The planetarium is family owned and operated and you can either reserve your spot directly through the planetarium or through any number of tour operators. Situated on a hill just 15 minutes outside the city, the Cusco Planetarium provides a nightly show in English or Spanish. In fact, as you enter the church you can pay for a separate tour of the Koricancha ruins in the centre of the church. Situated in the centre of Cusco, at the side of the Plaza de Armas, the church is built upon the ruins of an important Inca building.
- Try to avoid June to August as these are the busiest months tourism-wise.
- Because we wouldn’t want to miss the Sacred Valley and ruins near Cusco by no means, we would have considered two days for the city bare minimum.
- If you want to do something slightly different and hike off the beaten path, you can try Ausangate Trek, Choquequirau Trek, or Lares Trek, which has been increasingly popular in the past few years.
- However you can also purchase a 1-2 day limited ticket to select sites for around $25 per day.
- Once the capital city of the Inca Empire, Cusco still preserves its grandeur and the spirit of Incas, factors that cannot be overlooked, even if you would have tried hard.
Originally built in the 1400s, the ancient city was abandoned around the time the Spanish began to explore South America. As the Spanish conquered the region in the 1500s, Machu Picchu was overlooked and unknown. If you’re busy keeping up with all of the sights, just have a few pisco sours for happy hour and head out into town for some street food. It lies in the Huatanay River valley and, despite its elevation of nearly 3,400 meters, has a moderate climate most days of the year.
Hike to the Cristo Blanco Statue Above Cusco
Our guide to Peru’s Sacred Valley will show you the best things to do in the area of Cusco, the former Inca empire. Explore the beautiful ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Saqsaywaman, Chinchero, or Maras Salt Mines. When it comes to luxury, the value of Antigua Casona stands out among other high end chain hotels. If you’re looking for a great deal on a moderately priced hotel with great location and amenities, Torre Dorada Residencial is your best bet.
- Cusco is not only base for popular day trips, but it is also a base from where trekkers set off for multi-day adventures in the Peruvian Andes.
- It is a very safe city, a little more expensive than other cities in Peru, but the world-class restaurants are worth the extra dollars.
- San Blas is also interesting architecturally, so grab a camera in hand and start exploring its narrow streets.
- If you have a few days in the area we advise you purchase the full ticket as many of the things we recommend would be free with the full ticket.
- If you’re interested in more cultural activities, you’ll find an abundance of delicious local foods to try.
- There is no wrong area to stay in as long as it is 15 – 20 minutes walk to the city center.
- The planetarium is family owned and operated and you can either reserve your spot directly through the planetarium or through any number of tour operators.
thoughts on “14 Amazing Things to Do in Cusco, Peru (2025 Guide)”
Our comprehensive travel guide to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, covers things to know before you go. One of the best cities in Peru, Cusco is also known as a gateway to Machu Picchu. Read tips on the best things to do in Cusco, top attractions, tours, day trips, safety, where to stay, what to pack, when to visit, how to get. Alternatively, book an organized day trip to Machu Picchu that includes a tour guide, entrance ticket, and return transportation from your hotel to the train station.
Day 3 – Rainbow Mountain
Like many historical churches in Latin America, the Iglesia De Santo Domingo continues to be open and has daily and weekend masses. As you tour the church there are places where you can see the stones from Koricancha. And there are plenty of shops, street performers and other entertainment in and around the Plaza de Armas. The Plaza de Armas also boasts excellent views of other historical buildings such as the Cusco Cathedral and the Museum of Natural History.
Spaniards melted the gold, and on top of the remnants, built their church of Santo Domingo. When Spaniards arrived in Peru, they wanted to defeat the Inca people in every way possible, and it also included destroying the outstanding architecture. Until today the arrival of Inca people is surrounded by a great deal of myth, but we know this era begins around 1200 AD. Evidence proves that today’s Cusco area was inhabited by farmers and shepherds more than 3000 years ago, but we know very little about this period.
