Cusco is known as the town everyone goes to acclimate to the altitude before they hike the famous Machu Picchu. However, did you know Cusco is filled with Incan history that dates back to the 13th century? Because of the vast history, there are a lot of fun historical things to do in Cusco while you get your body ready for the trek out to Machu Picchu.
I was in Cusco for 2 days before I set out for the 2-day Inca trail journey. Unfortunately, I got really sick from altitude sickness within 6 hours of landing from Lima and was mostly vomiting with my head in the toilet for those 2 days. That being said, I was still able to do some of the fun activities after I did the Inca trail.
Altitude Sickness
Cusco elevation is 11,152 feet. Lima is at sea level and you will most likely be flying to Lima before heading to Cusco. The flight is only an hour from Lima to Cusco, so you are going from sea level to 11,152 within an hour. Altitude sickness hits most people and there are no specific indicators on why it hits some people and not others. It has nothing to do with physical fitness or age. Altitude sickness really ruined my trip so I would recommend taking the altitude sickness pills called Diamox.
I would suggest taking Diamox 24 hours before landing in Cusco. You can get Diamox back at home in the U.S from your doctor but in Cusco it’s over the counter. However, it works best when you take it BEFORE you land.
History of Cusco
The Inca Civilization came about in the 13th century and Cuzco was their capital. However, between 1438-1533, the Spanish conquered the Inca city and destroyed the beautiful land.
The Spanish conquered Cuzco for 300 years and unfortunately today’s buildings are more remnants of Spain than the Inca rule. However, the Spanish were unable to destroy all the Inca stones so most of the Spanish architecture was built upon Incas structure.
The Plaza de Armas is a famous attraction with its rich ancient history. It was originally a swamp that became the religious and cultural center of the Inca capital. The Plaza was the main area for religious ceremonies including the Festival of the Sun. The 4 main roads intersected at Plaza de Armas, really emphasizing the importance of the Plaza being the center of an Inca empire.
After the Spanish conquered Cuzco, the plaza was transformed into Catholic Temples for the Christian faith. Today, the Plaza de Armas is still the main hub of Cusco and a place for festivals and events.
11 Best Things to do in Cusco
Here are the top 11 best things to do in Cusco — either before or after you set out for Machu Picchu!
- Visit Sacahuman. Also comically dubbed, “Sexy Woman”, Sacsayhuamán is an ancient Inca Fortress that existed as early as 900 CE. It took 20,000 laborers to move the 6,000 stones. It is a short 10-minute drive to the tourist site, or you can walk 45-minutes up a very long hill. You can get a Cusco tourist ticket for 70 Soles that includes Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. The term Sacsayhuaman means in Quechua “place where the hawk is satiated”. You will see a lot of the hawks in the area! It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Shop at San Pedro Market. This market is amazing! It has the best fruits and vegetables around. What San Pedro Market offers:
- Amazing juice bars. You can get so many types of juices and smoothies – freshly squeezed. The fruits of Cusco were AMAZING! Some of the best juices I’ve ever had.
- Loaves of large round bread – these are freshly baked and smelled amazing.
- The largest assortment of Potatoes I’ve ever seen!
- Dried fruits, nuts, seasonings, coffee stands.
- Handcrafted souvenirs with alpaca wool!
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Sundays until noon.
- Address: San Pedro Central Market, Cascaparo, Cusco.
- How to get there: On foot: along Santa Clara Street, 10 minutes from the Plaza de Armas.
- Take a Cooking Class. We did this amazing cooking class! We made pico da gallo, fries, and steak stirfry. He also showed us how to make drinks using a certain fruit! I would highly recommend taking this when trying to figure out an activity before your hike! The class was about 3 hours and we had plenty of food! Ronal was an amazing guide and he even emailed us the recipes after. The group was fun too. The location was right in the main city center!
- Walk down Siete Borreguitos Street. Cusco is also known for its adorable cobblestone streets with beautiful architecture. 7 Borreguitos Street is a famous narrow street with these cobblestones in the heart of Cusco’s Historic Center. It is a walkable few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Cusco is found at an elevation of 3400 meters/11, 152ft. We took a walk here the day of arrival to get acclimated and it was so picturesque!
- Drink fresh juices. The juices of Cusco were to die for! They were the most fresh juices I’ve ever had anywhere. You can get them in any coffee shop or at San Pedro market. I would highly recommend getting the passion fruit or mango juices. Peru has an amazing diversity of natural environments to grow fruits and veggies. Peruvian fruits are ones you must try! The delicious and exotic flavors of Peruvian fruits are part of the Peruvian cultural experience. The fruit flavors are as diverse and part of the foods and South American traditions.
