Would you like to visit Peru, and in particular Cusco, the country’s historic capital?
This article is for you! You’ll find an example of a week’s worth of activities to discover the surroundings, culture and history of this city, still known today as “the navel of the world” due to its central location in the Inca Empire.
Day 1 : Getting your bearings
You’re finally at Cusco airport! You’ve just landed at an altitude of 3,400 metres and you can already feel it: breathing is more difficult than in Lima. Because of the altitude, the air contains 30% less oxygen than at sea level. As a result, you tire more quickly when you exert yourself, and can even fall victim to altitude sickness, which translates into intense headaches.
That’s why we recommend that you take the time to acclimatize your body, especially if you’re planning any demanding excursions in the next few days, as in this example.
So, for this first day, we recommend a calm program.
After checking into your hotel or youth hostel, you’ll set off to visit the city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like many Spanish colonial cities, Cusco is organized around a large central square: the Plaza de Armas, with several important buildings around it, including the city’s Cathedral. For your first day, head for the San Pedro market, one of the city’s most authentic spots, not far from the central square. It’s the ideal place to pick up a freshly squeezed fruit juice, from among an incredible variety of tropical produce. You’ll find juicy mangoes, dragon fruit, chirimoyas and many other fruits you may never have tasted before. In addition to the fruit, the market is packed with stalls selling local food, colorful spices, local cheeses and inexpensive handcrafted souvenirs. A great way to immerse yourself in the daily life of Cusco’s inhabitants, just a stone’s throw from the historic center!
Day 2 : In the heart of the city
After a good night’s sleep and some well-deserved rest, you’re ready to embark on your first full day in Cusco. Head for the San Blas district. It’s a lively, touristy district with many charming shops, where you can buy souvenirs or enjoy a coffee in one of the many shops in the area. Then continue your morning with a visit to the Qorikancha, former Temple of the Sun and a major sacred site of the Inca Empire. The superimposition of Andean and colonial architectural styles alone tells the complex story of Cusco. A must-see!
For lunch, you’ll find many small, typical restaurants in the area, offering dishes such as lomo saltado, trucha a la plancha, or vegetarian options inspired by Andean cuisine. In the afternoon, sit on a terrace in the San Blas district, with a pisco sour and the breathtaking panorama before your eyes.
Day 3 : Discover the Inca ruins around Cusco
On this third day, we recommend that you take a cab up to the heights of Cusco to begin the City Tour. From these hills, you’ll reach a remarkable group of Inca remains, the famous four ruins of Cusco: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara. The tour begins with Tambomachay. The ingenious hydraulic system, still in operation, is sure to amaze. Aqueducts and canals carved into the rock carry water continuously, reminding us of the symbolic and practical importance of water to the Incas.
The second site to visit is Puka Pukara, literally “the red fortress”. This military checkpoint offers not only finely carved stone walls, but also a splendid panoramic view of the surrounding valleys.
Continue on to Qenqo, an ancient sanctuary with mysterious functions. The site features a semi-circular amphitheatre 55 metres in diameter, niches carved into the rock, and a large monolithic stone with zigzag channels, probably used for rituals.
Last but not least, the magnificent site of Sacsayhuamán.
The colossal walls, assembled without mortar, defy time and logic: some stones weigh dozens of tons, yet they fit together perfectly, testifying to exceptional architectural mastery.
Before heading back down to town, don’t miss the Cristo Blanco, a statue of Christ overlooking Cusco, similar to the one in Rio. From up there, the view over the city’s red rooftops is breathtaking.
All these sites are included in the Boleto Turístico del Cusco, a tourist pass valid for 10 days. It costs 130 PEN (~30 €) for an adult and 70 PEN (~17 €) for a student, and also gives access to many of the region’s museums and other cultural sites.
After this immersion in Inca history, it’s time to recharge your batteries. You have two options:
La Bohème Crêperie: If you’re already missing France, this small French restaurant offers sweet and savoury crêpes in a warm atmosphere. A real corner of Brittany in the heart of the Andes!
Organika Peruvian Restaurant: For a more local experience, this typical restaurant serves tasty Peruvian cuisine, based on organic ingredients grown in the Sacred Valley.
Day 4 : Sacred Valley
The first major excursion of the week takes you to the heart of the mythical Sacred Valley of the Incas, a fertile land steeped in history and located between Cusco and Machu Picchu. This rich day includes visits to four emblematic sites: Chinchero, Maras Moray, and Ollantaytambo.
