14 AMAZING Things to Do in Cusco, Peru 2026 Guide

Located adjacent to the main square in the city, the steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with shops and restaurants of all sorts. While in the area, be sure to visit the Inca ruins at Moray. In fact, as you enter the church you can pay for a separate tour of the Koricancha ruins in the centre of the church.

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It has become a major tourist destination, hosting over 2 million visitors a year and providing passage to numerous Incan ruins, such as Machu Picchu, one of the Seven modern wonders of the world and many others. With a deep passion for online casinos, PlayCasino makes every effort to improve the industry by giving you a high-quality and transparent iGaming experience. You can trust my experience for in-depth reviews and reliable guidance when picking the right online casino. I started my career in customer support for top casinos, then moved on to consulting, helping gambling brands improve their customer relations.
However, despite the execution of the rebellions main leaders, the rebellion persisted up until 1783, led by other leaders such as Túpac Katari. As a consequence of the 18th century Bourbon Reforms, the city of Cusco was convulsed by the large indigenous rebellion initiated by the cacique José Gabriel Condorcanqui, Túpac Amaru II who rose up against the Spanish administration. Urban development was interrupted by several earthquakes that devastated the city on more than one occasion. The Tawantinsuyu (former Inca Empire) was built on Killke structures. During the Siege of Cuzco of 1536 by Manco Inca Yupanqui, a leader of the Sapa Inca, he took control of the city from the Spanish.

Why visit Cusco?

For more info on visiting Peru in each season, check out our guide to the best time to visit Peru. When planning your visit, you should also take into account which other parts of Peru you’ll be visiting. The worst period to visit is probably February, when rains are heavy and the Inca trail is closed for maintenance. For me, the best time of year to visit Cusco is in April or in October. Cusco is full of terrific restaurants and it’s unusual in that it’s a very touristy place where it’s actually still pretty hard to find a bad meal, so you really can’t go wrong.

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Among the most noteworthy Spanish colonial buildings of the city is the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. Remains of the palace of the Incas, Qurikancha (the Temple of the Sun), and the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun still stand. The Spanish explorer Pizarro sacked much of the Inca city in 1535. The Killke built a major temple near Saksaywaman, as well as an aqueduct (Pukyus) and roadway connecting prehistoric structures. The indigenous Killke culture built the walled complex of Sacsayhuamán about 1100. Regional news can be found on local television channels, and Cusqueños are increasingly using digital platforms, such as social media and online news portals.
Personally, I feel it every time I arrive in Cusco, even though I lead an active lifestyle. There’s no way to predict who will feel it—it’s not related to how fit or active you are. It occurs when your body hasn’t had time to adapt to the reduced oxygen levels.

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  • It was built over an underground chapel and has a valuable collection of colonial paintings of the Cusco School, the first school established in Peru and also in the Americas.
  • These ready-to-book itineraries are crafted by our team of experts all over the world.
  • If you are not interested in booking a tour from Cusco, you can also catch the train to/from Aguas Calientes on your way to/from Machu Picchu.

The Cusco sightseeing bus is a great option for a comfortable 2.5-hour guided tour around the city—perfect if you want to enjoy the views without walking too much at altitude. I book the chocolate making workshopchocomuseo peru I truly enjoyed the visit—it’s informative, respectful, and gives you a deeper understanding of the region’s traditions.

Cusco Casino Overview

  • Also known as the “balcony of Cusco,” the neighbourhood sits at the top of a hill and overlooks the main square and all adjacent buildings.
  • Two active days in Cusco is enough time to acclimatize, see the main highlights, wander around a few pretty neighborhoods, and visit a couple of great archaeological sites on the city’s outskirts.
  • Now at the site where he was to remain as an idol, Ayar Oche raised up in flight toward the heavens so high that they could not see him.
  • Situated in the Sacred Valley, the salt mines of Maras are operated today the same as they were over 500 years ago.
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Ollantaytambo is the site of another of Peru’s most famous Inca ruins and another of the more popular things to do around Cusco. Known for its location overlooking the town you can sit and plan out the rest of your day or evening with some of the best views of Cusco. Also known as the “balcony of Cusco,” the neighbourhood sits at the top of a hill and overlooks the main square and all adjacent buildings. San Blas is perhaps the most iconic neighbourhood and one of the top places to visit in Cusco.
Rainbow Mountain is a beautiful natural site, but it is true that it has lost some of its charm since it became such a tourist cusco casino attraction. Its original name is Vinicunca, but it’s more widely known as the Rainbow Mountain or the Mountain of the Seven Colors. I book the roundtrip train to Machu Picchu now! Today it is one of the top attractions in Peru, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World. I buy my Moray and Maras tour ticket easilychichero vallee sacree
In 2019, Cusco was the region that reached the highest number of tourists in Peru with more than 2.7 million tourists. Tourism has been the backbone to the Cusco economy since the early 2000s, bringing in more than 1.2 million tourists per year. However, the relevant economic activity of its inhabitants is the reception of tourism, with increasingly better infrastructure and services. The local industry is related to extractive activities and to food and beverage products, such as beer, carbonated waters, coffee, chocolates, among others. The city had a population of about 348,935 people in 2007 and 428,450 people in 2017 according to INEI. Since his death, Cusco has been a major city for parties such as the Peruvian Nationalist Party and the Broad Front for Justice, Life and Liberty, as well as regional movements.
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However, most of the best things to do in Cusco are free once you have the tourist ticket. Yes, it may seem strange that our top recommendation is to purchase a tourist pass. The Spanish replaced Inca temples and buildings with their own cathedrals and government buildings, many of which are still intact today. The city of Cusco is home to a variety of cultural and archeological artefacts due to its rich history.

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Father Vincente de Valverde became the Bishop of Cusco and built his cathedral facing the plaza. The first three Spaniards arrived in the city in May 1533, after the Battle of Cajamarca, collecting for Atahualpa’s Ransom Room. Nineteen months later, Spanish explorers invaded the city after kidnapping and murdering Atahualpa (see Battle of Cuzco), and gained control. The city fell to the sphere of Huáscar during the Inca Civil War after the death of Huayna Capac in 1528. Archeologists have suggested that this city plan was replicated at other sites.

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Under a modern glass roof, you can appreciate both the pre-Columbian and colonial architecture and daydream what Qorikancha must have looked like in its heyday, with solid gold llamas and alters before they were plundered by the conquering Spaniards. Two blocks south east of the main square lies the remains of what was once Inca empire’s richest temple, literally lined with gold. Taking nearly a century to build shortly after the Spanish had subjugated the Incas, Cusco’s cathedral dominates the main square and houses many treasures of colonial art. You also have nearly unlimited possibilities for hiking and mountain biking just outside the city limits as well as more adrenaline sports within a few hours.
A short walk from the main square, like most good things in Cusco. Situated just off the main square, this is one of a chain of three hamburger joints created by Gastón Acurio, the celebrity chef who is widely viewed as the father of Peru’s gastronomic boom. Their desserts in particular are divine (and very creative), they make good cocktails, and it’s one of few places in Cusco where you can get good quality salt-water fish ceviche.

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