How to Spend 2 Days in Cusco

One of the most charming places I’ve traveled to, Cusco is oozing with character, beauty, friendly locals, incredible history, and delicious Peruvian dishes.  Although Peru is so much more than both Cusco and Machu Picchu – you’d be wrong to skip out on this town that was once the capital of the Inca empire.  This is how to spend 2 days in Cusco exploring both the town and the Sacred Valley.

 

If you’re planning a trip to Peru, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Peru
• The Ultimate Peru Packing List

 

Is Cusco Worth Visiting?

Cusco is absolutely worth visiting.  I have a hard time thinking any trip to Peru is complete without a trip to Cusco.  It’s the heart and soul of Peru as the city was once the capital of the Inca empire.  If you are interested in learning about Peruvian history, you can’t miss the city that started it all; and sure, it might be touristy, but it’s still well worth a visit.

 

Is 2 Days in Cusco Enough?

2 days is the minimum amount I’d give myself to explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley.  You’ll want to dedicate one day entirely to Cusco, and one day entirely to the Sacred Valley.  If you’re someone who likes to move more slowly, I’d say you could spend up to 4 days in Cusco.

 

How to Get to Cusco

Cusco does have a small airport – Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) – able to receive both domestic and international flights.  Because the airport is quite small, Cusco does not receive big international flights from countries outside of South America, it only receives international flights from countries nearby like Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, etc.  If you’re flying to Peru with the goal of heading straight to Cusco, chances are you’ll be connecting in Lima first.

If you’re exploring more of Peru and will be visiting from another city (aside from Lima), there are direct flights to Cusco from Arequipa, Ayacucho, and Puerto Maldonado.  When booking flights, I recommend using a big search engine to compare prices across multiple different airlines.

Once you arrive to the Cusco airport, the main centre of town is about 10-minutes west of the airport.  You can get a taxi at the airport and the cost is 40 PEN.  If you want an English speaking driver waiting for you at the airport, you can book a driver here.

 

BOOK A FLIGHT TO CUSCO HERE!

 

If you’re considering visiting Lima as well, don’t miss…

• Is Lima Worth Visiting?  A Complete Lima Travel Guide

 

Where to Stay in Cusco

There are two different areas I’d recommend staying when visiting Cusco.  The first is the San Blas neighborhood, which is located up on a hill, just a 10-minute walk from the main square.  This neighborhood has tons of boutique shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and cute streets.  Alternatively, if you want to be more in the action, I’d recommend staying near the main square – Plaza Mayor de Cuzco.

When I visited, I stayed in San Blas at Quinta San Blas by Ananay Hotels and I would highly recommend it.  More hotels I’d recommend include…

• Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco
• Samana B&B
• Antigua Casona San Blas
• Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN CUSCO HERE!

 

2 Days in Cusco

Below you’ll find my recommended 2-day itinerary for visiting Cusco.  This includes exploring town as well as the Sacred Valley.  If you have the money, I would highly recommend a guide for both exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley.  Here are some options…

 

TO EXPLORE CUSCO & ARCHEOLOGIC SITES OUTSIDE CITY CENTER

• Half-Day City Tour with Saksaywaman and Q’enco
  • Not private
  • Includes archeologic sites outside the main center
• Guided Walking Tour Cusco
  • Private
  • Does not include archeologic sites outside the main center
• Cusco City Tour & Nearby Archeologic Sites
  • Not private – max 15 participants
  • Includes archeologic sites outside the main center
• Private Cusco City Tour & Nearby Archeologic Sites
  • Private
  • Includes archeologic sites outside the main center

 

TO EXPLORE THE SACRED VALLEY

• Sacred Valley:  Maras and Moray by Quad Bike from Cusco
  • Group tour
• Full Day:  Sacred Valley, Alpaca Farm, Maras, Moray, & Ollantaytambo
  • Private tour
• Sacred Valley of the Incas:  Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Awanacancha
  • Private tour
• Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins Tour, Farm Visit, Gourmet Picnic Lunch
  • Private tour
• Sacred Valley Tour in Cusco 
  • Group tour – max 15 participants
• Sacred Valley Maras, Moray, & Salt Mines
  • Private tour

 

Day 1 in Cusco

HIGHLIGHTS:  QURIKANCHA + CUSCO CATHEDRAL + SAQSAYWAMAN

Start your morning in Cusco exploring some of the towns most historic sites – the Cusco Cathedral and Qurikancha.

Cusco Cathedral is open from 0600-2000 daily and you can purchase tickets at the door (credit card only) or ahead of time here.  Construction on Cusco Cathedral began in 1559 and was built on the site of Kiswarkancha, the palace of the Inca.  Eventually, when the Spanish colonized Peru, they established dominance by overlaying Catholic sanctuaries on top of Incan religious sites, deeply intertwining the indigenous and colonial histories within the cathedral’s walls.  Today, Cusco Cathedral is a Catholic Church.

Once you finish at Cusco Cathedral, make your way to Qurikancha.  Qurikancha is open from 0830-1730 daily and is cash only.