- Get cheap massages. I found a massage place in Cusco that was $25 for a one hour massage! And they were high quality massages too! You can message them via whatsapp to even book the day of and they will take you a few hours before. They had plenty of therapists to accomodate you and your friends and family. I would highly recommend getting a massage after your long trek and loosen those calves! Book it here:
- Take a day trip to Ollamyano and Sacred Valley. I went on the best day tour after I got back from Machu Picchu! It was a 12 hour excursion that took you to Sacred Valley, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Ollantayambo was my favorite; this ancient Inca town had the most beautiful views. During the Inca period, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who built the town with a ceremonial center. You also get to see how alpaca wool is made and you can buy some alpaca wool tapestries or rugs to bring home. The tour also provided a buffet lunch and will drop off and pick up at your Cusco hotel!
BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE FOR SACRED VALLEY
- Explore Plaza de Armas’ shops and restaurants. There are so many cute little souvenir shops at Plaza de Armas! Cusco is a main production hub for Peru’s textile industry. You know you can find exceptional and 100% authentic alpaca wool! Visit the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco to learn about weaving history of Peru, watch weaving demonstrations and get some alpaca wool! You can support this non-profit who supports local women who are in the industry just trying to make a living. Some nice end wool boutique stores include Lamaland and Alpaca Hand Knitwear Montse Badell. There are also some great Peruvian restaurants in the city center that will provide some authentic Peruvian food experience! I would recommend the ceviche at Morena Peruvian Kitchen. I had some delicious juices and food there before I got altitude sickness.
- Take an ATV Bike Tour. This 6 hour tour is a great way to see the Andes. You can ride an ATV through the Andes Mountains! You will get to see the beautiful Sacred Valley on a guided bike tour. The tour will take you to the salt mines and ancient Incan agricultural laboratory.
- Visit the Planetarium Cusco. Book on their website and they will come pick you up from Plaza de Armas and take you to the Planetarium where you will observe stars, constellations and planets in the sky!
- Walk to the Q’enco Archaeological Complex. About 6km away from Cusco, Q’enco is a significant archaeological site located in Peru. Q’enco was a religious site used by the Incas empire. It served as a ceremonial center where important rituals such as sacrificial animals and human ceremonies took place. The complex has many caves, tunnels and areas that consist of various structures, including stone carvings, terraces, staircases, and underground chambers. You can walk there from Plaza de Armas in 40 minutes or take a taxi. You can ask your hotel to arrange for a taxi for you there and back.
Where to Stay
Here are some great quality and safe places to stay in Cusco. Plaza de Armas is kinda a crazy place to be near, with a lot of street peddlers and just generally a lot of chaos at night. I stayed less than a 10-minute walk from Plaza de Armas and I thought it was safer to stay a little away from Plaza.
🏨 Budget Option: Casa de Mayte. I loved staying here! It is a small business where it is run by the owner and her helper. He took care of every breakfast for us, and even when we were getting up early for our day trips, he made us little paper bags for our breakfasts to go! The breakfast was some bread, cheese and amazing juices. They also had coca tea for you.
🏨 Mid Range: Amaru Colonial. Gorgeous and clean hotel that is a 10-minute walk to Plaza de Armas. Includes breakfast.
🏨 Luxury: Antigua Casona San Blas. A Boutique hotel that includes in-house restaurant and bar, a spa and yoga studio, and steps away from Cusco center.
FAQs
How do you spend a day in Cusco?
I would recommend taking a walk around Plaza de Arms and stopping by San Pedro Market! Have lunch in the main plaza and make sure you visit 7 Borreguitos Street and have a fresh passion fruit juice! I think Cusco is a town that is very relaxing and you just absorb the local culture!
How many days in Cusco is enough?
I think two days in Cusco is good enough to acclimate to the altitude. I would say arrive on day 1, acclimating two full days (day 2 and 3) and then the the morning of day 4 your tour company will pick you up at 4am to start going to Machu Picchu. Check out my packing list for Inca trail here.
What is Cusco famous for?
Cusco is famous for being the stopping point for tourists before Machu Picchu. Most tour companies have offices and tours out of this town. Cusco was also the capital of the Inca Empire which was greatly influential throughout South America.
Is Cusco worth visiting?
It is worth visiting but I actually recommend it AFTER Machu Picchu due to elevation levels. Elevation level of Cusco is 11,152 feet above sea level. Machu Picchu is 7,972 feet so Cusco is higher than you need to be to acclimate. I would suggest first you head to Aquas Calientes which has an elevation of 6,693 feet. The town is adorable and has cute antique hotels, hot springs and tasty restaurants. And it is a short train ride to Machu Picchu Then after MP, head up to Cusco to check out the ancient fortress!
Summary
Cusco is an amazing place to visit with a lot of Inca architecture and history. Personally, since I had such a hard time with acclimation, I would go visit Cusco after Machu Picchu!