Things To Do: Travel And Leisure In Cusco?

This comprehensive guide offers a list of 20 best things to do in, from, and around Cusco, Peru. It includes recommendations for visiting the Cusco Cathedral, San Blas Neighborhood, Cristo Blanco Statue, Peruvian cuisine, Farmers Market and Cooking Class, climbing viewpoints, visiting the ruins of Tambomachay, nightlife, and more. Machu Picchu is a must-see attraction, along with hiking the Inca Trail or taking the Inca Rail. Visitors can also visit Sacsayhuaman for Inca ruins and the Festival of the Sun in June.

The Cusco Region attractions include Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, and Ancient. Every day offers opportunities to walk along cobblestone streets, visit colorful markets, and soak up the sun in one of Cusco’s many squares. The San Pedro Market is a perfect place to sample delicacies like fresh fruit.

The Inca Jungle Tour combines hiking, biking, rafting, and zip-lining on your way to Machu Picchu. Beaches on Peru’s northern coast offer warm water for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, and boating. Visitors can explore Inca temples, taste local food like “cuy” (guinea pig), and find a strategic location to visit Machu Picchu.

In addition to exploring the city, visitors can also visit Incan architectural jewels such as Korikancha, the temple of the sun, shop at Andean markets, enjoy incredible Peruvian cuisine, and see the city’s main attractions, such as the enigmatic Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu.

In summary, this guide provides a comprehensive guide to the best things to do in Cusco, Peru, including visiting the Cusco Cathedral, San Blas Neighborhood, Cristo Blanco Statue, Peruvian cuisine, and more.

How do you travel around Cusco?

Cusco is a historic city with colorful cobbled streets and a historic Plaza da Armas. Its altitude of over 11, 000 feet makes it challenging to explore. Taxis are available for short trips, but colectivos or combis are more affordable. For longer journeys to the Sacred Valley, renting a car is recommended, but heavy pedestrian traffic can clog narrow streets. PeruRail’s daily trains from Estación Poroy to Aguas Calientes are recommended, or tour companies can arrange transportation.

Most visitors fly into Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) via a one-hour flight from Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), with Peruvian Airlines and LAN Airlines offering daily flights between Lima and Cusco. Tour companies can arrange transportation for visitors.

What is the best way to explore Cusco?

Explore Cusco on foot, visiting Plaza de las Armas, San Pedro Market, Artisan Market, urban hike, and San Blas neighborhood. This high-altitude metropolis is home to a mix of Inca civilization and modern technology. Visitors can see women wearing bowler hats, babies swaddled in hand-made textiles, and fashion-forward hipsters in high heels. Animal feces is common on the streets, with dogs and cats roaming but not as visible. People do not take their pets to parks, and feces is ground in and eventually washed away when it rains.

To avoid littering, it is recommended to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes when exploring Cusco or going out to dinner. Khaki and fleece are acceptable everywhere, and there is no dress code, making it a great place to spend a couple of days before Machu Picchu.

Is it safe to travel to Cusco right now?

Peru is facing increased risks due to crime, civil unrest, and the possibility of kidnapping. The Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) are particularly affected. Crime, including petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crimes, is common in Peru, with kidnapping being rare but occurring. The risk of crime increases at night, and organized criminal groups use roadblocks to rob victims outside Lima. Public demonstrations, often for political and economic reasons, can cause road closures, reducing access to public transportation and airports and disrupting travel.