A Guide to Cusco, Peru
Cusco, Peru—a charming, cobblestoned city—has become a popular travel destination in recent years, and for good reason! I recently spent four days in Cusco as part of a nine-day Peru trip with my friends. In this guide I’ll break down all the details of our time in Cusco, including where we stayed, what we did, and whether we felt safe as female tourists in the city.
Table of Contents
- Where to Stay in Cusco
- What to Do in Cusco
- Where to Eat in Cusco
- Is Cusco Safe?
- Know Before You Go: Travel Tips
- More Travel Guides
Where to Stay in Cusco
Cusco has lots of excellent and affordable accommodation options. We stayed at the Amaru Colonial Hotel in the heart of the city and absolutely loved it. The hotel had breakfast included, a gorgeous property, and an airport taxi service you could book through the front desk. The Amaru Colonial is centrally located, making restaurants, attractions, and the historical centre of the city easy to access on foot.
The included breakfast at the hotel was fabulous! Every morning there was an assortment of breads, fresh fruit, yogurt, teas, and coffee, and made-to-order eggs available between 5:30am and 9:30am. We enjoyed our breakfasts seated by the window overlooking the hotel’s courtyard and the city and hills beyond. It was the most fantastic way to start the day.
What to Do in Cusco
Cusco is rich with history, excellent restaurants, historical sites, and landscapes. Furthermore, it is the closest major city to one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. This is not a cumulative list of everything to do in Cusco—there’s just so much to see—but this is a great jumping-off point. We were able to see all of this during our three days in the historic city.
Hike up to Sacsayhuamán
One of Cusco’s most popular destinations for visitors is Sacsayhuamán (pronounced “sexy human”). A 30- to 40-minute uphill walk from the city centre, the great Inca fortress is situated on top of a hill overlooking Cusco, giving visitors stunning views of the city. Sacsayhuamán itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is quite magnificent. The fortress walls are made of huge, mystical-looking stones.
To enter Sacsayhuamán, you will need a Cusco Tourist Ticket. A partial ticket, which will just give you access to the Sacsayhuamán site, costs 70 soles ($27.93 CAD). A full ticket costs 130 soles ($51.87 CAD) and will give you access to 16 sites across Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The full ticket is valid for 10 days. If you plan to visit multiple sites, the full Tourist Ticket is definitely worth it. Cusco Tourist Tickets can be purchased at the main tourism office in the city (Avenida del Sol 103, Galería Turística) or at the entrance to any major site. We purchased our tickets at the entrance to Sacsayhuamán.
In the centre of Sacsayhuamán, there is a large open field called Chukipanpa. On this field you can find grazing and lounging alpacas and llamas. Spending time around the alpacas was one of my favourite parts of this trip!
Check Out the City Views from Cristo Blanco
Cristo Blanco (White Christ) is an eight-meter white statue of Jesus Christ located on Pukamoqo Hill, which offers stunning panoramic views of the city. If you’re planning to visit Sacsayhuamán already, Cristo Blanco is just a short hike from Sacsayhuamán’s entrance and is worth the detour on your way back down to the city.
Explore Cusco’s Historic Centre
Cusco’s historical centre boasts gorgeous plazas, markets, temples, and shops and is a must when visiting Cusco. Because of Peru’s mixed history and heritage, the architecture in the historic centre is a fusion of Inca and Spanish colonial design. The Plaza de Armas is the centre of the historic district and features both styles of architecture prominently.
When we were exploring Plaza de Armas, the Carnival in Cusco was happening, and we got to watch a parade of vibrant dance troupes move through the plaza. The Carnival in Cusco happens annually in February or March. The Carnival blends Andean and European influences in a multi-week festival to celebrate tradition and Pachamama (Mother Earth). The plaza was packed with locals and tourists alike, gathered to watch the festivities. Vendors all over the streets sell aerosol cans of foam, which Carnival-goers spray all over each other as part of the fun and celebration. We were not spared from the foam and got absolutely doused on our way out of the plaza after watching the dancing.
Visit Qorikancha Temple
Qorikancha is one of the most important religious temples of the Inca Empire. Most of the original Inca structure was destroyed during the Spanish conquest, but some parts of the original temple still remain, which is really cool. The structure that has been erected around the original temple is gorgeous. It costs 20 soles ($8 CAD) to enter the Qorikancha, and you can purchase your ticket at the door. Qorikancha is not included on the Cusco Tourist Ticket, but the small Qorikancha museum is.
Browse the Shops in the San Blas District
The San Blas District was very close to our hotel and has amazing shops and cafes. Along the cobbled streets you’ll find a variety of artisan shops, including clothing, art, and jewellery. If you’re planning to bring some souvenirs back home with you, this is a great place to shop for quality, locally made, unique items. I was limited by the size of my bag; otherwise, I would have bought many more things than I did.
A few shops we loved in the San Blas District were the following:
Stroll Through Mercado Central de San Pedro
Cusco’s Mercado Central de San Pedro is a large covered market selling a variety of culinary ingredients, textiles, and souvenirs. The market is close to Cusco’s Historic Centre and is a great spot to browse and purchase a snack or souvenir to bring home.
