Luxury
Peru Trip Itineraries
First Time in Cusco
Destination(s): Cusco
Think Cusco and think ancient city steeped in mythology. Think Machu Picchu, Inca ruins and winding cobbled streets. Think breathtaking panoramic vistas and stunning architecture, bloody history and mysterious artifacts. Cusco is all this and more, the top Peru vacation destination lying in the middle of the most important historical site in all of Latin America. At over 3,300m, Cusco is literally a cloud city and those arriving by plane will notice the altitude difference immediately. You'll need a day or two to acclimatize to the elevation, especially if you're planning on exerting yourself along the fabled Inca Trail to Machu Picchu . The city is jam packed with historical sites, ruins museums, churches and notable architecture and for this reason, most of the popular sites are covered by the 'boleto turistico' (tourist ticket). You'll need to invest in a ticket if you wish to see any of the major attractions, but your ticket should be valid for ten days and so can be used when you return to Cusco from the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail itself is just one of many routes that lead to Machu Pichhu and alternative treks are often just as challenging and interesting while being half as congested with other trekkers. Choose your operator wisely and shop around - it's advisable to look into this up to two months before your arrival to Cusco as places on the 'standard' Inca Trail fill up long in advance. read more about First Time in Cusco
Plaza de Armas
- Plaza de Armas
- Visit website
- Cusco
Sacred Valley of the Incas (The)
- Sacred Valley of the Incas
- tel:51 8426 3176 (Tourist Information)
- Visit website
- Urubamba
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Calle Plateros 316, 2nd floor
- Visit website
- Cusco
Macchu Picchu
- Calle Plateros 316, 2nd floor
- Visit website
- Machu Picchu
Compañía de Jesús
- Plaza de Armas
- Visit website
- Cusco
Sacsayhuaman
- 2 kms North of Cusco
- Cusco
Providing impressive birds-eye views of the city and surrounding valley, the Incan archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman is a to-do not to be missed while in Cusco. Popularly believed to have been a fortress, more recent interpretations suggest that it may have been used for religious rituals and activities. The site itself is comprised of an enormous plaza bordered on one side by three parallel Inca walls reaching lengths of 400 meters. The rocks themselves are fitted with impressive accuracy and can reach heights of six meters and outlandish weights of up to 200 tons. The site is thought to have included other stone structures and temples which were later demolished by the Spanish so as to construct new buildings within the city of Cusco. Towards the back of the archaeological site, stone slides and serpent-like caves make for great recreation for younger travelers and adults as well. Visiting the massive Inca stonework of Sacsayhuaman is a must when traveling to Cusco and makes for a quiet half-day excursion outside of the lively city of Cusco. Accessible by taxi, public bus or by foot, entrance is included on the Boleto Turistico de Cusco and tour guides are available at the entrance.
Catedral (La)
- Triunfo
- Plaza de Armas (north side)
- tel:51 84222781
- Visit website
- Cusco
Killa Wasi (House of the Moon)
- Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Sol & Luna Lodge
- tel:51 84 20 1620 (Sol & Luna Lodge)
- Visit website
- Urubamba
Santa Catalina
- Santa Catalina Angosta 190
- tel:51 8422 6032
- Visit website
- Cusco
Ukuku's Bar
- Calle Plateros 316, 2nd floor
- tel:84 254 911; 984 759 686
- Visit website
- Cusco
One of the staples of the Cusco night scene, Ukukus Bar is a live music venue and culture hall that transforms into a bustling club in the late hours. Live music varies widely from salsa to 80s cover bands, and the tables arranged in front of the stage fill up quickly and usually by an older crowd. The younger crowd shows up later and piles into the dance floor and bar towards the back of the venue. The walls at Ukukus are covered with vivid and endless murals and sculptures, giving the locale the feel of an outlandish gallery of modern art. An experience for the visual and auditory senses, a night out at Ukukus should be mandatory for all travelers. If you get hungry, there's a small restaurant neighboring the club where one can get a plate of fries, a hamburger, or anything else that well accompanies a night of dancing and drinking. Offering a decent two for one happy hour most nights, expect to pay a small cover charge on most evenings.
Palacio del Arzobispado
- Hatun Rumiyoq s/n
- tel:51 84225211
- Visit website
- Cusco
Moni Cafe Restaurant
- San Agustin 311
- tel:51 84 23 1029
- Cusco
San Blas Church
- Plazoleta San Blas
- Visit website
- Cusco
Mezon de Los Portales
- Portal de Panes 163
- tel:51 84 23 5604
- Cusco
The Cross Keys
- Portal Confiturías 233, 2do. piso
- (Plaza de Armas)
- tel:51 84 233865
- Visit website
- Cusco
El Muki
- Santa Catalina Angosta 114
- tel:51 84 253498
- Visit website
- Cusco
Hostal "Pensión Alemana"
- Calle Tandapata 260
- San Blas
- tel:51 84 226861
- Visit website
- Cuzco
