Cusco

Sights

• Plaza de Armas – The heart of the former Inca capital, with the cathedral and arcades.
• Qorikancha – The Inca Sun Temple, with a convent built on top.
• Sacsayhuamán – Fortress walls of huge, perfectly fitted stones above the city.
• San Blas – A hillside district of crafts and steep lanes.
• San Pedro Market – Juices, soups, potato varieties and herbs.
• Twelve-Angled Stone – A masterpiece of Inca stonemasonry on Calle Hatun Rumiyoc.

Food & nightlife

• Cuy – Roasted guinea pig, a traditional Andean festive dish.
• Alpaca and quinoa – Andean cuisine, often given a modern twist.
• Coca tea – Mate de coca is drunk to help with the altitude.
• Chicha Morada – A sweet drink made from purple corn.

Day trips

• Machu Picchu – The Inca citadel on a mountain saddle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – on foot via the Inca Trail or by train.
• Sacred Valley – Pisac, Ollantaytambo, the circular terraces of Moray and the Maras salt pans.
• Rainbow Mountain – Vinicunca: colour-striped slopes at over 5,000 metres.
• Humantay Lake – A turquoise mountain lake below a glacier, as a day hike.

Good to know

When to go

May–September

Getting around

The city sits at about 3,400 metres – take the first days easy. To Machu Picchu by train to Aguas Calientes, then by bus; book entry and the Inca Trail in advance.

Tipping

Around 10% is customary in restaurants.

Power

Plug type A/C, 220 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Peruvian Sol (PEN)

Plan your trip to Cusco together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Peru

• Lima