Posted 06/09/2024 | 6th September 2024
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It is estimated that a staggering one and a half million tourists visit Cusco every year. And, once you’ve spent a few days in this magical city, you’ll be surprised it’s not more!
Cusco can be extremely busy and a little chaotic at times, but for great reasons, it’s absolutely amazing.
There is so much to do here, including the famous Machu Picchu, the lesser-known ruin sites such as Tambomacahay and PuckaPukara, and its fantastic museums.
How to Get to Cusco, Peru
There are no direct flights into Cusco other than from the neighbouring countries. Therefore, you will likely be travelling from Lima (the capital of Peru), La Paz (the capital of Bolivia), or Puno (a Peruvian city on the shore of Lake Titicaca).
🇵🇪 If you’re travelling from Lima, the best option is to fly. The flight takes around one hour and twenty minutes and departs many times each day. You can also take the bus, but please be aware that this bus takes 24 hours!
🇧🇴 Again, if you’re travelling from La Paz, your best option is to fly (I did this in the opposite direction). This flight is affordable and takes just one hour. There is a bus across the border, which takes around 15 hours.
🇵🇪 The journey from Puno is a little easier, and I recommend taking the bus. It’s a large, comfortable, and very affordable double-decker bus that takes around ten hours. You can book the night bus online via Busbud, but there is also a day bus that can be booked in Puno town if you prefer (this is the option I chose).
Altitude in Cusco, Peru
Cusco sits at an altitude of 3400 metres, so the fast few days can be extremely challenging. People often experience a change in appetite, sickness, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
You can pick up altitude medication in all cities across the region. If you’re coming from Puno or La Paz, its likely that you will have already acclimatized to the altitude. However, if you’re travelling from Lima it can be a little tricky.
If your schedule allows, I strongly recommend adding a few slower days at the start of your trip to Cusco, allowing your body to adjust to this new environment.
Cusco Tourist Ticket
I really, really recommend you purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which enables you to access sixteen different attractions across Cusco. The ticket is valid for ten days.
The Cusco Tourist Ticket is the easiest and most cost-efficient way to enjoy all the amazing things to do in Cusco. You can simply purchase it from the first attraction you visit (in my case Saqsaywaman). The attendants will mark each landmark as you attend.
You don’t need to visit in any specific order or at any particular time.
Epic Things to Do in Cusco, Peru
Soak up the Atmosphere in the Plaza de Armas
Before heading to Cusco, I knew of all the fantastic attractions in the surrounding areas, but I had completely underestimated how special the city itself would be.
The Plaza de Armas is a beautiful place to relax, eat, drink, and shop. Cusco attracts an eclectic mix of people from around the globe, so the atmosphere is electric. Once you arrive in Cusco, I recommend taking an hour or two to explore the Plaza de Armas and enjoy its magical atmosphere.
Shop For Souvineers
If you go to Cusco and don’t buy a Poncho, did you actually go to Cusco?
I don’t think there is a better city in Latin America for souvenir shops than Cusco. Surprisingly, the prices are very reasonable, and the selections are plentiful. Of course, you should stay away from the main square for the best prices.
If you want to treat yourself to something a little more special, there are plenty of art galleries and jewellery shops dotted around the city.
Visit the 12 Angled Stone
The 12-Angled Stone is a famous piece of Inca stonework located in the heart of Cusco. It is part of a wall on Hatun Rumiyoc Street, which was once part of the palace of Inca Roca, a significant ruler in Inca history. The stone is renowned for its incredible craftsmanship and precision.
The stonework is so precise that even a piece of paper cannot fit between the stones. This is a hallmark of Inca architecture, which was designed to withstand earthquakes and other natural forces.
Saqsaywaman and Q’enqo
Saqsaywaman is a massive fortress complex situated on a hill overlooking the city of Cusco, about two kilometres from the city centre. It is one of the most impressive examples of Inca architecture, known for its enormous stone walls made of precisely cut and fitted boulders, some weighing over 100 tons.
Saqsaywaman served multiple purposes, including as a ceremonial centre, a military fortress, and a place of ritual significance. It was likely constructed during the reign of Inca Pachacuti and later expanded. The site played a crucial role in defending Cusco during the Spanish conquest.
The site is most famous for its zigzagging walls, which are believed to represent the teeth of a puma, an animal sacred to the Incas and symbolizing strength. Saqsaywaman was also the site of the Inti Raymi festival, a major Inca celebration of the winter solstice, which is still reenacted annually today.
Q’enqo is a smaller archaeological site located within walking distance from Saqsaywaman. The name “Q’enqo” means “labyrinth” or “zigzag” in Quechua, likely referring to the site’s intricate carvings and pathways.
Q’enqo was primarily a religious site, likely used for rituals, sacrifices, and mummification. The site features a large, naturally occurring rock formation that the Incas carved into altars, channels, and other ceremonial spaces.
One of the most notable features is an underground chamber with stone tables believed to have been used for embalming or ritual purposes.
If you prefer not to visit as part of a guided tour, I recommend taking an Uber Saqsaywaman and then simply walking to the Q’enqo site (this takes around 20 minutes). You can then order an Uber from Q’enqo whenever you have finished exploring.
Tambomacahay and Pucka Pukara
Tambomachay is an archaeological site about eight kilometres from Cusco. It is often referred to as “El Baño del Inca” or “The Inca’s Bath.” It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals, and tiered stone structures through which water still flows today.
Tambomachay is believed to have been a ceremonial site dedicated to water. The precise function of the site remains uncertain, but it may have served as a spa or retreat for Inca royalty or as a place for worshipping water, a vital resource in the Andean world.
