The Jetsetter Life: 10 Best Things To Do In Cusco, Peru

Peru, a destination in Latin America filled with unspoiled wonders. Visiting the renowned Machu Picchu, enjoying the rainbow mountains in the country’s south, trying the Peruvian dishes, dipping in beach water, and swimming with turtles in the north are just some of the wildest activities you can find yourself in when you are in Peru. All these form unforgettable memories and make your vacation incredibly fantastic. One of the best cities to explore in Peru is Cusco. There are so many things to do in Cusco. 

Cusco is a charming city characterized by cobblestone streets, historic colonial architecture, majestic cathedrals, welcoming cafés, and gorgeous restaurants, just to name a few. There are certainly more. Plus, this city is also the base if you are looking to visit the iconic Machu Picchu, that Incan citadel set high in Peru’s Andes Mountains. Cusco is a leading destination for travelers for a good reason. Let’s take a glimpse at some of the best things to do in Cusco.

Best Things To Do In Cusco

Cusco may not be the capital and the largest city of Peru, but that does not mean it lacks the beauty travelers are looking for. Here are the best things to do in Cusco. 

1. Visit Plaza De Armas, Built On The Remains Of An Inca Gathering Place

When you find yourself in this Peruvian city – we’re talking about in the city itself since the place is also a gateway to many other destinations in its neighboring areas – one of the first things to do in Cusco is visiting Plaza de Armas. 

Plaza de Armas is Cusco’s main street, ever so good-looking. Here’s a fact you ought to know: Plaza de Armas was actually built on the remains of an Inca gathering place, the Great Inca Square or Huacaypata. Most of what you can see today here are already built by the Spanish colonists, who came to the country at a later time. 

At the center of the square, you can chance upon some pretty gardens with several benches around, so it is also a perfect place to rest from so much walking during your tour. If you wish to dine and shop, there are also various restaurants and stores where you can buy alpaca (species of South American camelid mammal) goods and other souvenirs you can carry back home.

2. Cusco Is The Gateway To Machu Picchu 

Unlike Lima, the capital city of Peru, where you can find buildings and skyscrapers that house offices of businesses, Cusco is more about taking you back in time. As a matter of fact, Cusco is hailed as the gateway to many tourist spots from the Inca Empire, and one of these is Machu Picchu. 

Built in the 1400s and later abandoned, Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the country’s Andes Mountains, situated above the Urubamba River valley. The Machu Picchu complex comprises the remains of the walled citadel that stood proud during the height of the Inca Empire, the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. If the Aztecs and Mayans were to Mexico, the Incas were to Peru. 

It is also interesting to note that when the Spanish took over the area, the empire’s people kept this place a secret. In fact, it was not rediscovered until 1911. The three buildings here were made of stone and include a temple, together with terraced grounds running along its slope, as well as an old Inca road leading people to the ruins. 

Machu Picchu will forever remain as the greatest gem of Peru, and one of the greatest of the world. Each day, travelers let their imaginations run wild as they explore the complex. Archaeologists continue to restore the place to how it looked and was significant during its past. You can reach this place from Cusco by train, which only takes a few hours, instead of coming from Lima, which will require you to hop aboard a plane. Visiting Machu Picchu is one of the not-to-forget things to do in Cusco (or nearby Cusco). 

Welcome. You will love this “things to do in Cusco” guide as much as you will love this guide to the best photography spots in Peru. 

3. Learn About The Inca Empire

However, before your visit to Machu Picchu and other Incan sites, if you wish to learn more about their story, heading to the Inca Museum in the city proper should be part of your things to do in Cusco list. 

Managed by Cusco’s San Antonio Abad University, the Inca Museum is housed inside the colonial home of a Spanish admiral. Displaying a huge artifact collection, the museum has 24 exhibition rooms filled with information dating from pre-Inca societies to the height of the empire to Spanish colonization. 

Other Inca Museum highlights are mummified bodies and the courtyard where Andean women weave textiles. This is one of the things to do in Cusco that you should try. 

4. Ride A Quad Bike Around Rainbow Mountain, And Don’t Forget To Take Good Photos For Instagram!

Nothing beats a quad bike ride experience around Rainbow Mountain. Also referred to as Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain is a mountain located nearby Cusco. Considered a holy site in Peru, the mountain has also become a tourist hotspot. Now, it is the second-most visited attraction in Cusco, thanks to local tour operators and a flurry of Instagram posts. 

Most tours bring visitors to this mountain on foot, but things will get different in this tour that uses quad bikes. That also means you will arrive way earlier and beat the crowds, so you can take great photos. This tour includes breakfast and lunch in Japura town. 

We hope that this “things to do in Cusco” are filling you with wonder. Are you loving the nearby Machu Picchu so far? We’ve also included this tourist spot as one of the best locations to photograph in the world. Click this link for the article. 

5. Hop Aboard A Luxury Train, With Food And Wine Included, To Machu Picchu

One of the most common modes of transportation from Cusco to nearby Machu Picchu is via a train. But, should you want a luxury treatment, climb aboard this elegant Belmond Hiram Bingham train composed of 1920s Pullman cars, which ply to the Incan ruins. 

During the ride, you will enjoy fabulous views of the Andes, plus a tablecloth dinner and high-end wine. You will then explore the Incan complex with an expert guide, followed by afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. There’s also live on-board entertainment to keep your spirits uplifted. If you wish to be treated like a VIP, include this on your things to do in Cusco list. 

