10 Best Things to Do in Cusco, Peru
Cusco was the heart of the Inca Empire and today it is the gateway to Machu Picchu, but the city deserves days of its own. I stayed five days at altitude and was won over by the cobbled lanes, the great Inca walls, and the mixture of the Andean past with a lively present. Here is my list of the best things to do in Cusco, the historic capital of Peru.
1. Settle your lungs in the Plaza de Armas
The main square is the natural centre of Cusco, ringed by arcades, churches, and cafes under a high Andean sky. I spent my first afternoon there just acclimating, sipping coca tea while the queues of coaches formed for the trains to the ruins. The cathedral and the church of La Compania face each other across the cobbles, and the life of the city swirls around the fountain. It is the perfect base to orient yourself from.
2. Marvel at the great Inca walls
Throughout the old centre, the street level is built on giant Inca stonework whose blocks fit together without mortar so tightly you cannot slide a blade between them. I walked the Calle Hatun Rumiyoc to see the famous stone of twelve angles, then followed the walls to the stretch near the Saire building. It is a quiet, absorbing pleasure to run your hand over stones five centuries old. The walls survive beneath the Spanish city all around.
3. Climb the Sacsayhuaman ruins above the town
On a hill above Cusco, the enormous fortress of Sacsayhuaman is built from stones that seem impossibly placed. I walked up through the town and stood before the zigzag walls of granite that loop like a snake across the ridge, each block weighing tons. The views back over the whole red roofed city are magnificent. Locals gather that on the hill for the great festival of Inti Raymi in June, when the site comes alive.
4. Visit the Qorikancha sun temple
Tucked behind the colonial church of Santo Domingo lie the foundations of the Qorikancha, the Inca temple of the sun, once sheathed in gold. I moved between the polished stone chambers and the baroque church built on top of them, a vivid symbol of two worlds stacked on one site. The museum below explains the geometry and the meaning. It is one of the most moving places in a city full of history.
5. Shop and snack at the San Pedro market
For the sensory heart of Cusco, head to the covered San Pedro market. I wandered the crowded aisles past mountains of fruit and herbs, stalls of woven textiles, and the juice counters where locals buy cold glasses squeezed on the spot. I ate a plate of roast pork and potatoes at one of the tiny open kitchens, crowded among the workers. It is the real everyday life of the city, and it comes with a warm welcome.
6. Wander the artisan quarter of San Blas
On a steep hill above the plaza, the San Blas neighborhood is the old artist corner of Cusco, full of galleries, workshops, and the tiny cathedral of the same name with its famous pulpit. I wandered the narrow cobbled lanes and stepped into ceramic and silversmith studios, watching artisans at work. The views from the upper terraces across the town are superb, and the evening light turns everything to gold up here.
7. Watch from the Cristo Blanco statue
Above the San Blas steps, a white statue of Christ looks out over the city, and the hill around it is a favorite local prowl spot. I climbed up near sunset and sat watching the roofs of Cusco spread below and the peaks of the high Andes rising beyond. Families come here to stroll, and the atmosphere is easy and unhurried. It is a free, quiet way to see the whole city from above.
8. Take a half day to the Rainbow Mountain area
For color, the famous rainbow ridge a few hours outside the city draws the crowds, but the surrounding high valleys are just as rewarding. I joined a trip that climbed into the spectacular, striped terrain and the scrubby alpine landscapes where llamas graze. It is a long, cold, high day and the altitude is a real challenge, but the visual payoff is infamous for a reason. Go with a proper acclimatization day first.
9. Eat your way through the Andean kitchen
Cusco’s food combines Andean ingredients with a modern chef scene that has gone global. I tasted quinoa soups, tender alpaca steaks, and the classic roasted guinea pig at lively places near the plaza, then finished with the local corn beer poured from a clay bowl. The dining scene covers everything from street snacks to tasting menus. It is a thoroughly good eating city if you give it the time.
10. Give the city a full day at the museums
Beyond the famous sites, a handful of museums tell the deeper story of Cusco and the Andes. I spent a morning at the Regional History Museum and the Inca sites museum, moving from mummies and gold to the colonial paintings of the local school. The Inka Museum has fine collections that help you read the walls you pass on the street. They are quiet, cool, and give you the context behind everything else you see.
Cusco is the rare destination that deserves as much time as the famous ruin next to it. Between the great Inca walls, the markets, the churches on top of temples, and the food that has made waves far beyond Peru, it is a city with real depth. Take it slowly at altitude, drink the coca tea, and give yourself days rather than an overnight. Your heart and your photographs will both thank you.
