Things to do in Cusco Region

Activities, attractions and tours

Cusco showing landscape views, wild flowers and tranquil scenes
Cusco which includes tranquil scenes and landscape views
Urubamba showing mountains, landscape views and tranquil scenes
Peruvian Highlands which includes a church or cathedral, a square or plaza and a city
Cusco featuring heritage architecture, a house and a ruin
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Top places to visit

1. Aguas Calientes Hot Springs

Aguas Calientes sits below Machu Picchu and is the last train stop before the sacred Inca city. The small town lies in a deep valley enclosed by mountains and forests. With restaurants, thermal baths, hiking trails and a market, Aguas Calientes is more than just a gateway to the ancient ruins. It is worth spending a day or two here before going onto Machu Picchu.
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Cusco featuring landscape views and a small town or village

2. Plaza de Armas

Head to where the action is at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, a large landscaped square bordered by shops, restaurants and ancient churches. For more than 500 years, the square has been at the heart of city life. Come to the plaza nowadays and you might see festivals, concerts and religious processions. Enjoy the lively atmosphere, admire the ornate lampposts and colonial archways and relax with a drink.
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Plaza de Armas showing a church or cathedral and a park

3. San Pedro Market

Cusco San Pedro Market is a sprawling, open-air market, with everything from produce and meat to clothing and incense. Popular with locals and visitors, the market is an entertaining destination for shoppers and anyone curious about local culture.
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Cusco San Pedro Market featuring markets as well as a small group of people

4. Sacsayhuaman

Venture into the archaeological park just outside Cusco’s city center to explore the ruins of Sacsayhuaman. This colossal stone fortress and temple sits on a steep hill overlooking the city and attests to the brilliance of Incan engineering. Come to observe traditional Incan ceremonies and to admire how the structure was built, noting the large limestone blocks that lock together without mortar.
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Inca fort at Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Peru

5. Huayna Picchu

Rising more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the ancient plazas and palaces of Machu Picchu is the rhino horn-shaped peak of Huayna Picchu, also called Wayna Picchu. The mountain is believed to have been a home for high priests and virgins. Hike up to the summit for the views and to see ancient temple ruins.
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Huayna Picchu

6. Cusco Cathedral

Standing over Cusco’s main square is Cusco Cathedral, an impressive Gothic-Renaissance structure built on the site of an Inca palace. Explore the interior, filled with more than 400 canvases, woodcarvings and a silver altar.
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What to do in Cusco Region

Popular places to visit

Cusco which includes street scenes and café scenes

Aguas Calientes Hot Springs

Known for its thermal baths, trekking routes and beautiful scenery, this deep valley village is an attractive stopover for those waiting to climb up to Machu Picchu.

Aguas Calientes Hot Springs
Plaza de Armas showing a church or cathedral and a park

Plaza de Armas

Cusco’s busy main square has been the center of public life for centuries. Enjoy its spacious layout, ancient churches and restaurants.

Plaza de Armas
Cusco San Pedro Market featuring markets and food as well as a small group of people

San Pedro Market

Get caught up in the chaos of this intriguing attraction and enjoy a uniquely Andean experience.

San Pedro Market
Young Llama on a hillside, Inca trail, Peru

Inca Trail

You can take time to visit Inca Trail during your travels to Machu Picchu. While you're in the area, stroll along the riverfront.

Inca Trail
Sacsayhuaman featuring a ruin and heritage elements as well as an individual child

Sacsayhuaman

The colossal stones of Cusco’s hilltop fortress are a powerful testimony to the ingenuity of Incan construction techniques.

Sacsayhuaman
Huayna Picchu featuring animals, mountains and tranquil scenes

Huayna Picchu

The distinctive mountain that towers over the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu has its own temple ruins and archeological sites.

Huayna Picchu
Aerial view of the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of Cusco. Peru

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site

Learn about the local history of Ollantaytambo with a stop at Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site. Visit the shops and top-notch restaurants in this quaint area.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site
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Cusco Cathedral

An imposing building constructed with stones from an Inca fortress is celebrated for its beautiful architecture and artwork that spans three centuries.

Cusco Cathedral
Valle sagrado de los Incas, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Perú

Machu Picchu Mountain

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Machu Picchu Mountain during your travels in Machu Picchu. While you're in the area, stroll along the riverfront.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Areas of Cusco Region

La Merced Church which includes a city

Cusco Historic Center

4.5/5(62 area reviews)

Cusco Historic Center is known for its popular shops, and with sights like Basilica of La Merced and Santa Catalina Convent, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Cusco.

Cusco Historic Center
San Blas which includes a city

San Blas

Take a walk through the heart of Cusco’s artisan district, one of the city’s most beguiling and lively areas.

San Blas
Our hostel was located only a few blocks away from Cusco's Plaza de Armas but it was all up hill. It was worth it though for the incredible views the hostel offered of the city! On this morning we were up early for a day tour and enjoyed our breakfast on the small outdoor patio overlooking the city. #UrbanJungle

San Cristóbal

While visiting San Cristóbal, you might make a stop by sights like Museo de Arte Precolombino and Pre-Columbian Art Museum.

San Cristóbal
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Santa Monica

While Santa Monica may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Real Plaza Cusco and National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco.

Santa Monica
The Inca Trail was the first

Santiago

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Santiago and surrounding area, you can visit Ttio Market and Santiago Plaza.

Santiago
Fotografías con Drone Mavic Pro, del Barrio de Santa Ana, en Cusco Perú, by Yuri Ugarte Cespedes

Santa Ana

While Santa Ana may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Plaza El Regocijo and San Pedro Market.

Santa Ana

 

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Cusco featuring heritage architecture, a house and a ruin

Cusco

Machu Picchu featuring mist or fog and a ruin

Machu Picchu

Cusco which includes a ruin, landscape views and a small town or village

Ollantaytambo

Nevado Ausangate is considered the holiest mountain in the Cusco Region of Peru. This adventure included a 2-day, 17-mile trek covering two mountain passes at 16,400 feet. The trek was one of the most strenuous hikes I’ve ever done, mostly due to the altitude, but provided some of the most rewarding views I’ve ever seen. If you’re visiting from lower altitudes, be sure to take the time to acclimatize. #Peru #Adventure #Ausangate #Andes

Ocongate

One of my favorite places I visited in Peru. We got there as the sun was coming up, and no one else was at the site for a good 2 hours. There was an amazing amount of working Incan waterways through here. The sound of running water was everywhere, with a public waterfall/fountain, and lots of water channels running through the whole site. It was preserved immaculately, and was a highlight of the trip for us, even though it started as an afterthought.

Oropesa

The best way to get around lakes in Peru

Manu