The first stop is Chinchero, a village perched high in the Andes, renowned for its rich historical heritage. Here we discover an impressive Inca archaeological site, with stone agricultural terraces and the remains of an ancient city. At the summit stands a 17th-century colonial church, built on the very foundations of an Inca temple. This blend of ancient Andean culture and Catholic architecture vividly illustrates the clash of civilizations. The setting is both spiritual and historical, ideal for contemplation.
A few kilometers away is the site of Moray, famous for its astonishing circular terraces carved out like amphitheatres. These grandiose structures were used by the Incas as a center for agricultural experimentation. Thanks to the microclimates created by the depth of the terraces and their orientation, they were able to grow a wide variety of plants and observe their reactions at different altitudes.
The third site to explore is the Maras salt pans. These tiered basins are fed by a source of salt water that mysteriously gushes up from the mountain’s interior. This salt-saturated water comes from millions of years-old underground aquifers, formed when the Andes were raised. Exploited since pre-Inca times, these saltworks continue to produce salt by hand, using ancestral techniques handed down from generation to generation.
The last site of the tour takes you to Ollantaytambo, an authentic, well-preserved village from Inca times. This strategic location served as an administrative, military and religious center. Overlooking the valley, the majestic ruins of the Temple of the Sun and the fortifications offer spectacular views and bear witness to Inca architectural genius.
After this day, there’s no need to return to Cusco: we sleep in Ollantaytambo to catch the next day’s train to Machu Picchu!
Day 5 : Machu Picchu
After a peaceful night in Ollantaytambo, you wake up ready for one of the most eagerly awaited moments of your stay. The one that every tourist in Peru eagerly awaits… the long-awaited visit to Machu Picchu. This emblematic site, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is a must-see for anyone discovering Cusco and the surrounding area.
From the village of Ollantaytambo, a train takes you to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The hour-and-a-half journey through the narrow gorges and vegetation is already a foretaste of the adventure.
Once in Aguas Calientes, a short bus ride of around 20 minutes takes you to the entrance to the site. And then… Machu Picchu finally reveals itself.
Suspended between the sky and the jungle, this archaeological site perched at an altitude of 2,400 metres impresses by its grandeur and its harmony with the surrounding nature. The remarkably well-preserved ruins silently recount the fascinating history of the Incas.
After enjoying as much as possible, it’s time to head back to Cusco, as the next morning we wake up at 4am to visit a rainbow mountain.
Day 6 : Palcoyo and Ananiso Canyon
You’ve just woken up. It’s been a short night, but don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to rest on the road.
Today’s program is a hike up the rainbow mountain Palcoyo, the cousin of the famous Vinicunca mountain, but with the advantage of being preserved from mass tourism and a real hike unlike Vinicunca where you go up, take your photo and then come back down the same way.
After a 2-hour ride in a minibus, you take a well-deserved break for a hot breakfast with the locals, including Danish bread, coca infusions and everything else you need for a good breakfast.
Once you’ve had your fill, you continue by vehicle to the starting point of the hike, situated at an altitude of almost 4930 metres. At this height, the air is even rarer than in Cusco, and you have to be careful not to push yourself too hard. Movements must be slow, breathing controlled.
For less than an hour of easy hiking, you follow a path along the mountainside. The pace is calm, allowing you to take in the scenery. The mountains that surround you are astonishing, with a variety of colors due to the minerals in the soil: red, green, yellow, sometimes violet.
The hike ends at the Ananiso canyon, a little-known but majestic site. The canyon opens up suddenly before your eyes, with its vertical rock walls and impressive depth. The environment is mineral and almost lunar in places. There’s hardly anyone around, which makes the experience all the more memorable. The view of the canyon and surrounding peaks offers a unique panorama, far from the crowds and mass tourism.
Day 7 : Departure and souvenir shopping
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
If, with your busy schedule, you haven’t had a chance to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Just before you fly out, this is the perfect time to remedy that. You can return to the San Pedro market, known for its handicrafts, colorful textiles and traditional objects.
Alternatively, you can visit the small stores in Cusco’s historic center, notably around the Plaza de Armas or in the San Blas district, where you’ll find a wide variety of items: silver jewelry, alpaca sweaters, ceramics, local paintings, and other items to take back in your suitcases.
Hasta luego Cusco! May this week remain for you a strong, colorful and unforgettable memory.
The whole Escapate team is at your disposal to help you organize your week (or more!) in Cusco and Peru in general.
