Cusco

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is now a UNESCO World Heritage city: at 3,399 m (about 11,150 ft), colonial churches stand on top of perfectly fitted Inca stone walls. It is the base for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, but it deserves a few days of its own.

Top things to do in Cusco

• Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral: the heart of the city, on the old Inca square of Huacaypata. The Cathedral holds a large collection of Cusco School paintings.
• Qoricancha: the Inca Temple of the Sun, the most important in the empire. The Santo Domingo convent was built on its walls, and that blend sums up Cusco’s history.
• Hatun Rumiyoc Street: a polished Inca wall famous for the Twelve-Angled Stone, a few minutes from the main square.
• San Blas: the artisans’ quarter, with steep lanes, workshops, cafés and views over the rooftops.
• San Pedro Market: fresh fruit juices, Andean potatoes and corn, and local food.
• Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay: four Inca sites on the hills above town; the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán are the highlight. Read our Sacsayhuamán and Qenqo guide or see them without the climb on the private city tour.
• Day trips: the South Valley (Tipón, Pikillaqta and Andahuaylillas), Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, the last two best once you have acclimatized.

How to get to Cusco

Most visitors fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete airport (CUZ), 15–25 minutes from the center. By land, Cusco connects with Puno and Arequipa. Bus, train and flight times are approximate, so confirm them with each operator.

With Viajes D’MARC, the airport to hotel transfer costs from US$10 (S/ 35) per vehicle, not per person, and your driver waits for you at the exit. Coming by train from Puno? We pick you up at Wanchaq station.

How many days in Cusco? A suggested plan

Allow at least 4 or 5 days for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu without rushing:

1. Day 1: arrive, rest and stroll around the main square and San Blas.
2. Day 2: Qoricancha and San Pedro in the morning; city tour in the afternoon.
3. Day 3: Sacred Valley and a night in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes.
4. Day 4: Machu Picchu and back to Cusco.
5. Day 5: Maras and Moray, the South Valley or Rainbow Mountain.

The Cusco and Machu Picchu Essentials package bundles transfers, train, hotel and Machu Picchu entry into 4 days.

Getting around Cusco

The center is walkable, although the hills and the altitude wear you out. For short rides there are taxis and ride apps (see our Uber in Cusco guide); for the airport or an early start, book a 24-hour taxi or a safe taxi at a fixed price. Trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo or, depending on the season, from Poroy: we drive you to Poroy station or Ollantaytambo station (see our train stations guide).

Altitude, weather and the best time to visit Cusco

At 3,399 m almost everyone feels the altitude on arrival: walk slowly, drink water, eat light and save tours above 4,000 m until you have spent two or three nights in the region. Sleeping in the lower Sacred Valley first helps a lot; more in our altitude sickness guide.

The best time to visit is April to October, the dry season, with sunny days and nights close to 0 °C (32 °F) in June and July. June is festival month, with Inti Raymi on 24 June and often Corpus Christi. From November to March it rains mostly in the afternoons and crowds thin out (see the best time to visit, month by month).

Practical tips

• Tickets: the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) covers Sacsayhuamán, the South Valley and several Sacred Valley sites; Qoricancha and the Cathedral are paid separately. Check prices and validity before you go, and book the train and Machu Picchu entry well ahead (see our Machu Picchu guide).
• Money: carry Peruvian soles in cash for tickets and markets.
• Safety: watch your belongings in markets and festivals and avoid unmarked taxis at night (Cusco safety guide).
• What to pack: layers, a warm jacket, sunscreen, a hat and shoes with good grip.

Combine Cusco with other destinations

The Sacred Valley is an hour away, and from there the train runs to Machu Picchu. Heading south, continue by road to Puno and Lake Titicaca, or to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. To do it all in a private vehicle, see the Arequipa to Cusco road trip or the Southern Peru grand road trip.

Frequently asked questions