Cusco is one of the most incredible cities in South America and one of the main destinations in the world. Its name ‘Qosqo’ means ‘Navel of the world’ in the language of the Incas, Quechua. It was the capital of the Inca empire, where the Inca and the nobility lived. Today it is known as the ‘Archaeological Capital of America’ due to its Inca and colonial temples that have survived over time. It is a city where people come from all over the world to visit its main tourist attractions: Sacsayhuaman, the Sacred Valley, the Mountain of 7 Colors and, of course, Machu Picchu.
Cusco was the ancient capital of the Inca empire. During the colonial period, the Spanish built churches, palaces and other structures on top of the Inca temples and palaces. There you can see people dressed in traditional costumes with llamas as pets. You can also buy clothes made of alpaca fiber.
From the city of Cusco the Inca roads ‘qhapac ñan’ started towards all the ‘suyos’ or regions that made up the Tahuantinsuyu empire. Because of this ‘Qosqo’ means ‘navel of the world’. There the Incas built their main temples and fortresses such as Coricancha and Sacsayhuaman.
During the Inca period, the inhabitants who visited Cusco were treated with respect. It was considered a sacred city.
Cusco is located in the southern part of the Andes Mountains in Peru. The city of Cusco is located at 3,399 meters above sea level (11,151 ft). The most important snow-capped mountains in the region are Ausangate and Salkantay. The Vilcanota River runs through almost the entire Sacred Valley of the Incas, including the town of Aguas Calientes. Cusco also has its jungle region, where the Incas knew how to build important cities such as Choquequirao and Machu Picchu.
Cusco offers many tours to do, we recomend to visit:
The Historic Center – Visiting the center of Cusco is like visiting a giant museum. In its streets you can see Inca temples and colonial churches. The city is also famous for its nightlife and the diversity of tourist services such as: restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, etc.
Sacsayhuaman – The archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman is made up of several archaeological buildings such as Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman itself, a fortress with walls made of huge rocks weighing up to 120 tons. During the tour you can also see tunnels, walls, platforms, paths, altars, water channels and much more.
Qoricancha – The most important temple in the entire Inca empire was Qoricancha (even more important than Machu Picchu). The walls of this enclosure are the most finely carved in the empire. Before the arrival of the Spanish it was covered with sheets of gold and silver. Afterwards it was looted and the invaders built the church of Santo Domingo on its walls.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas – Next to Cusco is one of the most fertile and beautiful areas of the region: the Sacred Valley. There the Incas built cities, temples, platforms and palaces. Currently, the tourist towns of Pisac, Chinchero, Maras, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo are located in this area. Visitors can enjoy its landscapes, visit its archaeological sites and even practice adventure sports.
South Valley of Cusco – To the south of the city of Cusco there is a fertile valley where the Incas built important temples such as Tipón and Racchi. The first Incas emigrated from the south to Cusco. There is also an important city of the Wari culture (pre-Inca) called Piquillacta. The South Valley is also famous for its exquisite typical dishes such as cuy chactado or chancho al horno.
Laguna Humantay – on the route of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, is located one of the wonders of nature, the lagoon with turquoise waters, located northwest of the city of Cusco.
The Rainbow Mountain – A few years ago, the melting of a part of the Ausangate snowy mountain revealed a unique landscape of various colors produced by the minerals found there. The Mountain of 7 Colors or Vinicunca is today one of the main attractions of Cusco. It is more than 120 kilometers from Cusco and over 5 thousand meters high (16,404 ft). Despite the cold and altitude, hundreds of tourists arrive there every day.
Machu Picchu – Definitely the main tourist attraction of Cusco is Machu Picchu. This citadel is located almost 100 kilometers from the city, after a trip by car and train. The Inca city is located in the jungle region of Cusco. It is famous for its beautiful landscapes, mysterious constructions and hiking trails such as the Huayna Picchu mountain and the Machu Picchu mountain.
