Inca capital and gateway to Machu Picchu.
Cusco is the former Inca capital high in the Andes, with Spanish churches built on Inca stone walls. It is the base for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It suits history lovers and hikers.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Machu Picchu is a 1400s Inca citadel on a ridge above the Urubamba River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is reached by train and bus or on foot via the Inca Trail.
Standard circuits cost about 64 soles in 2026 and mountain routes about 112 soles.
Sacsayhuaman is an Inca fortress above Cusco with walls of huge fitted stones. It hosts the Inti Raymi festival.
Included in the general Boleto Turistico del Cusco; prices change, check the official site.
The Plaza de Armas is the main square of Cusco and was the centre of the Inca capital. Colonial arcades and churches surround it.
The plaza is free; the cathedral requires a ticket, often part of a combined ticket.
Qorikancha was the most important temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the sun. The Spanish built the Santo Domingo convent on top, leaving Inca walls visible.
Separate entry fee; the site is not on all combined tickets.
San Pedro Market is the main food market of Cusco. Stalls sell juices, soups and local produce.
Free to enter; meals are inexpensive.
The Sacred Valley follows the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It has Inca ruins, terraces and markets.
Costs depend on the tour or transport and which sites you enter; the Boleto Turistico covers some.
The Cusco Cathedral was built on the site of an Inca palace. It holds colonial paintings of the Cusco school.
The plaza is free; the cathedral requires a ticket, often part of a combined ticket.
Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca, lies about 100 kilometres southeast of Cusco at over 5,000 metres. It is known for its colourful striped slopes.
Tour prices vary, plus a small local entry fee.
Moray has circular Inca terraces that may have been used for farming experiments. Nearby, the salt pans of Maras have been worked since before the Incas.
Check the official site for current prices.
San Blas is a hillside quarter of steep lanes above the Plaza de Armas. It is known for artisan workshops.
Free to walk.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one city, day two Sacred Valley, day three Machu Picchu.
Turquoise glacial lake.
75 mi · Tour, about 3 hours
Market and ruins.
21 mi · Colectivo, about 1 hour
Inca terraces with working water channels and a large Wari ruin.
16 mi · Taxi or tour, about 45 minutes each way
A less crowded alternative to Vinicunca with easier walking.
75 mi · Tour van, about 3h each way
An Andean village known for weaving and a Sunday market.
19 mi · Colectivo or taxi, about 45 minutes each way
Thousands of terraced salt evaporation pans alongside Moray's concentric circular Inca agricultural amphitheaters.
31 mi · Shared tourist excursion or private taxi from Cusco in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Best: May to September. Dry season with clear skies.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
June 24
Inca sun festival at Sacsayhuaman.
May or June
Processions of saints.
Monday before Easter
A solemn procession of the Lord of Earthquakes, patron of Cusco.
Early June
A week of parades and dances for the city's anniversary.
December 24
Centuries-old Christmas Eve artisan folk art market filling the Plaza de Armas with wood carvings and ceramic nativity figurines.
The US State Department rates Peru Level 2, exercise increased caution, for crime and unrest; in Cusco, altitude sickness and petty theft are the main issues.
The historic center is walkable, but steep and high.
Colectivos and taxis; trains run to Machu Picchu.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers
Central.
Best for: couples
Artsy hillside.
Best for: nature
Lower altitude.
Best for: budget, backpackers
Cheap hostels near the market and the train and bus stops.
Best for: quiet stays, longer visits
Peaceful residential neighborhood a short ten-minute walk from the historic center.
| Main airport | Alejandro Velasco Astete International (CUZ), 3 mi from the center |
| To the center | A taxi to the Plaza de Armas takes about 15 to 20 minutes (2026). |
| Around town | Walk the center; use tours or colectivos for the valley. |
| Ride apps | Uber, InDrive |
Roasted guinea pig.
Beef stir-fry.
Lime-cured fish.
Helps with altitude.
Lean meat that tastes similar to beef, served in many restaurants.
A warming Andean grain soup that is good in the cold.
A sweet purple corn drink with spices.
Traditional Andean guinea pig pressed flat and deep-fried until skin is crispy, served with roasted potatoes.
| Plugs | Type A and C, 220 V |
| Tap water | Use bottled water |
| Tipping | Tip about 10 percent. |
| Payments | Carry soles for small shops. |
| Etiquette | Ask before photographing locals in traditional dress. |
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire from the 1400s. Spanish conquistadors took it in 1533 and built churches over temples. Machu Picchu was brought to world attention in 1911, and the city is a UNESCO site. Cusco was the Inca capital, and its centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.