Nestled high in the Andes, Cusco, Peru is home to magnificent colonial architecture and vibrant local culture. Most visitors alight here for a few days before traveling on to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your visit to Cusco.
1) Plan to Spend 2 to 3 Days in Cusco to Acclimate to the Altitude
The four-day trek along the Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu is one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes in the world. You’ll experience breathtaking mountain scenery, Inca ruins, cloud-forests, and the subtropical jungle. But it’s also an extremely challenging hike, and part of what makes it so challenging is the altitude. Don’t be one of those unfortunate visitors who succumb to altitude sickness. Plan to spend at least two days, if not three, acclimating to the altitude in Cusco before you set off.
2) Bring Your Hiking Gear With You to Cusco
If you were planning to buy your brand-name hiking gear in Cusco just before you leave to hike the Inca Trail, don’t. Buy all your gear before you get to the city, and bring it with you. Counterfeit hiking gear is common in the city, and the real thing will cost much more here than you’d otherwise pay at home.
3) Don’t Miss the Spectacular Ruins Just Outside the City
While you’re spending your few days acclimating to the altitude, don’t forget to visit the Inca ruins just outside of Cusco. On the hill that overlooks the city, you’ll find Sacsayhuamán, a citadel dating to about the year 1100 AD. First built by the Killke people, it was later expanded upon by the Inca.
Located about 15 minutes away from Cusco in the Sacred Valley, you’ll find Qenqo Temple, the largest of the holy sites or huacas in the Cusco Region. Here, the Inca engaged in blood sacrifices and death rituals, although the exact purpose of these has been lost to the ages.
4) Eat and Drink Where the Locals Do
You haven’t experienced Cusco, Peru until you’ve experienced it the way the locals do. Grab a coffee and a pastry at Super Café Extra, or warm up on a cold night with a te piteado, an herbal tea served hot and spiked with local liquors, at El Duende. Grab some groceries or a quick meal at Mercado San Blas, or, if you’re in town on a Sunday, stop in at the food feria, or local food festival, on Plaza San Francisco.
5) Ask Before Photographing Locals — And Be Ready to Pay
In Cusco, you’ll see plenty of locals dressed up in traditional attire. They’re not doing this because it’s part of their culture – it’s how they make a living. If you want to photograph one of these colorfully dressed locals, you need to ask first, and agree to a payment beforehand – usually, about five soles or $1.50 U.S. If you take a picture without asking, they’ll chase you down for payment – but if you do ask and agree to the fee, you’ll get a nice souvenir picture and the local in question may even agree to pose with you for the shot.
6) Use Coca Leaves to Combat Altitude Sickness
Still struggling with altitude sickness? You’re not alone. Luckily, the locals have a remedy: coca leaves. They’re a cheap way to fight the dizziness and nausea that often comes with altitude sickness and it shouldn’t be hard to find a market that sells them. You can either chew the leaves or brew them into a tea.
7) Watch Out for Unlicensed Taxis
Don’t just hop into any old taxi in Cusco. That’s how people get kidnapped. Make sure the taxi you’re taking is an official taxi licensed through a taxi service company. Call to book your taxi, or have your hotel or hostel do it for you. Most hostels and hotels contract with a taxi service company to provide transportation to guests.
8) Don’t Miss the Nightlife
The Plaza des Armas in Cusco is home to some great nightclubs, and if you’re looking to meet other Americans or English-speaking Europeans, pay a visit to Paddy’s Irish Pub, the highest Irish pub in the world.
9) Get the Boleto Turistico
If you plan to visit most of the tourist attractions in the Cusco Region, you can’t go wrong with the Boleto Turistico. For about $47 USD, you’ll get access to 16 attractions for 10 days. You can buy it at the tourist information center at Avenida el Sol 103.
10) Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle
Cusco is a tourist town, so prices are a little inflated on most things. Feel free to haggle. You can usually get a few dollars off most purchases.
Cusco, Peru is a beautiful city, rich in culture and history. But, as with travel to any foreign city, you should know what to expect before you go. When you’re well-prepared, you can be sure to experience the city right – and won’t go home with regrets about what you may have missed.
