Cusco is a city you can't miss on your trip through Peru! Here, nature, culture, and adventure come together. From hiking with the most beautiful views to the history of the Incas, Cusco has it all!

There is plenty to do in Cusco and the surrounding area. You can easily spend 10 days here. If you have less time, you can decide which attractions you find most interesting and skip the ones that don't appeal to you.

In the center of Cusco, you can still see many old buildings. Plaza de Armas, the city's main square, is surrounded by colonial buildings. It's a place where locals gather, but also where many try to sell things to tourists. The Cusco Cathedral is located on Plaza de Armas and is one of the city's most important churches. The cathedral was built in the 16th century on top of an ancient Inca temple.

Coricancha, which literally means "golden courtyard," was the most important temple in the Inca Empire. It was dedicated to Inti, the sun god. The temple featured impressive architecture and was adorned with gold. During the Spanish colonization, the temple was partially destroyed, and a Spanish church was built on top of it. Despite this, many Inca structures have been preserved and can still be seen. Today, many travelers visit Coricancha to admire the blend of Inca and Spanish architecture.

San Blas is a trendy neighborhood in Cusco, just a 10-minute walk from Plaza de Armas. The area features narrow streets with white buildings, where you’ll find charming boutiques, art studios, and coffee shops. Artists are often seen on the streets creating new paintings. Plaza San Blas is the central square where locals gather. You can also find the San Blas church there. The square is often filled with stalls selling souvenirs.

The San Pedro Market is the main market in the city. It's the place where you can see and taste the local culture! Locals buy and sell everything from vegetables and fruits to cheese and souvenirs. You can also enjoy delicious smoothies at one of the many smoothie stalls.

From the center of Cusco, you can walk uphill for about 30 minutes to reach Sacsayhuamán. This was once a ceremonial temple for the Incas, built with enormous rock blocks. It remains a mystery how the Incas managed to move the rock blocks back then. During your visit, it’s interesting to hear the story behind the rocks and stones from a guide. There are guides at the entrance who are eager to give you a tour. Another option is to join a guided tour.

Located about 3.5 hours drive from Cusco, the stunning Humantay Lake awaits. Surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, this turquoise lake offers breathtaking views. The hike to the lake takes about 1.5 hours, and it sits at an altitude of 13,780 feet (4,200 meters), so the uphill climb can be challenging. Fortunately, the stunning views make it all worthwhile. You can choose to join a tour, which has the advantage of everything being arranged for you. However, some tours leave as early as 5 AM, and you’ll arrive with all the other tour buses. A good alternative is to take a taxi, which allows you to leave later and avoid the crowds. A taxi ride costs around $80 USD, and the driver will wait for you at the lake.

Salinas de Maras consists of thousands of salt pans at varying elevations in the mountains. These salt pans have been used for over a thousand years to extract salt. The salty water flows from an underground spring into the pans, where the water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. The Incas also obtained their salt this way. The salt pans are divided among different families in the region, each maintaining their own pans and selling the salt. The view of the salt pans is quite unique.

Near Salinas de Maras is Moray. Here, you'll find terraces from the Inca era, which are large circular depressions with different layers. The varying layers create temperature differences. The Incas used these terraces to grow various fruits and vegetables and study the effects of temperature on them.

Salinas de Maras & Moray are located in the beautiful Sacred Valley. Want some adrenaline? We visited Salinas de Maras & Moray on a quad tour. You ride partially off-road through the Sacred Valley, visiting Salinas de Maras & Moray. We thought it was a great combination!

Rainbow Mountain is now a popular attraction, whereas before 2016, the mountain was relatively unknown and could only be reached after a six-day hike. A tourist who posted a photo of the mountain online sparked more interest, leading to an increase in visitors. Rainbow Mountain has existed for centuries but was long covered by a thick layer of snow and ice. Climate change has caused the ice to melt, revealing the vibrant colors beneath. The mountain displays various colors, caused by minerals and sediments that have accumulated over the centuries.

Reaching Rainbow Mountain is no easy task. From Cusco, it takes about 3 hours by car. From the parking lot, it's another 40 minutes on foot. The mountain sits at an elevation of 5,200 meters (17,060 feet), making the hike a significant challenge. This is especially true since part of the hike is uphill. The higher altitude means there's less oxygen, so you may find yourself short of breath. Some people struggle with this and use small oxygen bottles. The hike is doable if you're in good physical condition, but it's recommended not to attempt it right after arriving in Cusco. It's best to acclimate to the city's altitude first.

You can visit Rainbow Mountain on a tour, which has the advantage of everything being arranged for you. However, the downside is that all tours depart at the same time from Cusco, meaning they arrive at the same time at Rainbow Mountain, leading to large crowds. We opted for a taxi, paying around $70 USD. The benefit of this is that you can leave Cusco later and have more time to enjoy Rainbow Mountain with fewer tourists around. The taxi will wait for you while you explore the mountain.

One of the most impressive sights is, of course, Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Machu Picchu ranks high on the list for many travelers. This ancient Inca city is perched on a mountaintop in the middle of the Andes. Built around the 15th century, it was likely intended as a retreat for kings and nobles. The Spanish never discovered Machu Picchu, which is why much of the city has been preserved. Read our article about Machu Picchu for more info and tips!

Cusco is a food paradise filled with delicious and affordable restaurants. By Dutch standards, you can dine in style relatively cheaply in Cusco. We had a wonderful meal at Nuna Raymi. This restaurant supports local farmers by using their products, which they explain briefly before you enter. Another great spot is Il Olivo, where you can enjoy delicious Italian cuisine. Mr. Cuy is also an excellent restaurant where, as the name suggests, you can try Cuy, among other dishes. Cuy is the local term for guinea pig, a popular dish in the Andes region of Peru. Besides Cuy, you can also order many other tasty dishes.

With the full tourist ticket, you can visit many attractions in and around Cusco. If you have the time, it’s definitely worth it. The attractions are also easy to combine. We visited several Inca ruins and museums. Additionally, we went to Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, where we attended a traditional dance performance.