Just across the road is Puka Pukara, meaning “Red Fortress” in Quechua. It is an archaeological site located near Tambomachay. It is characterized by its reddish hue, which comes from the type of stone used in its construction. The site comprises various terraces, staircases, plazas, and small buildings.
Puka Pukara is thought to have served as a military outpost, administrative centre, or lodge for travellers, including the Inca himself, on their way to or from Cusco. Its strategic location offered a commanding view of the surrounding valleys and routes, making it ideal for defence and surveillance.
The two sites are located close to each other, often suggesting a functional relationship. Puka Pukara may have served as a support or control centre for Tambomachay, ensuring the area’s safety and accommodating those participating in ceremonies or rituals.
Uber is plentiful in Cusco, and you can get a driver to take you to one site, walk to the other, and then grab another cab back. However, it can work out a little more cost-efficient to hire a driver for a couple of hours (as I did). They will wait for you to explore the two sites and then drop you back in Cusco when you’re ready!
Visit Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is a significant archaeological site and town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located about 72 kilometres northwest of Cusco. A colectivo taxi runs from the city centre (Google Maps location here), and you can share a taxi for just S/15 per person. This journey takes around one hour.
Ollantaytambo is one of the best-preserved examples of Inca town planning and is also renowned for its impressive terraced ruins.
Ollantaytambo was a significant site during the Spanish conquest of Peru. In 1536, the Inca leader Manco Inca Yupanqui used Ollantaytambo as a stronghold in one of the few successful battles against the Spanish conquistadors. The site’s strategic location, with its high terraces and narrow passes, made it defensible against attacks.
The modern town of Ollantaytambo, situated at the base of the archaeological site, is built on the original Inca foundations and street grid. The town has retained much of its Inca layout, with narrow cobblestone streets, traditional stone buildings, and functioning irrigation canals. This continuity makes Ollantaytambo one of the few remaining “living” Inca towns.
If your schedule allows, I recommend staying in Ollantaytambo the night before you visit Machu Picchu. It is much closer to the town. The town has a train station where visitors can board trains that travel through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
Moray and the Maras Salt Flats
Visiting Moray and the Maras Salt Flats is a very popular half-day trip from Cusco, and I highly recommend it.
Moray is an archaeological site located about 50 kilometres northwest of Cusco. It consists of several large, terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is approximately 30 meters (98 feet) deep.
The exact purpose of Moray is still debated, but many researchers believe it was an agricultural research station. The concentric terraces have different microclimates at various levels, which the Incas may have used to experiment with crop varieties and optimize agricultural production.
The temperature difference between the top and bottom terraces can be as much as 15°C (27°F).
Moray demonstrates the Inca’s sophisticated understanding of agriculture, ecology, and climate. It is a testament to their ability to adapt to and manipulate their environment for agricultural success.
The tour was great. We received plenty of information (in both English and Spanish) and then were allowed to explore the area on our own and take some photographs. In total, we spent around an hour at Moray before heading onto the Maras Salt Flats.
The Maras Salt Flats are a series of thousands of small, shallow pools or pans situated on a hillside in the Sacred Valley. These pools are filled with saltwater from a subterranean stream that emerges from the nearby mountain.
The salt flats have been in use since pre-Inca times. The process involves allowing saltwater to evaporate in the sun, leaving salt crystals that local families harvest. The site is still actively used for salt production, much as it was centuries ago.
Again, we had a tour for around twenty minutes before being given a further fifteen minutes of free time to explore and take photos.
This is the Moray and Maras tour I took, which was fantastic!
Museo Historico Regional
The Museo Histórico Regional in Cusco, also known as the Regional Historical Museum, showcases Cusco’s rich history and culture and the surrounding region.
Housed in the colonial-era Casa del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the museum comprehensively examines Peruvian history from the pre-Columbian, Inca, colonial, and republican periods.
I must admit, I didn’t find this museum the easiest to follow. The exhibitions seemed to jump between pretty dramatically different subject matters, which made it difficult to keep track. Nevertheless, some interesting information is here, along with some fascinating artefacts. It’s also included on the Cusco Tourist Ticket, so it’s worth popping in and having a look.
Visit Machu Picchu
Of course, no guide to the best things to do in Cusco would be complete without a mention of Machu Picchu. And yes, it is as breathtaking as everyone says!
Booking Machu Picchu goes against everything last-minute backpackers love. You need to be ahead of the game for this one, as tickets are booked out weeks in advance. It’s also not conducive to a budget travel itinerary, but seriously, splash the cash for this one—it’s worth it!
The train was part of the adventure, and we upgraded to the Vistadome tickets on the way there, which was fantastic. On the journey home, I recommend buying the basic tickets, as it’s dark so you can’t see anything anyway!
The booking process for Machu Picchu changed in early 2024, and to be honest, obtaining the tickets was a nightmare. The website kept crashing and then rejecting our cards. However, we finally had some luck by changing our payment method to Paypal.
You can book five different ticket types, and we did routes one and three. Be careful to read the routes fully before you book! Not every ticket offers the iconic postcard picture everyone wants to gain at Machu Picchu.
We didn’t have a guide when exploring the ruins, and if I were going to visit again, I would recommend getting one. The ruins were spectacular, but with all the information a guide could provide, I would imagine this would be taken to the next level!
Of course, if you’re into hiking and feel adventurous, you should book onto either the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek—both of which I’ve heard nothing but good things about!
Hiking Adventures around Cusco
Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling the best when I arrived in Cusco, so I didn’t manage to take advantage of the many hiking trails and adventures available in and around this magical city.
But on my return to Cusco (which I am already planning!) I will certainly be eager to try some of the amazing hiking spots.
Some of the most popular include:
🥾Humantay lake
⛰Inca Trail
🥾Rainbow Mountain
⛰Salkantay Trek
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