The Inca capital, its temples, markets and colonial streets, planned by our team in Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is today one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas: colonial churches and mansions built on Inca walls, cobbled streets climbing to San Blas, and the great stones of Sacsayhuamán above the rooftops. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at about 3,400 metres above sea level.
Cusco is also our home. Our office and our team are here, and every journey through southern Peru passes through the city, usually after the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, when you are already used to the altitude. Your days in Cusco include a guided visit to the Inca and colonial sites with transfers from your hotel, and time to discover the city at your own pace.
| Place | What you will see | Entrance |
|---|---|---|
| Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral | The main square of the Inca capital, framed by the Cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía, with colonial paintings of the Cusco School | Cathedral: own ticket |
| Qorikancha | The Inca Temple of the Sun, with the finest Inca stonework in Peru beneath the Santo Domingo convent | Own ticket |
| San Blas | The hillside artisans’ quarter of narrow streets, workshops and cafés, close to the twelve-angled stone of Hatun Rumiyoc | Free |
| San Pedro Market | The city’s central market: fruit, bread, cheese, Andean grains and local life | Free |
| Sacsayhuamán | Zigzag walls of giant stones above the city, and the setting of the Inti Raymi festival | Cusco Tourist Ticket |
| Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay | A carved rock shrine, a hillside post and an Inca water temple, on the road above Sacsayhuamán | Cusco Tourist Ticket |
| Textile traditions | Weavings from pre-Columbian to contemporary styles, as in the Sulca Textile Museum on our tours | Included in the tour |
Read our guide to the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which covers Sacsayhuamán and the other sites above the city.
The day starts at San Pedro Market, where Cusco shops for its fruit, bread and Andean grains. Next comes Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, and lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you visit the giant walls of Sacsayhuamán and the carved rock of Qenqo, and end at a textile museum where traditional fabrics are recreated with ancestral techniques. The next day is yours: San Blas, the museums, a cooking class or one of the city’s excellent restaurants.
| Time in Cusco | What you can do | Our tours |
|---|---|---|
| Half a day | Qorikancha and the historic centre, then Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay | Cusco City Tour |
| Two nights | A full day with San Pedro Market, Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo and textile traditions, and a free day for San Blas, museums and restaurants. This is the plan in most of our journeys. | Peru & Bolivia Discovery (16 days) |
| Three nights or more | Add a day trip to the South Valley, Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, or the PeruRail Titicaca train to Lake Titicaca | Peru itineraries |
| Season | Weather | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| May to September: dry season | Sunny days, very cold nights | June brings the Inti Raymi (24 June) and Corpus Christi: the busiest and most festive time |
| April and October | Mostly dry, mild days | Excellent shoulder months |
| November to March: rainy season | Showers, usually in the afternoon, and milder nights | Fewer visitors; Christmas and New Year are lively in the city |
See the best time to visit Peru and our guide to Corpus Christi in Cusco.
| Hotel | Style |
|---|---|
| Belmond Palacio Nazarenas | A former convent near the Plaza de Armas, with suites, a heated outdoor pool and oxygen-enriched rooms |
| Palacio del Inka | A Luxury Collection hotel in a colonial mansion beside Qorikancha, with a spa |
| Casa Cartagena | A boutique hotel of large suites in a restored colonial house, close to the Plaza de Armas |
| Novotel Cusco | Comfortable rooms around a colonial courtyard in the historic centre |
| RumiPunku | A hotel entered through an Inca stone doorway, a short walk from the Plaza de Armas |
All are in or near the historic centre, so you can walk to the Plaza de Armas, San Blas and the best restaurants. For couples, see our Peru honeymoon guide, and for children our Peru family vacation guide, with where to see llamas in Cusco.
Flights connect Cusco with Lima and, directly, with La Paz in Bolivia. The PeruRail Titicaca train links Cusco with Puno on Lake Titicaca, a full day through the Andes, as on our Peru & Bolivia Highlights (14 days). See how Cusco fits into a complete trip in our Peru itineraries for 5 to 14 days and the best things to do in Peru.
Sixteen days from Lima’s food scene to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Uyuni Salt Flats, with the PeruRail Titicaca train, Tiwanaku and stargazing in Uyuni.
The icons of the south in one trip: Machu Picchu, Valparaíso, the Andean Lakes Crossing, Bariloche, Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
Machu Picchu and Cusco, Valparaíso and Santiago’s vineyards, Chile’s lake district and the Andean Lakes Crossing to Bariloche, ending with tango in Buenos Aires.
Five weeks from the Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu across Uyuni and the Atacama to Mendoza’s wineries, Bariloche, Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and Rio.
A month-long journey from Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca across the Uyuni Salt Flats to the Atacama, Chile’s lake district, Bariloche and Buenos Aires.
Lima and Paracas, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, La Paz and Uyuni, then Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
From Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca to La Paz, across the Uyuni Salt Flats and coloured lagoons into Chile’s Atacama Desert, ending in Valparaíso and Santiago.
Five countries in one journey: the Galápagos Islands, Paracas, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Uyuni Salt Flats, Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
Quito and the Middle of the World, island-hopping in the Galápagos, then the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lima’s gastronomy.
Three weeks linking Rio de Janeiro, Iguazú Falls, the Perito Moreno Glacier and Buenos Aires with the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lima.
Between cruise ports, travel from Lima to the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca before flying to Santiago and Valparaíso.
Half a day exploring Cusco’s Inca heritage: the Qorikancha sun temple, the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
Two weeks through the heart of the Andes: the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the PeruRail Titicaca train to Puno, La Paz and a stargazing night on the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Every Cusco itinerary can be adapted to your dates and pace. Plan a tailor-made trip →
Complete the details below. A dedicated Senior Travel Curator will analyse your preferences for expert advice, boutique service, excellent value and will contact you:
Everything you need to know before traveling to Cusco.
Two nights are ideal: a full day for the Inca and colonial sites and a free day for San Blas, museums and restaurants. Add a third night for a day trip to the South Valley or Rainbow Mountain.
When to visit South America: the best months for Machu Picchu, Patagonia, the Galápagos, Uyuni, Rio and more, a month-by-month guide and the best seasons for multi-country trips.
The best family destinations in South America by age, an altitude plan for children, school-holiday timing and four family itineraries from Peru to Patagonia.
Plan a South America honeymoon: the best destinations from Peru and Patagonia to the Galápagos and Brazil, when to go, and four itineraries for couples.
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