Things to do in Cusco city
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CUSCO
Cusco city was becoming more popular every year. Especially since the beginning of this century. Machu Picchu is one of the new seven wonders of the world located in the Cusco region. However, there are many places and things to do in Cusco city. We can split these amazing places and things according to the Characters. If you don know what to do in Cusco, let me show you interesting places and things to hang out around Cusco City.
1 ) DAY HIKES AROUND CUSCO CITY
If you like and respect nature and hikes, we can leave you some stunning options:
Balcon del Diablo
Balcon del diablo, devil’s balcony, one of the things or hike that we can do around Cusco city. This Amazing place is located 02:30 hours away from Cusco Main square. Balcon del diablo is a big natural cave where a river passes through it. During this hike, you have the chance to pass next to Sacsayhuaman Archeological Place. But you can not get inside of this Amazing place unless you buy the ticket which can be from 70 to 120 soles. Continuing this amazing hike, you can delight the different views of Cusco and Sacsayhuaman places.
Once you arrive at Balcon del Diablo, you have the chance to explore the big cave inside and delight the Construction around this big rock. If you want to explore more this zone, you can continue upriver to discover a Queuña forest, which is a native tree. Likewise, there is located a small archeological place called Ñusta Paqana which means, where the Princess is lost. This hike is a great thing to do in Cusco. It can be a half-day easy hike.
Temple of the Moon
This amazing place is another thing to do in Cusco. Temple of the moon is an important Inca Place located just 01:30 minutes walking from Cusco Main square. There is a chance to take a taxi or the public bus that can leave you close to this stunning place. However, a great hike will be much better because you discover some incredible places before you arrive at the Temple of the moon. For example, Start hiking visiting the traditional neighborhood of San Blas, the temple of the Monkeys, the Inca trail.
you can realize that the Inca Trail used to be a big network that started at the main square during the Incas period. The temple of the Monkey is another Sacred Inca temple where you appreciate some monkey shapes at the rock. As well as some Inca altars.
The temple of the moon is a cave where the Andean people decorated with some special shapes. It is a peaceful place where you can meditate and connect you with nature. The original name probably was Amaru Marka. Because inside of the cave, they are located some snake shapes.
Inkilltambo and Callachaka pass
Another great hike to do in Cusco city is this new amazing option toward Inkilltambo and Callachaka pass. Located just 03:30 hours away from Cusco’s main square.
There are two options to start this amazing hike of the things to do in Cusco. The first one is taking the Public bus to Tambomachay, where you start following the Tambomachay river until Inkilltambo. Along this first part, you note that all the river was channeled.
The second option is the one that starts at Cusco’s main square. Following the same trail toward Temple of the moon. Once you pass the temple of the moon, you continue hiking for about 01:30 hours to Inkilltambo. Just following the Inca trail. These amazing places are located at Trail that used to connect Cusco the Inca capital with the Antisuyo region which is the jungle.
Inkilltambo is a big new archeological place that was excavated few years ago. Locals used to call it such as Inca jail. It is a construction that was built during the Yawar Huacac king, the seventh king. It was an important administrative, religious, and economical place. During colonial times, Spanish people used to use it like ovens to make roof tile.
Afterward, continuing hiking for about 30 minutes, you arrive Callachaka Pass where is located another Amazing place called Machu Choquequirao. Big circular constructions that look like towers. Astronomical places that also represent the Andean duality. Finally, after 30 minutes of hiking, you arrive at the Rumiwasi archeological place. Rumiwasi means the stone house. It was part of Yawar Huacac lands. From here it is possible to enjoy a great view of San Sebastian district and Cusco Airport. to come back to Cusco city, what you have to do is to take a public Bus or a taxi.
Huchuy Qosqo
Huchuy Qosqo hike is a day hike, located between Chinchero town and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. One of the things to do in Cusco, but that is not close to the city. You have to start early in the morning, at about 06 am. This means that if you want to take this option, firstly you take the bus toward Chinchero town, for 45 minutes approx. Remember that you have to stop in the Allpachaka spot. Afterward, you take another public car toward Tauca town, the beginning of the hike.