Inca Trail – One of the most famous hiking routes in the world is the Inca Trail. The trails on this hike were built by the Incas several centuries ago. The Inca Trail connects Cusco with Machu Picchu after 4 days of hiking and 3 days of camping. On the last day, you arrive at the Inca city through the ‘Sun Gate’ (Intipunku), an ancient entrance gate used by the Incas.
Salkantay Trek – It is considered the second most famous trek to reach Machu Picchu, it is one of the most complete treks because it passes through altitudinal levels of puna, yunga and jungle forest until reaching Machu Picchu. The multi-day Salkantay Trek is offered from 2 days to 7 days.
Considering how important acclimatization is, we recommend starting the tours in the city of Cusco and then the Sacred Valley of the Incas; After acclimatizing you can do the walks and finally the colorful mountain.
DAY 1: CITY TOUR CUSCO – After resting from the trip to Cusco, you can get to know the city in the afternoon on a ‘City Tour’ that includes the Cathedral, Coricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. This way, you can better acclimatize to the high altitude of the city.
DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS – The Sacred Valley is a great option since its attractions are not at a high altitude, which allows you to better adapt to the climate and altitude. The tour through the valley lasts almost the whole day. You can visit Pisac, Urubamba, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo or even Maras or Moray. Adventure sports are also an option.
DAY 3: MACHU PICCHU – Visiting Machu Picchu in 1 day is an option if you do not want to spend a night in the town of Aguas Calientes. To get there you must travel by train and bus for approximately 4 hours. Most tourists visit the Inca city on the third or second day of their visit to be better adapted to the altitude and not suffer from the symptoms of altitude sickness.
DAY 4: MOUNTAIN OF 7 COLORS – We recommend to do this tour on your last day as a las tour in Cusco, after several days of adaptation to the altitude of Cusco, it is a good idea to take a hike to the Mountain of 7 Colors. If you don't want to hike in such high and extreme places, you can choose another less demanding alternative such as the South Valley of Cusco. There are also other similar hikes such as the Humantay lagoon.
HOW TO GET TO CUSCO?
To get to Cusco you must first get to the airport in Lima, the capital of Peru. From there you can take a flight to the city of Cusco (1 hour trip). You can also get there by bus (22 hours trip).
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Cusco has a dry and cold climate. The average temperature during the year is 15ºC during the day and 8ºC at night. Machu Picchu, on the other hand, has a more tropical climate. The average temperature during the year is 22ºC during the day and 14ºC at night.
WHAT TO WEAR?
Due to the variable climate, it is recommended to bring warm clothing, as well as light clothing such as: jackets, sweaters, polo shirts, pants and hiking shoes. However, it is very useful to bring a rain poncho.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
The dry season (from April to October) is the best time to visit Cusco. During those days it rains little so the weather is pleasant for visiting open-air archaeological sites.
WHERE TO STAY?
The city of Cusco has hundreds of hotels and lodgings for visitors. You can choose the service you prefer, from 2 to 5 stars. You can also get an Airbnb accommodation.
WHERE TO EAT?
As well as hotels, there are hundreds of restaurants in Cusco where you can try typical and international food. You can choose the service that best suits you. There are services of different quality.
We recommend the San Pedro market, where you can find a variety of traditional local food served by trained cooks.
CAN I GO IF I AM AN ELDERLY ADULT?
Yes. Many older adults visit Cusco. It is recommended to avoid long walks if you do not have the proper experience and authorization from your doctor. The first few days you must adapt to the altitude of the city.
WHERE CAN I GET A GUIDE?
At the entrance of each tourist attraction you can get the service of a tour guide. You can also get one through the website of a tourism agency. The tour packages already include this service.
WHAT CURRENCY SHOULD I USE?
The official currency of Peru is the ‘Peruvian sol’. However, the various tourist services and businesses in Cusco accept the dollar as currency.
HOW TO AVOID ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
Altitude sickness is inevitable for people who are not adapted to high altitude geographies. However, its effects can be reduced by drinking plenty of water and avoiding fatty foods and alcoholic beverages.