6. Absorb Everything In Cusco’s Ancient Streets

Continuing on your things to do in Cusco with a visit to the city’s ancient streets. Around Cusco are ruins and other structures from the old times, so expect to be dazzled by its ancient streets. Wander, get lost, and absorb everything here. 

In the city center, especially around Plaza de Armas and San Blas areas, you can see some spectacular examples of Inca construction. Most of them are walls built with enormous stones, with each stone carefully cut and polished so they fit together perfectly and securely, take note, without mortar. Sometimes, you will see colonial buildings built on top of the sturdy Inca foundations. 

As you wander around, previous travelers recommend that you find a viewpoint. For instance, if you are lucky to find yourself on higher ground, you will see some of the city’s portions right in front of you. The Mirador de Plaza Sán Cristobal offers a good vantage point. 

7. Shop At San Pedro Market

San Pedro Market is more than just a shopping destination, but also a great spectacle for those who just want window shopping, not buying anything. The market is filled with fruit, vegetable, and meat stands, not to mention several stalls that serve freshly-squeezed juices. 

Because most products here are sold in the open-air, the freshest items are sold first, so if you are looking to buy them, be sure to arrive early. For lunch, San Pedro Market hosts empanada tamale vendors, as well as stalls offering a two-course meal at a very reasonable price. You can also find coca leaves here if you find yourself struggling with the area’s altitude. If you are a shopping enthusiast, you will love this on your things to do in Cusco itinerary.

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8. Discover The Lost Temple Of Coricancha

Another Inca structure on this things to do in Cusco list is the lost temple of Coricancha. Dedicated to Inti, a sun god, this Inca temple was beloved throughout the Empire. It was so well-loved that its floors and walls were plated in pure gold!

However, during the Spanish colonization, the remains of this landmark were ransacked by the Spanish. Today, you can gaze at the incredible stonework of this Inca ruin at its foundation. Below the site, there’s a museum that tackles the temple’s history and houses relics, from mummies to sacred idols.

9. Tour The Saqsaywaman Citadel, Dubbed As The LEGO Of The Ancient Times

Forget about the LEGOLAND theme parks for now, and be astonished by the Saqsaywaman citadel, dubbed as the LEGO of the ancient times. 

Before the Inca conquered this region, it was the Killke people who occupied that territory. The greatest legacy of these people is the 12th-century Saqsaywaman citadel, a breathtaking engineering feat built from massive boulders without using any mortar. Its intricately-carved stones fit together perfectly, rising out of the area’s arid landscape in a mesmerizing display. 

Like how it is for the ancient Egyptians with their Pyramids, it is still a mystery how the Killke maneuvered these 200-ton stones into place. Include this on your things to do in Cusco itinerary, and be witness to the engineering miracle. 

10. Experience Cusco’s Vivacious Nightlife 

The last but definitely not least on this list of the best things to do in Cusco is immersing into the city’s nightlife. Sure, you may have also immersed yourself into the old ruins, museums, and whatnot, and what could be with you if you cap your night in this amazing city with some booze, dancing, and more?

Believe it or not, Cusco is Peru’s party capital. It features some of the most vivacious nightlife scenes in South America. Nearby the square, you can find several bars and clubs where you can spend your night. 

Specifically, you can visit Mama Africa, the most popular club in Cusco, blasting electronic, hip hop and other dance music until sun up. Another option is at Ukukus, which is also a favorite spot here, featuring live bands, local acts, and DJs. At Ukukus, there’s a pizza bar you can head over to after partying until sunrise, or you can order food from the many street vendors that stay open for the post-club crowd. 

Loving the things to do in Cusco? For sure, you have a heart for anything ancient. Why don’t you consider visiting Cairo in Egypt, too? Click here for the guide.

Mouth-Watering Things To Do In Cusco: Best Restaurants To Visit In This Peruvian City

Peruvian cuisine is a diverse and rich culinary tradition reflecting the country’s varied geography, history, and cultural influences. Did you know that Peruvian recipes are often regarded as some of the world’s most exciting and innovative cuisines? This is since they blend indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques with Spanish, African, Asian, and other cultures throughout the world. From ceviche to potatoes, you’ll be spoiled by the array of food in this country. 

Cusco may not be like Lima, the capital, where many restaurants that serve Peruvian food are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try Peruvian food in this city. To enjoy more things to do in Cusco related to food, here are the best restaurants you can visit in the city. 

• Kusykay Peruvian Craft Food
• Yunkas Peruvian Organic Food
• Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant
• Rucula Cusco
• Chia Vegan Restaurant
• Yaku Restaurant
• Maná Café Restobar
• Mistura Grill

Cusco, Peru’s Finest

Cusco is not just a destination. The place also very much sounds like Emperor Kuzco, the main character in Disney’s animated movie, “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Actually, the movie is set in a fictional Peru, particularly during the Inca Empire. Now this movie and the llamas in it, you get a picture of what Cusco is like. Visiting Cusco is definitely like traveling back in time from when the Inca Empire ruled this region. Around, you can see several structures built during the empire’s prime, some of which we’ve included on this things to do in Cusco list.

Cusco is touted as the navel of the world, the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the gateway to many Inca sites like Machu Picchu. The city was the capital of the Inca Empire from the 1200s to the 1500s, the latter when the Spanish conquered the Inca people and turned Cusco their central hub to colonize the rest of the Andean region. 

Today, cosmopolitan Cusco blasts and thrives with so many contrasts. Cathedrals squat over Inca temples, present-day locals ply the narrow cobblestone pathways, and a rural Andean woman feeds bottled water to her pet llama. You’ll be surprised with what Cusco has to offer. Visit Cusco.