From Tauca town to Huchuyqosqo will be 04 hours approx. Along the hike, you can delight amazing views of nature. the highest point here is 4400 meters ASL. the first 02 hours are moderate uphill. After the mountain pass, all the way is downhill. Once you arrive at Cusco Huchuyqosqo you will be amazed with the greatest constructions of the Incas. It is located above the Sacred Valley, therefore you have breathtaking views.
Afterward, you explore this stunning place, to come back to Cusco, what you have to do, will be to start descending to the Sacred Valley for about 1:30 minutes. Subsequently, you can take a public bus that will bring you toward Cusco city. You will finish it approximately at 05 or 06 pm. It is a full day. KANTU PERU TOURS has some options to enjoy this tour.
Huanacaure mountain
If you like the amazing views since the mountain summits, what you can do in Cusco is to hike This stunning mountain. Huanacaure Mountain is located at Cusco city southeast. The beginning of this hike will be in Huillcarpata, where the archeologists excavated a big part of the Inca trail toward Huanacaure Mountain. Since this point, you start the hike, uphill, following just all the Inca trail.
It will take you 03 to 04 hours to reach the peak. There are some Inca Constructions that archeologists are restoring. After a moderate uphill, you can enjoy a great Inca temple close to the Huanacaure Summit. According to Inca history, It was the beginning of the Quechua civilization. Following the Inca legends, here is the place where Manco Capac, the first Inca King, found a golden stick to start a new empire.
Since the summit, you can enjoy the amazing view of Cusco city and different mountains. For example, Mama Simona, Senqa, Pikol, Pachatusan, Salkantay, Ausangate, Callangate, Pitusiray, Veronica, etc. mountains.
Finally, you start descending the same trail toward Cusco city. There is an option, if you want to skip the uphill, you can take a taxi that will take you straight Huanacaure Mountain and you continue just the downhill.
Mama Simona Mountain
Mama Simona is another option that you can take in order to have a great view of Cusco city. If you want to take this option on your own. Firstly, what you have to do is to go to Independencia Bridge. Here you are going to take some public transports that go to Qorqa District. After 40 minutes of driving, you have to stop in Qiswarcancha town. Here you will see a sign that will show you the Inca Trail toward Mama Simona Mountain. According to history, there used to be an Andean priest who was called Simona, she was the highest priest there. Since that time everybody decided to call Mama Simona to that Mountain.
There are stunning views from Cusco City and is possible to see Other different mountains as well. For the way to come back to Cusco city. You are going to continue the trail that is going to take you toward Poroy district. This town is located in the main avenue of Cusco city.
If you start at 07 am in the morning, you can finish it at 02 pm.
2) BEST MUSEUMS IN CUSCO CITY (things to do in cusco)
There are many great museums around Cusco city, However, I can recommend visiting the museums I thing that can be more interesting.
Inka Museum
It is a museum that is not part of any tours around Cusco city. We can name the Inca Museum such as the biggest museum in Cusco city. We can delight here the National Univerity collection. Many ancient pieces from Pre-Inca, Inca, and colonial times. One of the few museums that show Inca mummies. The entrance ticket here is 15 soles.
Coricancha
Coricancha, Koricancha, the temple of the sun, it is the most important Inca temple that Incas built in Cusco city. Nowadays, we can see that this Inca construction is used as a foundation for the Catholic temple. Hopefully, it is maintaining the Inca essence, because it is protected by the Ministry of Culture. The entrance to visit this amazing place is 15 soles, all the travel agencies include this place in the city tour.
Coca museum
Many people around the world think that the Coca leaves are used for anesthesia and cocaine. It is wrong because coca leaves contain other important things. Such as Vitamins C, B1, B2, E, Calcium, phosphate, potassium, iron, magnesium, etc.
Coca museum is a great place to understand the ancestral uses from the Coca leaves and the good benefits that we can get from this sacred Leaves. Also, you can find some products made with Coca. For example, chocolates, candies, cookies, coca flour, etc.
