7 must-try activities in Cusco
Written by Lea C.
November 2019
Arrived in Cusco for one week, my husband and I ended up staying for 12 nights. First of all because there’s so much to do there; second of all because Cusco is at about 11,000 feet of elevation and it’s a good idea to acclimate for a day or two ; third of all, because this town of about 440, 000 people located in the South-East of the country is a perfect base for many day trips and overnights : to hike Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), to explore the ruins in the Sacred Valley, to discover the salt mines in the mountains at Maras…
First tip : buy boleto turístico
It includes the entrance fees to sixteen sites in and around Cusco, so it’s cheaper that to pay them each separately, even if you don’t visit them all. We visited four and it was enough to pay back the boleto! However, it is only valid for ten days, so get organized! There are other plans with a different number of sites and days of validity, in case you’re not there for very long. Find out the details at the official site: https://cosituc.gob.pe/tarifario/
But without further ado, here is my list of 7 must-try activities in Cusco itself:
3. Saqsaywamán Archeological site
5. Museo Inca
Free Walking Tour
Many cities in Peru offer Free Walking Tours (the idea is to give a tip to the guide at the end to show your appreciation). I would advise you to look online (there might be several different companies organizing tours) mostly to make sure where the meeting point is. You might be asked to reserve your spot (for free) so they know how many guides they will need.
We walked for over two hours, starting at the Plaza de Armas (the central square in town), and finishing in the San Blas neighborhood. Without the guide, we wouldn’t have seen the Inca Stone with 12 sides, we wouldn’t have known to check out Kusicancha (an archeological site right in town that preserves ruins showing the original organization of the houses in the Inca town), we would have learned less about the history of the town in the time of the Inca and then the Spaniards, etc.
To see our experience with this Free Walking Tour, click here !
Qorikancha
Qorikancha is a museum built on the ruins of a monastery that had itself been built on the ruins on an Inca religious site. You can see the original stones of the temple of the sun, as well as the monastery build on it.
The museum has a section dedicated to Dominican art, and a pretty inside court. Many works in the museum explore and explain the Inca vision of astronomy, and the link between astronomy and Inca architecture. It’s really quite fascinating.
Don’t forget to go outside and explore the gardens!
Saqsaywamán
This site is less than a mile’s walk from the Plaza de Armas, but I would recommend taking a taxi to get there (it’s all uphill!) and then walk back down to town.
Again, I’d recommend getting a guide that can explain the history and significance of the site (political, with the Inca throne, but also religious) for the Incas, and show you stones arranged like a llama or like a puma’s paw (easy to miss if you don’t know where to look!), and show you how to use a tunnel to get from one side of the site to the other. There are guides at the entrance, that you can hire.
Don’t forget to ask to see a photo of the site from above : you’ll see that it’s built to have the shape of a puma’s head (the zigzagging walls are its teeth)… and the town of Cusco was supposed to be its body!
However, be careful at what time of day you visit this site on a sunny day because there is very little shade. But from up in Saqsaywamán you’ll have a phenomenal view of the city below!
To see our visit of this site, click here!
Museo de la coca
Located in the San Blas neighborhood, the Museo de la coca is a small but interesting museum that sheds a slightly different light on the use of the coca leaf.
While acknowledging that its use has been harmful for some, this museum highlights the way the Incas have used the coca leaf in the past, and how some still use it as a stimulant (similar to caffeine) and to fight against altitude sickness.
Museo Inka
Another small museum, but once again interesting, cheap, and located right by the Plaza de Armas. Photos were not allowed but here is a shot of the entrance of the museum.
This museum showcases the history and architecture of the people of Peru pre-Inca through the Inca empire. It includes traditional ceramic pieces, shows some medical techniques used in the past, and features Inca artwork (including textiles) and other artifacts.
The museum closes early (4pm), so don’t start too late!
Try out local dishes
Head on over to my Vegan Corner page to read my article on the best vegan options in Cusco : click here to discover where to find delicious local drinks such as “chica morada” and “pisco sour” (without the egg white!), where to enjoy vegan “ceviche” and try some “tacu tacu”!
Observe a religious procession
If you happen to be in Cusco on a Sunday morning, head over to the Plaza de Armas because there often is a religious procession leaving the cathedral there and going around the plaza.
The processions are full of joy, music, dance and colors!
We were at a café across from the cathedral when it started, and when we asked our waiter about it, they said there’s a procession of some sort most Sundays.
In short, Cusco is a magnificent city, vibrant and full of history, and is definitely worth the time. I would suggest at least a week there, more depending on how many day trips you will be doing from Cusco.