No matter how many ruins you’ve already seen in Peru, this is simply a must. Not only you’ll get the chance to admire what was left, but the views Cusco from this site are out of this world. But unfortunately, not all attractive museums are included in this ticket, so you will need to pay most of the entrance fees separately. These churches and cathedrals are usually built in European architectural style on the foundations of old Inca churches, which gives the city a unique appearance. Nowadays, we can see in Cusco this striking building with Incan foundation and Spaniard church on top of that.
The weather is usually sunny, day temperatures are pleasant, but because this period is Peruvian winter, you can expect chilly mornings and evenings, and temperatures at night drop even to 0°C. When traveling on a budget you must get from Cusco to Hydroelectrica by bus and then carry on to Aguas Calientes on foot. You can be sure that every single traveler you meet in Cusco already visited or will visit Machu Picchu. Make sure to read our Inca Trail Packing List as hiking with guides and porters requires a bit different approach. Unlike many hikers, we’ve done both treks, and you can read our comparison Inca Trail vs. Salkantay Trek here.
You can shop around and try to find the best deal last-minute or reserve 5D/4N Salkantay Trek here. Ausangate is one of the most extended and most challenging treks you can do from Cusco. If you want to do something slightly different and hike off the beaten path, you can try Ausangate Trek, Choquequirau Trek, or Lares Trek, which has been increasingly popular in the past few years. That’s why your real chance is to hike Salkantay Trek if you want to book a trek last-minute. Rainbow Mountain is almost exclusively visited with organized tours unless you want to hire private transport.
Cusco – Weather warnings issued
After two early mornings, sleep in a little bit and take it slow by exploring a bit more of the city. Start by visiting Saqsayhuaman, an old fortress with a great view over the entire valley. Make your way down to Cusco’s Historical Centre, where the cathedrals and Plaza de Armas are located. It is popular among locals and tourists alike, so expect a decent crowd most nights of the week. Either way, travel to the planetarium is typically provided with purchase.
It would be easy to spend an entire day exploring the ruins, so give yourself a few hours at the least. Sacsayhuaman is an ancient Inca fortress overlooking Cusco from the north. Many tours will also stop at Chinchero, a typical Andean Indian village that will give you a taste and feel of the native way of life.
Another reason why visiting Plaza de Armas should be high on your to-do list in Cusco is that it is a great starting point for exploring other more or less famous top sights. Some travelers with limited time even revolve their entire itinerary around Cusco – this only proves how rich the city is in terms of sightseeing, architecture, and activities. As soon as you find a narrow stone-built alleyway, abandoned plaza or when searching for street food on the local market, you will suddenly understand the city’s rhythm.
We met a couple of hikers who got quite sick, were even hospitalized, and one girl from our hiking group even could not start the Inca Trail. Fortunately, Cusco has so many things and activities to do that you won’t have a feeling you are only killing time. Although acclimatization might seem unnecessary for some of you, we advise you not to underestimate it. You can book a classic 4D/3N Inca Trail or a shorter 2-Day Inca Trail Tour version. To make a reservation, shop around Cusco if you want to get the cheapest rate or book this well-rated 9D/8N Ausangate Trek in advance. These treks are awesome alternatives to Salkantay Trek and the Inca Trail.
If you miss business hours for visiting the church, this is also one of the more beautiful things to see in Cusco at night. Some locals will still walk through the cobblestone streets wearing traditional garments and offer photo opportunities in exchange for a Peruvian Sol or two. Cusco is a touristy city, and most of the locals live from tourism, so crime against tourists is frowned upon, which does not mean it cannot happen from time to time. Our guide on the Inca Trail disclosed to us; locals never go to a restaurant to eat cuy without calling there, at least one day in advance, and making a reservation. Budget travelers, including us, usually get around Peru by overnight buses.
Cristo Blanco (“White Christ”) is a statue of Jesus situated on a hill high above the town of Cusco. If you are looking for entertaining nightlife and/or simply want to learn to Salsa dance, visiting Mama Africa is one of the best things to do in Cusco. You will see large stones stacked on each other to create the remnants of towers, shrines, roads and homes.