Museo de Arte Precolombino
After the Inca museum, the second biggest and interesting is the Museo de Arte Precolombino. Where you can find a private Collection from the BBVA continental bank. There are many ceramic and jewelry pieces from the pre-Inca, Inca, and Colonial periods. Finally, you can have a really delicious coffee in the luxury restaurant located inside this museum called MAP CAFE
3) DAY TOURS WITH A TRAVEL AGENCY (things to do in Cusco city)
If you don’t know what to do in Cusco city, we can leave you some tours that you can take with some travel agencies. Remember something important. The cheaper tour that you can book, can be the worst experience. Therefore, Katu Peru tours can give you more information about it.
City Tour
The traditional city tour that most of the travel agencies offer include basically koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. This city tour can show you the most popular places around Cusco city. We are going to explain more about it in a new blog only for the city tour.
Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley of the Incas is another full-day tour where you can enjoy amazing ina places. For example Pisac the biggest Inca burial, Ollantaytambo town, and Chichero, where is possible to see a funny weaving demonstration.
Walking tour
Walking tour around Cusco city another easy thing to do in Cusco city. You can visit the most popular and colorful streets like Hatun Rumioc (big stone) The traditional neighborhood of San Blas, different viewpoints, and maybe the Local Andean market of san Pedro That we will describe after.
South Valley
South Valley is another thing to do in Cusco city. Not many people take this option. However, this is a breathtaking tour. You visit here Tipon which is a great Inca place to know the Andean hydraulic technics. Also, it is called the temple of the water. Subsequently, you visit Pikillaqta which was part o Wari Culture. Here you can see one of the urban cities very well built. The material that this culture used was Adobe, clay, and plaster. Finally, you visit the Sistine Church of Latin America located in Andahuaylillas town. Colonial paintings from the beginning of the 17 century.
This tour starts normally at 08 am and finishes at 02 pm.
Maras Moray Tours
Maras and a moray half-day tour, nowadays a popular tour Like Sacred Valley. It is a great option to enjoy the Salt mines of Maras. A place where people get Salt from a salty spring that feeds small pools. The process of extraction is through the evaporation of the water. Afterward, you visit one of the biggest Inca laboratories, called Moray. Moray is a construction inside of a big hole. According to the elevation inside of the hole, the temperature change a lot.
4) OTHER PLACES YOU CAN HANG OUT (things to do in cusco)
Extra interesting places for what to do in Cusco city. if you have a free and short time in Cusco, maybe these places can be interesting for you
San Pedro Market
San Pedro Local Market is a great place to visit. Here you can delight how the locals make business. Also, you can see the traditional and exotic things that people sell.
Choco Museum Cusco
Choco Museum is a place where you can test the different flavors of chocolates farmed in the Cusco region. if you thought that Machu Picchu is the only attraction, you were wrong. There are many things that people love and we can find in Cusco such as chocolate. The Choco Museum is a good option for kids as well.
Cristo Blanco
If you want to have a great view of Cusco city, but easy to get it. Cristo Blanco is a great place to walk. It is located next to Sacsayhuaman. It is a big statue of a white christ located above Cusco city. You can take public transport or walk uphill.
Almudena Cemetery
If you are interested in thriller histories. To visit Almudena Cemetery is one thing to do in Cusco city about thrillers. There are many scary histories in the burial. There are some tours that the public charity Institute makes every Friday, at night.
Shopping in the San Blas neighborhood
If you love shopping, the best place in Cusco to buy souvenirs and gifts is the Traditional neighborhood of San Blas. It is located on 01 street from Cusco’s Main square.
Great Pisco Bars
Cusco city is a big tourist City. Therefore, we can find a lot of social places such as restaurants, museums, shops, and of course Bars. The best Tourist bars are located around the main square. So, if you want to have a quiet night, we can recommend you to visit PISCO MUSEUM, REPUBLICA DEL PISCO, LIMBUS, PADDY’S IRISH PUB, MUSHROOMS LOUNGE&BAR quiet and peaceful bars where you can delight the original Peruvian Pisco sour.