explore the imperial city of cusco
sip a coffee in plaza de armas
Cusco is located in the Peruvian Andes and it’s known for being the capital of the Inca Empire (from the 13th to 16th century). The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features charming alleyways and attractive historic buildings at every turn.
I can definitely say that so far Cusco has been my favourite city in South America. You will understand it when visiting the beautiful historic centre with its impressive colonial architecture. As the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, there is history everywhere you look.
Cusco is a very walkable city if you can adjust to the altitude and don’t mind walking up steep hills to reach certain areas. If you are staying near the city centre, you’re never more than a 15-20 minute walk from any of the major sites and delicious restaurants.
One of the best ways to feel the city's charm is to sip an aromatic Peruvian coffee in Plaza the Armas. There are many coffee places around the square, or you can drink it on the second-floor balconies.
don’t miss the cultural events!
Cusco is a very vibrant city, full of life, and I can assure you that it's impossible to get bored, even if you have no plans or you are there simply to relax. Every weekend, different cultural and religious events happen in the main square. During my one week in Cusco, I witnessed a beautiful parade with traditional costumes for the Patron Saint of Cusco; a feminist demonstration for women's rights, and a student parade of different universities from around the country, getting together to perform dances and celebrate the end of their studies.
CHOCOLATE TASTING IS A MUST!
Chocolate is part of the Peruvian culture and it has been a part of the local cuisine for centuries. In fact, Peru is known for producing some of the best chocolate in the world! It comes as no surprise that there are plenty of different ways to experience chocolate in Cusco.
Pay a visit to one of Cusco’s many chocolate factories for a tasting experience that will satisfy your sweet tooth. You can also try your hand at chocolate-making by taking a class.
I highly recommend going to Bean to Bar workshop at ChocoMuseo known for making one of the best chocolate in the city!
try the delicious cafés in Cusco.
Peru is quickly growing as one of the best gastronomies in the world. From typical Andean food to hip-organic restaurants, there’s a lot to choose from, and Cusco is no exception! When walking around the city, you can find many quirky and hipster-filled coffee shops.
Here are some of my favourite restaurants & cafes worth visiting!
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Qura
With a menu of poke and acai bowls, this hipster hangout makes a great place to hunker down with your laptop.
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L’atelier Café Concept
A cute French cafe and boutique located in the trendy San Blas area. Sip your cappuccino with this romantic street view!
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nuna raymi
Enjoy homegrown Peruvian dishes. An absolute must-try is the local Ceviche and the guinea pig, a typical Peruvian speciality!
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avocado, toast & more.
No better place to have avocados than Peru. This restaurant is perfect if you are an avocado lover like me! My favourite dishes were the avocado fries, trout ceviche and the coconut-avocado smoothie.
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green point restaurants
Located in a very relaxing atmosphere, this restaurant offers an infusion of Peruvian and vegetarian-friendly dishes! Try the rocoto cusqueño and for drinks, I would recommend pisco sour and coconut lemonade!
Take in the views around the city
The best way to explore Cusco is to get lost in the city without an itinerary. Wherever you go, you will find yourself on a romantic street or admiring a beautiful viewpoint. Set in a valley and surrounded by mountains, there is no shortage of epic views around the city of Cusco. Some of my favourite lookouts are Mirador de San Blas, Mirador de Plaza San Cristobal, and Mirador El Camino del Inca.
CUSCO BY NIGHT
The colonial architecture of Cusco takes on fresh beauty at night. Whether you want to walk in the romantic Plaza de Armas or explore Cusco's nightlife, there is always something to do after the sun sets.
If you want to experience Cusco's folklore, the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo is one of the best places in town to witness a spectacular show of Andean performers and dancers.
Cusco is known throughout the country as having some of the best nightlife in Peru. No matter what night of the week, there is always a party going on.
Is Cusco safe?
Cusco is probably the safest city in South America, whenever you are exploring during the day or night. With backpackers from around the world, the city is very alive (on Saturdays especially) and you see people coming back to their accommodation at 5-6 am.
Local people are very friendly, so if you have any worries or questions they will be the first ones to help you!
cuddle some alpacas
Wherever you wander in Cusco, you will always encounter some Alpacas, not to be confused with lamas. Alpacas are a lot fluffier and softer, in my opinion, a lot cuter than their cousin lamas! You can take some pictures with the friendly ladies that wear traditional clothes and give them a voluntary donation. They even let you cuddle the baby alpacas as much as you want! (I can't deny that I fell in love with baby Daniel)
Alpaca Luxury Fibre
Alpaca yarn is one of the finest luxury materials in the world and was reserved for Inca royalty in the Peruvian Andes. Alpacas have been domesticated in this region for over 5000 years and were utilized by the Incas for almost everything, including transportation, food and fuel. Nowadays they are mainly used commercially for their yarn.
The alpaca and vicuña (alpaca's wild ancestor) are the most valuable fibre-bearing animals: the alpaca because of the quality and quantity of its fibre, and the vicuña because of the softness, fineness and quality of its coat.
How to reach cusco?
By Air
International flights arriving in Peru will go through the city of Lima. From there you can board a plane and about an hour later you will touch down at the Cusco Airport. A one-way flight will set you back anywhere from $40 – $100 and there are plenty of options throughout the day.
By Bus
Even though this is the cheapest option, I do not recommend taking a bus to cross the country!
I had a very bad experience on my 20 hours bus journey from La Paz (Bolivia) to Cusco. The overnight buses are very dangerous in Peru and Bolivia because many road accidents are happening, due to workers that fall asleep while driving (because they have crazy working hours). On my way to Peru, a truck crashed into our Bus, luckily no one got hurt, but we had to switch buses and it took a long time to get to Cusco.
If you want to avoid taking a flight I would recommend PeruHop - The safest bus company in Peru. This is a hop-on-hop-off bus that gives travellers the option to choose how long they stay in each place.
By Train
Train enthusiasts visiting South America will be excited to hear that despite the lack of railways in the region, there is an option to travel to Cusco by train. The only train line currently in operation to Cusco is from Puno, near Lake Titikaka and the Bolivia border.
The Andean Explorer is a luxury train transporting tourists on a 10-hour scenic day trip. A one-way trip will set you back at least $220, but it is a seriously luxurious experience.