Qurikancha, or the Temple of the Sun, was once the most revered temple in the Inca Empire.  Built by the Inca Pachacuti in the 15th century, Qurikancha was a glittering complex adorned with gold plates, symbolizing the sun’s rays, and dedicated to Inti, the sun god.  Following the Spanish conquest, the temple’s riches were looted, and the Convent of Santo Domingo was constructed over its foundations, incorporating and overshadowing the original Incan stonework with Spanish colonial architecture.

After you’re done, grab tamales from a local stand on the street – Tamales Josefina.  You can choose between a sweet or savory option and they are both incredible!  The tamales are cheap and it’s a very local experience.

Next head to Saqsaywaman located just outside of Cusco.  You can take a taxi and explore on your own, but I would highly recommend a guide for this area.  (You can get a private guide here!).  Before entering Saqsaywaman you will need to stop and purchase a “Cusco Tourist Ticket” which will also be used for the Sacred Valley.

Saqsaywaman is a true testament to the architectural genius of the Inca.  Built in the 15th century during the reign of Inca Pachacuti, this fortress is famed for its colossal limestone blocks, expertly fitted together without a drop of mortar.  Although it was a military base, Saqsaywaman was also the site of rich ceremonies and festivals.

For dinner in Cusco, I recommend the following restaurants (I’d recommend a reservation for each one)…

• Chicha por Gaston Acurio
• Cicciolina
• Morena Peruvian Cuisine
• Black Cat Bar Cusco (for cocktails)

 

Day 2 in Cusco

On your second day in Cusco, I highly suggest exploring the Sacred Valley – a region in Peru’s Andean Mountain range.  This region, along with Cusco and Machu Picchu formed the heart of the Inca Empire.  Stretching from the ancient cobblestone streets of Pisac to the terraced hillsides of Ollantaytambo, this fertile valley was cherished by the Incas for its favorable climate and rich soil, ideal for growing corn and other crops.  Marked by the Urubamba River, the valley was also a vital spiritual and administrative center, dotted with sacred temples and bustling marketplaces that thrived under Inca rule.

While you could rent a car and explore the Sacred Valley on your own, I would suggest hiring a guide so you don’t have to worry about driving the (sometimes) scary roads.  Either way, the spots I’d recommend visiting in the Sacred Valley include…

• Chinchero
• Salt Mine of Maras
• Moray
• Ollantaytambo

You do need to purchase a “Cusco Tourist Ticket” to explore this area.

 

If you do decide to explore this area on your own, I suggest looking into booking reservations at MIL – Food Lab & Interpretation Center.  The restaurant is owned by the chef who also owns the #1 restaurant in the world (2023) – Central, located in Lima.

 

The Best Cooking Classes in Cusco

In my opinion, Peruvian cuisine is some of the best in the world.  If you have time, one of the more popular things to do when you visit Cusco is to take a Peruvian cooking class.  Here are the top cooking classes I’d recommend in Cusco…

• High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit
• Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails, Market Tour in Cusco
• Market Tour & Traditional Cooking Class in Cusco
• Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco
• Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop in ChocoMuseo Cusco

 

Safety Tips for Visiting Cusco

I visited Cusco with my boyfriend who is Peruvian so I’m lucky to not have had to deal with any scary/sketchy issues due to being with a local.  However, here are some things he mentioned can be common in Cusco and Peru…

• Petty theft – watch your belongings and if needed, I recommend bringing an anti-theft waist bag
• Taxi scams – negotiate price ahead of time and beware of taxi drivers dropping you off at the wrong hotel and then charging you more to take you to the right hotel (to avoid this keep your Google Maps route on and make sure that they are going to the right hotel)
• Currency exchange – don’t exchange currency on the streets, only do this at a bank or exchange office
• Tour scams – don’t hire a random guy off the street, this can oftentimes be a scam where the tour is shoddy or ends abruptly after payment

By the way, my favorite “safety tip” my boyfriend gave was, “Don’t trust the people selling things in the plaza” and taking a photo with an alpaca does not cost $5 it should only cost 5 PEN.

 

FAQ

Q:  “Is Cusco too touristy?”

• A:  Cusco is touristy but I don’t think it’s “too” touristy.  You can still find some secluded streets and alleyways making the city not only charming, but allowing you to get away from the crowds.  Of course, the closer you are to the main square, the more touristy the city is.

Q:  “Is Lima or Cusco better?”

• A:  While I don’t necessarily like to label one as better than the other – they are very different after all – I will say if you only have time for one, I’d recommend Cusco over Lima.

Q:  “How many days do I need in Cusco?”

• A minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 4 days.

Q:  “What is the altitude in Cusco?”

• A:  The altitude in Cusco is 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) above sea level.

 

Peru Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Peru

 

Cusco is an incredible city in Peru.  I hope that this post not only helps you plan your 2 days in Cusco, but also inspires your travels through Peru.  If you have any questions about visiting Cusco, let me know in a comment below!

 

For more on traveling through Peru, don’t miss…

• How to Spend 1 Day in Arequipa, Peru
• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Colca Canyon in Peru
• 11 Things You Need to Know About Visiting Machu Picchu

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Peru, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinperu” or under my highlights for “Peru”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Peru” highlight

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