The Things to do in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, serve as the starting point for tours to various tourist destinations such as the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu, the Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and more. Typically, traditional tours are offered, but here, I will show you some must-visit places in and around the city of Cusco.
Table of Contents
Best Things to do in Cusco
In this article, we bring you a list of the 20 best Things to do in Cusco, including both traditional and lesser-known places in Peru.
Moray Archaeological Center
Moray is an Inca research center, also known as agricultural terraces or Andean terraces, shaped like a giant amphitheater with around 12 levels. The deepest depression is 1.5 meters. These terraces, or Inca agricultural laboratories, are unique in the Andes because they have different microclimates, allowing for unique and diverse crops. You can visit this tourist site with a Maras Moray tour, and you’ll also get to know Salineras Maras.
Maras Salt Mines
These salt mines, known as Salineras de Maras, are located at an altitude of over 3000 meters and approximately 1 hour from the city of Cusco. Their exploitation dates back to the time of the Tawantinsuyo Empire.
There are numerous wells excavated, each with an area of 5m2, where natural salt from underground is dried. These formations likely date back over 100 million years. Each well belongs to a local inhabitant, and they fill up with saltwater in 3 to 4 days. Salineras is the main source of livelihood for the population.
Today, it is famous and visited by many tourists on a Maras Moray tour.
Pisac
Pisac is an archaeological center and one of the places to visit on a Sacred Valley of the Incas tour. It is located atop Apu Inti Huatana hill in the province of Calca, Cusco. The most visited attractions are its archaeological park and market. Pisac is known for its terraces, aqueducts, roads associated with walls, gates, and canalized watercourses.
You can visit this archaeological site with a Sacred Valley tour, which also includes Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
Ollantaytambo
The famous Ollantaytambo archaeological center is located northwest of Cusco. It was a military citadel that controlled access to Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world.
Ollantaytambo is the only place where the Inca urban design is preserved, as it is also the obligatory stop before visiting Machu Picchu. This fortress envelops you with its magic and mysteries, built with enormous stones, showcasing unparalleled engineering and wisdom.
Chinchero
Chinchero, also known as the land of the rainbow, is renowned for its textile craftsmanship that attracts many tourists. They showcase their traditional weaving process, and you can also appreciate its archaeological center and church. This tourist site is visited on a Sacred Valley of the Incas tour, along with Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
Chincheros has a beautiful, lesser-known spot that very few people visit, called Poc Poc Waterfall. It’s about an hour’s walk from Chinchero, and it’s not included in the traditional Sacred Valley tour.
Humantay Lake
This natural tourist attraction, Humantay Lake, has gained recent fame for its turquoise waters and the Salkantay Mountain. This excursion can be done in a day of hiking, but many adventurous tourists opt for the Salkantay trek, which takes 5 days and includes a visit to Humantay Lake. It is recommended to visit this Humantay Lake tour with a travel agency to ensure a satisfying trip, as they accompany you and are attentive throughout your return to the hotel or accommodation.
Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca is one of the best places to visit in Peru, located over 100 kilometers from the city of Cusco, famous for its colorful mountain formation.
Rainbow Mountain was covered in ice years ago, and even in the rainy season, it is sometimes covered in snow. Since around 2016, it has received up to 2000 visitors per day. The tour to Rainbow Mountain starts from the city of Cusco by car to Phulawasipata, from where it’s approximately a 1-hour hike.
Red Valley
Red Valley is a new tourist site in Pitumarca, Cusco. It is located very close to Rainbow Mountain and is famous for its beautiful landscape filled with reddish-toned mountains, which is due to the iron oxide present in the rocks.
To reach Red Valley, it takes about a 3-hour car ride followed by a hike to enjoy the beauty of the area.
Palcoyo
Palcoyo, another rainbow mountain similar to Vinicunca, receives fewer visitors per day. The hike is much gentler and less demanding, offering a view of three colorful mountains. It is located in the Checacupe district of Canchis, Cusco, and is situated about 20 kilometers from Rainbow Mountain.
From the city of Cusco, you’ll travel by car for about 3 hours. On the way to Palcoyo, you can make a short detour to enjoy the hanging bridge built by the locals of Checacupe before continuing to the parking area, where the hike to Palcoyo begins.
Qeswachaka
Qeswachaka is the last living Inca rope bridge today, with a length of 28 meters and a height of 30 meters above the Apurímac River. It is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This rope bridge is made from Ichu straw, a plant from the highest Andean regions, and it is renewed annually with a ritual and celebration by the inhabitants of Perccaro, Huinchiri, Ccollana, and Qqewe.
