Parade participants dance their way around the perimeter of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas during the 2023 Inti Raymi festival. The annual event was an Inca tradition. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
The world-famous ruins of Machu Picchu may be the top attraction in the Cusco area, but there’s plenty else to do in and around this high-altitude Andean city.
Most tourists planning a trip to Cusco build their itineraries around the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in the nearby Sacred Valley. However, if you aren’t into crowds or generally prefer the road less traveled, there’s more than enough else to do in the area to fill your schedule. Here’s where I went, ate, and stayed in and around this mountain city in the Peruvian Andes:
Top Places I Went in the Cusco Area
1. Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley)
Located in the same valley as Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo is a quieter yet comparably impressive alternative to Peru’s most popular tourism destination. The massive archaeological site, which is around an hour-and-a-half drive northwest from Cusco, was built into the side of a mountain prior to Spanish conquest. Organized tours begin showing up at around 11 a.m., so try to arrive early in the morning for the most intimate experience.
Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. every day
Cost: $70 PEN ($19 USD) for a partial Cusco Tourist Ticket (Circuit III) or $130 PEN ($35 USD) if purchasing the full ticket. The former is valid for two days, while the latter expires after 10 days.
2. Qorikancha
Also spelled Coricancha, Qoricancha, or Korikancha, these Inca ruins in Cusco’s Santo Domingo Plaza could be considered the most historically important of the former empire. The gold-plated Qorikancha, which roughly means “Golden Enclosure” in the Quechua language, was the most sacred temple in the civilization’s capital city until the Spanish razed it in the 16th century and built Santo Domingo Church on its foundation. The site has several attractions, including the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon, Temple of Venus, Rainbow Temple, and the Solar Garden.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $15 PEN ($4 USD) for entrance at the door; admission to Qorikancha is also part of the full Cusco Tourist Ticket ($130 PEN) or the partial Circuit II ticket ($70 PEN).
3. Humantay Lake
Only recently opened to the public, the crystal-clear waters of Humantay Lake have already become one of the premier tourism stops in the Cusco area. The lake is part of the five-day Salkantay Trek that ends at Machu Picchu, but most visitors arrive via all-day tours from Cusco. If you decide to join a tour group, make sure you book one that leaves as early as possible: The lakeshore quickly becomes crowded, and there’s only so much room for unobstructed views like the one below.
Cost: $33 USD for a day tour that includes breakfast, lunch, transportation, guide service, and entrance fee
The pristine water of Peru’s Humantay Lake reflects a snowy mountain towering in the distance. The lake is near the high-altitude city of Cusco in the Andes. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
4. Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán, meaning “the place where the hawk is satisfied” in Quechua and pronounced like an accented “sexy woman,” is a vast network of Inca ruins located at Cusco’s highest point. The overlooks of the city alone, particularly Cruz Moqo, are worth the steep walk up the hill from the city center. The former fortress’s most distinguishing feature is its long stone walls, like the one pictured below.
Before you descend from Sacsayhuamán, I suggest you make the short walk east to Cristo Blanco (Spanish for “White Christ”). The statue is visible from the ruins and is free of charge to visit. It also offers a different view from above Cusco.
Hours: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. every day
Cost: $70 PEN ($19 USD) for a partial Cusco Tourist Ticket (Circuit I) or $130 PEN ($35 USD) if purchasing the full ticket. The former is valid for two days, while the latter expires after 10 days.
5. Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is Cusco’s main square and the heartbeat of the city’s historic district. Dominated by two large Spanish-built worship centers – the Cusco Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus – the plaza is where you will find tour agencies, several lodging options, some of the area’s best restaurants, and many of Cusco’s most important festivals. One such notable event is Inti Raymi, the annual winter celebration of the sun that dates to the Inca Empire.
6. San Blas
San Blas is found up a steep hill to the northeast of the Plaza de Armas. It’s a neighborhood that has been the home of artisans since the Inca ruled Cusco. The area’s maze of narrow streets leads to several art galleries and some of the city’s finest eateries. San Blas is a great place to find a hotel if you prefer a quiet retreat with easy access to Cusco’s action.
7. Rainbow Mountain
Only discovered around a decade ago, Rainbow Mountain (Quechua: Vinikunka, Spanish: Montaña de Siete Colores) is already the Cusco area’s second-most visited site behind Machu Picchu. There’s a good reason why; the kaleidoscope of colors that await hikers at the peak’s overlook are unlike anything else on Earth. Most make the journey to Rainbow Mountain via a day tour from Cusco; just like Humantay Lake, it’s important to arrive early to beat the crowds.
