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Cusco is by far one of the most magical cities in South America. Between the Incan Spanish architecture and coffee to die for, this gateway to Machu Picchu is worth the stop on any Peru itinerary.
When you walk the streets of Cusco, you’ll quickly see why the entire city was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is so much this vibrant city has to offer, and it’ll leave you feeling like you stepped back in time. Here are my top recommendations for what to do in Cusco that are close to the city center!
What to do in Cusco, Peru:
HANG OUT IN CUSCO’S, PERU’S PLAZA DE ARMAS
The Plaza De Armas in Cusco is such exciting place! Just spending some time here, you’ll feel the city come alive. I highly recommend grabbing a coffee or snack on one of the nearby balconies and just people watch. My favorite place to do this was on the second level café on the corner called the Plaza Café!
The scenery of the incredible churches with the mountains in the distance make it the perfect place to just soak in the fact you are in this amazingly historic city.
DRINK COCA TEA
Coca tea is not only popular in Peru for its taste, but also for its ability to relieve altitude sickness. It tastes similar to green tea, but has a slight kick similar to a cup of coffee. Often served with hot water over the coca leaves, you’ll probably be offered this drink often throughout your stay in Cusco. Many tourists are encouraged to try it to help prevent severe altitude sickness symptoms.
Cusco sits at 11,152 feet above sea level, making it the 7th highest city in the world! With this being said, give yourself some time when traveling to Cusco and be sure to take it slow during your first 24 hours to allow your body to adjust. And drink the coca tea. If you aren’t a huge fan of tea, you can also chew on coca leaves! Trust me… you’ll thank me later.
VISIT SACSAYHUMAN
Sacsayhuman should be at the top of your list of what to do in Cusco, Peru. This is one of the most historical and impressive historical sites in the country.
Sacsayhuman is an Incan citadel that sits on the outskirts of Cusco. At an altitude of over 12,000 feet, it sits high above the mountains looking down onto the city of Cusco. Built in the 15th century, this complex built of massive stone walls became the historic capital of the Inca Empire.
Sacsayhuman could hold thousands of people and is believed to hold ceremonial activities or rituals as early as 900 CE.
The massive stones were carved and placed with such precision it’s hard to imagine them being moved by humans. They fit so perfectly together that a sheet of paper cannot fit between them! The walls were all built leaning in slightly, helping the complex withstand some extremely devastating earthquakes.
Walking around Sacsayhumán, it’s incredible to notice all these details up close just how precise the Incan’s were at carpentry. It’s honestly mind blowing.
EXPLORE SAN PEDRO MARKET
San Pedro Market is filled with vendors selling fresh fruit, meats, souvenirs, and all kinds of handmade products. From intricate jewelry to “alpaca” sweaters, if you don’t find something you want to purchase, even just browsing around can be a great experience!
Keep in mind, most of the apparel they claim are real alpaca may not be. However, the patterns are so cute and super warm, so worth the purchase in my opinion. (Maybe just bargin a bit!)
Check out my Peru Travel Guide for everything you need to know while traveling in Peru.
EAT CUY IN CUSCO
Cuy, also known as guinea pig, have been eaten for special occasions since the Incan times. Although many countries have adopted these fuzzy creatures as pets in the last hundred years, in Peru they are strictly raised and bred as a food source. Only Andean countries eat cuy, so Peru, Bolivia or Ecuador are really your only chances to try this delicacy.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when ordering cuy. I went in with a “when in Peru” mentality. But once I was asked “Hey lady, do you want the head?” it felt pretty daunting. When ordering cuy in Peru, they will often bring out the whole guinea pig (head and all) on a plate, ask if you want to take a picture of it, and then bring it back into the kitchen to take the head off. As you can see, I think it’s become more of a tourist affair in the last couple of years, but I’m sure the Peruvians get a kick out of the look of horror on most tourists faces.
All in all, I figured trying cuy was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I took it. Besides that, the only lessons I got out of it were: cuy is not very good, and it was by far the most expensive meal I had in Peru. Do with that what you will.
EXPLORE CORICANCHA
Considered one of the most important temples of the Incan Empire, visiting Coricancha is a must. Translating to “Walls of Gold,” the foundation of Coricancha was mostly destroyed by the Spanish who rebuilt the Santo Domingo Church in it’s place. Sitting in the center of Cusco, Coricancha was a religious center focused on it’s appreciation of Inti, the Incan Sun God. Known to have been one of the most sacred places, in order to enter worshippers had to have fasted, be barefoot, and carry a heavy load on their back as a sign of humility.
The combination of Incan and colonial architecture is stunning. The center courtyard has the Temple of the Moon and Stars on one side, and the Temple of the Sun on the other, which were once covered in gold and silver. I highly recommend a tour guide to get the most of your time here. Once you hear all the stories of the past, you’ll be able to feel the history as you walk through the corridors of Coricancha.
DRINK A BEER AT THE HIGHEST IRISH-OWNED PUB IN THE WORLD
It may sound like a funny thing to brag about, but Paddy’s Irish Pub in Cusco, Peru prides themselves on being “the highest Irish-owned pub in the world.” Sitting at 11,152 feet above sea level, it definitely is high in elevation!
When you walk into Paddy’s, the decor will make you feel like you stepped straight into an Irish pub. Their menu serves traditional Irish cuisine and beverages such as shepherd’s pie, burgers, Guiness, whiskies, and even an all day Irish breakfast!