To visit Qeswachaka, travel agencies offer tours, and you can also visit it on your own.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, the historic sanctuary, is one of Peru’s most recognized treasures. It was built around the 15th century and is a masterpiece of art, architecture, and perfect engineering harmony with nature. It is currently one of the wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, as well as the most important tourist site in Peru.
To visit Machu Picchu, you first arrive in the city of Cusco and then head to Ollantaytambo, from where you take a train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. Some nature and trekking enthusiasts take the “Inca Trail 4 days” or “Inca Trail 2 days” to reach Machu Picchu.
Choquequirao
The Choquequirao archaeological park is located in the Vilcabamba mountain range, high atop a summit of the Salkantay Mountain. It is considered the “younger sister” of Machu Picchu due to its incredible stone construction.
Choquequirao trek is visited by hiking, adventure, and archaeological enthusiasts, as it is a 5-day hike.
Salkantay
Salkantay, one of Peru’s snow-capped peaks, is located in Cusco in the Vilcabamba mountain range. Locals also refer to it as “China Salkantay.” In Andean cosmology, the high mountains were considered powerful in Inca times. Currently, the Salkantay trek, a 4-day alternative route, is undertaken to reach Machu Picchu, providing an alternative to the classic 4-day Inca Trail. In both cases, you arrive at the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu.
Lesser-Known Places to Visit in Cusco
Here are the things to do in Cusco that are less frequently visited by tourists but just as beautiful as the others.
Cocalmayo
Known for its hot springs, called Colcamayo or Santa Teresa hot springs, located in the Convención province, Cusco. It’s an ideal place to relax before or after visiting the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu. The hot springs are visited on Salkantay trek routes and by car to Machu Picchu. You can also visit Colcamayo independently.
Pikillaqta
Pikillaqta is a Wari archaeological site located in the Lucre sector of Pikillaqta, Cusco. It was developed between 600 and 1000 AD. It features a harmonious geometric plan with rectangular and square buildings, courts, and squares. The walls are made of uncut stone and mud, reaching heights of up to 12 meters. There are approximately 700 buildings, 200 courts, and 508 warehouses. It is estimated to have had a population of 10,000 inhabitants.
The pre-Inca Pikillaqta archaeological site can be visited as part of the Southern Valley tour, which also allows you to see the Andahuaylillas Sixtine Chapel and the Tipon Archaeological Center. Access is via the Cusco-Urcos-Puno-Arequipa route.
Huasao Wetland
Huasao Wetland is located 30 minutes from Cusco in the Oropesa district, Cusco. It is mostly visited by locals and features natural formations carved into fictional figures like ‘Groot,’ ‘Baby Groot,’ and ‘Ents.’ It’s a perfect place for a family visit and a break from daily routine. If you are visiting Cusco, you can go there on your day off by taking the ‘Los Leones’ or ‘Saylla-Huasao’ transportation services or simply by taking a taxi.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo, an archaeological center, is located north of the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Calca province, Cusco. It was built by Inca Wiracocha in search of peace and tranquility, as it is said that in his old age, he felt tired and wanted to relinquish the rule of the Tawantinsuyo Empire in Cusco.
Pallay Punchu Mountain
Pallay Punchu Mountain, also known as Condor Sayana, is a new tourist destination located more than 194 kilometers from the city of Cusco. It is similar to Rainbow Mountain and is famous for its rocky formation with sharp peaks that resemble an Andean poncho. To reach Pallay Punchu Mountain, you must travel for approximately 4.5 hours and then walk about 10 kilometers.
Farallones and Tecsecocha Waterfall
The Tecsecocha Waterfall and Farallones are located in the Ccorca district, approximately 1.5 hours from the city of Cusco. They amaze visitors with their geological formations, waterfall, rock paintings, and tombs. While mostly visited by locals, if you are in Cusco, you can visit them on your day off by taking shared cars to Ccorca on Antonio Lorena Avenue or by taking a private car.
Morada de los Dioses (Apukunaq Tianan)
This is a new attraction, just 13 kilometers from the city of Cusco. Morada de los Dioses is a complex of recently carved lithic sculptures, famous for their enormous size, ranging from 4 to 8 meters approximately. It has already been visited by many local, national, and foreign tourists. You can reach it by taking the Santiago Express transportation service and getting off at the end of the company’s route. From there, you can take private vehicles. Travel agencies also offer complete packages to this site.