Cost: $50 USD for a day tour that includes breakfast, lunch, transportation, and guide service; entrance fees of $25 PEN ($7 USD) are collected separately
8. San Pedro Market
Like any other Latin American city, Cusco’s main market is the place to go to mingle with locals and observe how they both shop and eat. There’s also plenty of vendor stalls to browse for the perfect souvenir or gift at a great price.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Sunday 6:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Top Things I Ate in the Cusco Area
1. Cuy (guinea pig)
Guinea pigs might be viewed exclusively as pets in places like the U.S., but the rodents have been feeding Andean families for around 5,000 years. Their meat, which was regarded as a delicacy by the Inca, is offered by many restaurants in the Cusco area. When slow roasted over a fire, it’s quite delicious.
Cost: Around $70 PEN ($19 USD) for the plate of cuy al horno pictured below at Don Dante Restaurant in Ollantaytambo
2. Lomo saltado
While it’s no surprise that Peruvian cuisine has strong Indigenous and Spanish influences, many of the country’s dishes were also partly inspired by the influx of Chinese and Japanese indentured servants in the 19th century. Lomo saltado (Spanish for “beef stir-fry”) is a blend of all four of these cultural gastronomies and a must-try for all omnivores touring Cusco.
Cost: Around $100 PEN ($27.50 USD) for lomo saltado and a cocktail at Nuna Raymi, a restaurant just off the Plaza de Armas
3. Ceviche
Originating around 3,000 years ago along the northern coast of Peru, ceviche is now a globally popular dish consisting of lime-cured raw fish. High-altitude Cusco is hundreds of miles from and thousands of feet above the Pacific, but there’s still several places in the city that serve an excellent version of the country’s most famous food.
Cost: Around $60 PEN ($16 USD) for ceviche and a glass of local wine at Ceviche Meat and Wine Company at the northern corner of the Plaza de Armas
4. Alpaca
Native to the Andes, alpacas are not only highly regarded for their wool but also their meat. Many restaurants in the Cusco area serve the camelid in a variety of ways; I prefer it on a burger.
Cost: $50 PEN ($13.50 USD) for a lunch meal of alpaca burgers at Maná Café Restobar near the Plaza de Armas
5. Green Point Vegan Restaurant
I rarely eat at the same restaurant twice while traveling, but Green Point in the San Blas neighborhood is an easy exception. If the restaurant was in my current hometown and internationally renowned culinary hub of Charleston, SC, food critics from far and wide would be talking about it.
The three plates I have enjoyed during my two recent trips to the city have been nothing short of spectacular. I consider it the best eatery in Cusco and an essential stop for anyone (non-vegans like me included) touring the area.
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. every day
Cost: Around $75 PEN ($20.50 USD) for the assorted grilled vegetable plate pictured below
6. Street food
While there’s plenty to try on restaurant menus in and around Cusco, there’s also a variety of delicious options available from street vendors. Anticuchos (grilled meat skewers), butifarras (roast pork sandwiches), tamales, and quinoa-based foods are just a short list of what you’ll find walking around the city.
Cost: Only a few soles’ (around one U.S. dollar) worth of street food will go a long way toward satisfying your hunger
Where I Stayed in the Cusco Area
1. Viajero Kokopelli Cusco
Part of the Viajero Kokopelli franchise of hostels that are found in several cities throughout the Americas, Viajero Kokopelli Cusco is a top-notch lodging establishment for backpackers and free-spirited travelers looking for a bunk that’s close to the action. The hostel offers free walking tours of the city and has a restaurant, The Pisco House.
Hostelworld, the website I used to book my stay, has named the Viajero Kokopelli Cusco the best hostel in Peru multiple times and for good reason: The service provided by the staff is exemplary, and a good example is the morning I left for my tour of Rainbow Mountain. I departed well before sunrise, but the front desk already had a boxed breakfast ready to go for the long shuttle ride.
Cost: Around $56 PEN ($15 USD) per night for a bunk in a mixed-gender dormitory
2. Mistico San Blas
As its name suggests, this 3-star hotel is nestled in the quiet San Blas neighborhood, but it’s only a short downhill stroll from the lively restaurants, bars, and shops surrounding the Plaza de Armas. The breakfast offered in Mistico’s dining area is a delicious way to start the day.
Cost: Around $260 PEN ($70 USD) per night
3. Picaflor Tambo Guest House (Ollantaytambo)
Returning to where this guide began, Picaflor Tambo Guest House is an excellent lodging option for those wanting to stay overnight in the Sacred Valley village of Ollantaytambo. The small 3-star hotel is only a five-minute walk from the Inca ruins and a peaceful place to relax after a day of exploring.
Cost: Around $200 PEN ($55 USD) per night
Related Content
– Click to read my article “7 Questions and Answers About Rainbow Mountain” for key information on the world-famous tourist attraction near Cusco.
– Click to read my article “6 Questions and Answers About Humantay Lake” for key information on the popular hiking destination near Cusco.
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from the remote Choquequirao trail, a trek that leads to mysterious Inca ruins.