Take a Day Trip to Machu Picchu
Cusco is the closest major city to Machu Picchu, but it is still about a five- to six-hour trek to get there—if you’re going by bus and train. Since we only had nine days for our Peru adventure, we opted to do the one-day guided tour of Machu Picchu and forego the six-day Inca Trail hike.
We booked with Peru Andes Top through Get Your Guide for our full-day group tour of Machu Picchu. The tour had round-trip transportation from our hotel to Machu Picchu, which included transportation to the train station, the train, and a bus. All our tickets for the day—bus, train, and Machu Picchu entry—were dropped off at our hotel by the tour company the night before our trip. The cost of the tour was $486 CAD per person.
Machu Picchu Circuits
Machu Picchu has been divided into different circuits to minimize disruption from tourism. How much you pay will depend on which company you use and what circuit you select. There are three main circuits, which are broken down into 10 routes:
- Circuit 1 (Panorámico – Panoramic): Best for photos. Focuses on the upper platform (Guardian’s House).
- 1A – Mountain (High & Intense): Top views from high above.
- 1B – Upper Terrace (Classic View): Quick route to the postcard spot.
- 1C/1D – Sun Gate (Intipunku) / Inca Bridge (Seasonal): Historic paths, available only in high season.
- Circuit 2 (Machupicchu Clásico – Classic): The best all-around, most requested option for first-time visitors to see both top views and the city’s main, lower temples.
- 2A/2B – Classic Routes: Includes the Temple of the Sun, City Planning, and Main Plaza.
- Circuit 3 (Machupicchu Realeza – Royalty): Best for lower-elevation, lower-impact access to the ruins and religious sites.
- 3A/3B – Mountain/Lower: Includes the Temple of the Sun and Royal Houses.
- 3C/3D – Great Cavern / Huchuypicchu (Seasonal): Involves hikes around the lower mountain areas.
We did circuit 1B, which had excellent views of Machu Picchu.
Hang Out with Some Alpacas
I LOVE alpacas and llamas and have since I was a child, so Peru was the perfect destination for me! In Cusco in particular, you can find alpacas pretty well everywhere. Since Cusco’s economy is so centred around tourism, being the closest major city to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, alpacas and their handlers, called “Alpaca Ladies,” roam almost every street in the city. You’d be hard pressed to wander around Cusco and not see an alpaca.
The Alpaca Ladies are happy to let you pet, and sometimes even hold, their alpacas and snap a picture. Just make sure you have soles on hand to give them a tip!
Where to Eat in Cusco
Peru is known to have the best food in South America and is recognized globally as a top culinary destination—perfect for me! Some restaurants and cafes we visited and loved were:
- L’Atelier Cafe Concept is tucked away on the second floor of a shop in the San Blas district. In addition to delicious food and drinks, the cafe also has stunning views of the city and a great selection of unique local goods.
- Rúcula Peruvian Restaurant serves modern takes on traditional Peruvian dishes.
- Kushka is in the heart of Cusco’s historic centre and has the most delicious food! I ordered the Ossobuco, which was incredible.
- Three Monkeys Coffee was voted number 22 on the 2025 100 World’s Best Coffee Shops list.
- Green Point has both a restaurant and cafe serving delicious plantbased dishes.
Is Cusco Safe?
Cusco is considered one of the safest cities in Peru. My friends and I never felt unsafe while we were in Cusco, even at night. That being said, always do your research before visiting somewhere new and take into consideration the current political climate in that country at the time of your visit. As a group of three young women we had no issues in Cusco or Lima.
Know Before You Go: Travel Tips
- Peru’s currency is the Peruvian Sole. While you should have no issues using your credit card in most places, I suggest taking out some soles to bring with you. Many smaller towns, shops, and restaurants either prefer or only take cash. Call your bank well in advance, as soles aren’t a currency usually kept in reserve.
- Get an eSIM to avoid roaming costs and stay connected while you’re away. The two options I like are Airalo and Holafly.
- Prepare yourself for the altitude in Cusco. Cusco is at 3,400 meters above sea level, so make sure you build time into your itinerary to adjust. Coca leaves are used by locals to manage the negative effects of altitude. Coca leaf tea, toffees, and the leaves themselves are widely available all over Cusco. If you’re really worried about altitude sickness, see your doctor or a pharmacist before your trip to get a prescription for altitude pills.
- Learn some common Spanish phrases. We were surprised by how many people spoke English in Cusco, but it’s still helpful to know some basic phrases and numbers.
- If you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu, book your tour well in advance. Machu Picchu is a popular destination, with between 4,500 and 5,600 visitors per day.
More Travel Guides
If you enjoyed this guide to Cusco, Peru, be sure to check out these other travel guides to inspire your next trip!
How to Spend Three days in Amsterdam
Nine Days in Italy: An Itinerary
A Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon
Touring the Best of the French Riviera in Three Days
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Happy travelling!