Paddy’s also makes sure to play most sporting events, which brings locals from all over the world here at night. You will never leave Paddy’s without meeting someone from a different part of the world! We hung out with people from Australia and Ireland while watching an American football game. It was fun to get to know them, talk about our travels, hometowns, and have a couple drinks!
TAKE A STROLL AROUND CUSCO
One of the best ways to get to know a new city is by walking around it’s streets. In Cusco, Peru there are so many hidden shops and charming details to find. I loved walking Cusco’s cobblestone streets and feeling the history throughout the city. We even stumbled upon a wedding celebration and a parade! The whole city of Cusco was declared a world heritage site, so you know it’s pretty incredible.
If you’re feeling light headed or need to take it easy due to altitude, take this open city bus tour. This way you will be able to see the historic city of Cusco and some of its archaeological sites mostly from the comfort of a seat!
TAKE A COOKING CLASS IN CUSCO, PERU
Learn all about authentic Peruvian Cuisine by taking a cooking class! One of the best cooking classes offered in Cusco is this cooking class and market tour. You’ll start by visiting San Pedro Market where you can taste different foods and learn from a local how to choose the most fresh ingredients and the art of bargaining with vendors.
You’ll also have the chance to sample more food while sipping on a Pisco Sour! You get to choose the appetizer, main dish, dessert and drink you’d like to learn how to make, which you will eventually enjoy for dinner.
Peruvian cooking is known world wide for having fresh ingredients and being one of the top foodie destinations in the world. Learning directly from a local how to create an authentic dish is like carrying a souvenir with you for the rest of your life! You’ll always have a Peruvian dish to re-create from anywhere in the world.
TOUR THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN
This Cathedral is one of the main staples of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas and is also a Unesco World Heritage Site. Built between 1550 and 1654, it was the first Christian church to be built in Cusco.
The Gothic-Renaissance style architecture reflects the Spanish conquest that took over Cusco and much of South America. The cathedral was built by many of the stones from Sacsayhuaman and is filled with artwork that mostly originates from the Cusco School of Fine Art. This school was built by the Spanish to educate the Incas on European Renaissance style art after their conquest.
The most impressive part of this church was the intricate detail with the incredible crossover of Spanish and Incan styles and hidden symbols throughout.
Want to fit a lot of these experiences into a short amount of time?
Book the Cusco City Highlights Tour. We took this tour and learned so much more about the history of Peru with a guide than we would have exploring on our own.
MAKE YOUR OWN PERUVIAN CHOCOLATE
60% of the cocoa varieties from around the world are from the Amazon region. As a result, Peru is the 13th largest exporter of cocoa and is known for having some of the best chocolate in the world. They are known especially for producing dark chocolate.
Peruvian chocolate is thought to be healthier and is considered a “Puruvian superfood.” It’s packed with potassium and magnesium along with proteins and fibers that aid with digestion and muscle development.
You can even learn to make your own Peruvian Chocolate! This ‘From Bean to Bar‘ class teaches you all about how cacao is transformed into the finished product we see today. Plus, you’ll get to make three different chocolate drinks and your own organic Peruvian chocolates to take home with you.
With that being said, trying all the chocolate while in Peru is a necessity!
Want to take a day trip from Cusco, Peru? Check out Get Your Guide!
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Now that you know what to do close to the city center in Cusco, Peru, you are ready to have the most fantastic time in one of the most historical cities. Cusco, Peru is rich in culture, history and has some of the most incredible food. Take your time getting to know this beautiful place. I’m sure you will fall in love with it just like I did. It’s on many people’s bucketlists for a reason and I can’t wait for you to experience everything it has to offer.
BEST PERU TRAVEL RESOURCES
1. BOOK FLIGHTS WITH SKYSCANNER
2. BOOK ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING.COM or HOTELS.COM
3. BOOK ACTIVITIES AND TOURS WITH GET YOUR GUIDE
4. BOOK TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH WORLD NOMADS.
Need help planning your trip to PERU? Go to my travel resources page for my favorite travel companies to save you money, time, and headaches!
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We had the best time in Cusco! I’m only missing a couple from this list. You did such a good job of pointing out all the very best activities. We drank coca tea as soon as we got there!
The coca tea right away makes a huge difference! We did the same. Thanks for reading Lita, I appreciate your feedback and am so glad you also had a great experience in Cusco!
Very informative post and the photos look gorgeous. I had to chuckle that after all that the Guinea pig wasn’t even good!
Thanks Paul! So glad I could make you laugh with that. Not my favorite meal I’ve ever had! Haha!
I love learning about new places and adding it to my travel bucket list. I would love to try the tea. Thanks for the great guide and suggestions.
Thanks for reading Kayy! The tea is delish and also helps SO much. So glad this city is now on your bucket list!
I’d love to explore Cusco one day! I’d love to stroll through the streets and I’d definitely want to visit Sacsayhuman as I love historical sites! I imagine my other half would be keen to drink a beer at the highest Irish-owned pub in the world too! Thanks for the great guide!
Hannah! I hope you make it there soon. It sounds like a great city for you to explore together! Appreciate you reading!
I’ve been wanting to visit Peru for years! I can hardly wait until I actually get to. Thanks for sharing this comprehensive guide for Cusco; I’ll have to refer back when I finally make it here 🙂. Xx Sara
You would absolutely love Peru! The country has such a contrast in landscape and culture depending on where you are. I hope you get there soon. It’s absolutely worth the trip. Thanks for checking out the blog post.