summertime is at the end of the year and the coldest months are around June and July. If you are planning to go during the cold months, it might be a bit windy and the cold temperatures might make it harder for sightseeing.

How to get around in Cusco:

Cusco is an easy city to get around in. All the main locations are nearby and it is easy to walk around. I always recommend using Google Maps when traveling! I always rely on maps and they are easy to follow.

When you are visiting Cusco, you can use the following:

Walking: This was mostly what I did, the most I walked was about 15 minutes. Everything is close to the main plaza, if you are staying in a hotel nearby it will be easy to get around the area. But with the altitude, you might get tired easily.

One of the altitude sickness symptoms and feeling out of breath and exhausted. You might find walking to be harder if you are experiencing any symptoms. If you are visiting some of the historic sites, it will take about 40 minutes to walk. I recommend you use other methods of transportation when trying to reach them.

Taxi: You will see a lot of yellow cabs around the city. They mostly gather in the plaza, so it will be easier to get one from there or you can have the hotel call one for you. This is the most inexpensive way to go around the city, other than walking.

If you are planning a day trip or going somewhere far, you can request a taxi service ahead of your trip. Make sure you call the service in the hotel and you will not have to worry about a pick-up.

Uber: Uber is used quite a lot in Peru. I was able to call an Uber easily when I was in Lima and you can also request one in Cusco. Although using a taxi is most common there, you also have the option to request a ride on the uber app.

Bus: There is a lot of public transportation in Cusco. If you are trying to get back to where you are staying, a bus is always a good and inexpensive alternative. Make sure you understand the routes, you will not want to get lost!

Car Rental: There are different car rental companies in the airport and they are inexpensive. This is a good alternative if you are planning a lot of trips that are far from Cusco, but make sure you know where to put gas. I did not see a lot of Gas stations and the ones I did see, seemed very out of the way. You will also want to keep in mind the driving! The roads in Cusco are different and it might be confusing to drive in a foreign country.

How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu:

If you are planning to go to Machu Picchu, you will most likely plan a stop in Cusco. I recommend you visit this city!

The easiest way to get to Machu Picchu is to take a train. There are two train companies Inca Rail and Peru Rail.

Peru Rail does have more departure times, but they are overall great high-quality methods of traveling.

The train will depart early in the morning and you will need to get from your hotel to the train station in Cusco. The station is called Poroy or you can also leave out of Ollantaytambo, and it is about 30 minutes away from the center of the city. Once you have reached to the station, you will be asked to wait for boarding.

When traveling via train, you will need to present your passports with you, so make sure to bring some documentation. Once you have boarded, the train will take approximately 3.30 hours to get to Aguas Calientes.

Aguas Calientes is a charming town right outside Machu Picchu. There are a lot of things to see there, including some restaurants and artisan shops. Once you are here, you will need to take the shuttle to Machu Picchu. It will take about 25 minutes for the bus to climb to the top and you can finally enjoy the view.

For more details and information on visiting Machu Picchu, you can read more about this in my Machu Picchu Post.

How to get from Machu Picchu to Cusco:

If you took the train to Aguas Calientes, you most likely have a return ticket. You will need to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to the town and reach the train station.

If your return is set to Ollantaytambo, it is a bit harder to get back to the center of Cusco. Once you have arrived at the station, you will need to get on a bus or a shuttle back to Cusco. This ride will be about 1 hour long.

If you have used a tour guide, they will most likely be taking care of all transportation! You will not have to worry about anything. But if you are going solo, I recommend you book the shuttle service ahead of time.

What to bring/wear in Cusco:

Clothing:

Depending on the time of season you visit. During the October – November time, I do recommend you pack some cold weather essentials. You will be walking a lot, so I recommend taking layers you can easily remove. You will not need a jacket but bring a sweater.

If traveling during the summertime, you will need to pack light clothes. You can bring shorts or dresses that are comfy.

There is sooo much walking, so bring comfy shoes!

Hat: when going to Machu Picchu, the sun can be really intense. Make sure to bring a sun to protect you or buy one in the market areas.

Cash: You will also want to bring cash, specifically Peruvian soles. You can exchange cash at the airport and you can use a card. There are a lot of different shops and even taxis that do not take credit cards.

If you are planning a 3-day Cusco itinerary, I recommend you get at least 250 Peruvian soles per person.

Bug Spray: There were a lot of mosquitos around, especially in Machu Picchu. Make sure you bring extra protection and avoid getting bit!

SPF: Even in the off-summer seasons, the sun is really strong! Especially when you are at such a high elevation. Make sure to bring some extra protection to avoid any sun damage.

Map of Cusco: Most hotels have small maps of the most visited places in Cusco. I recommend you use one in case your phone is not working and you might need to know your way around.

Snacks/Water: With the altitude change, you can get dehydrated easily. Make sure to have a bottle with you on the sightseeing tours.

Cusco Itinerary | Is Cusco worth visiting?

Absolutely! If you are planning to visit Peru and are trying to see what could be a great itinerary. Cusco will be a city you do not want to miss.

There is so much to see in Cusco. Not only does it have a great history with amazing inca temples, cathedrals, and trails. It is also home to some of the most amazing food, nightlife, and adventures.

If you are planning to visit some of the famous day trips, like Machu Picchu or rainbow mountain, you will most likely want to stop in this area. Cusco is a main stopping point that has different trains that will get you to each of your destinations!

Although Cusco might not seem as big, it is actually the 7th largest city in Peru, so there is a lot to do here. There are a lot of restaurants and hotels I recommend you visit. In this post, I talk about all the great places I would recommend.

If you are planning a Cusco itinerary, you will want to include some of the famous stops and you cannot miss the amazing chocolate museum or the san pedro market!

If you are coming from Lima, the best way to get to Cusco from Lima is via airplane. In just a short 1.30 flight you are able to reach your destination. Be careful with the Altitude sickness, Cusco has a high elevation and many visitors tend to get sick.

Do not worry, this is common and affects everyone differently, but make sure you drink Coca tea and take things slow on your first few days.

I recommend you visit for a 3-day Cusco itinerary to be able to fully enjoy everything it has to offer. You will have a great time!