peru: cusco day trips

Cusco in Peru is a best gateway to the historic sights and magnificent natural wonders Peru has to offer, with a most famous Machu Picchu on top of the list. Here are a few spots to visit, while acclimatising and exploring the wonders of the Incas, along with food and culture.

cusco

Cusco itself has several days worth of sites and places to visit. Plaza de Armas is the cultural center of the city, surrounded with restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Just chill out and immerse the vibe and views of the city.

At the heart of the plaza lies a manicured garden and intricate statue of the Incan ruler Pachacuti. You also can admire and visit the cathedral, complete with a trip into the crypts.

If you wish to do some local shopping, go visit San Pedro Market with hundreds of stalls from food to souvenirs You also find Coca leaves here to help with the high altitude.

Other must do places are San Blas District famous of its architecture, sun temple Korikancha and several Inca Museums. Also, go find 12 corner stone hiding in the city.

machu picchu

One of the Seven Wonders of the World. And no wonder why! This sacred religious site rests on top of the Machu Picchu Mountain, believed to be a source of special energies which channels thought your body with cold sensation, followed by a tickling and heat sensation. Nearly 1000 people lived here before it was abandoned following Spanish colonisation around 1450 AD.

It’s still a mystery how the city was built, however let your imagination run wild as you walk along ancient streets and houses. And don’t forget to climb one of the mountains to see overview of the city - however make sure you get the tickets early as they tend to sell out.

You can visit the site as a day trip from Cusco, or hike to see it via option of trails including most famous Inca Trail, or less travelled Salkantay Trek to name a few. I have covered the Salkantay Trek on other section in this site.

sacred valley

This isn’t technically one particular spot, but region including endless number of ruins, Incan history, culture, mysteries and incredible natural wonders you can easily explore for days, even weeks.

The valley has multiple must visit spots such as Pisac Market and ruins, Ollantaytambo ruins and town, and also Maras and Moray. Best way to visit this region is with a tour, which usually include most of the main sites and transportation to each location.

rainbow mountain

One of the most amazing natural wonder, also known as Vinicunca Mountain, is part of the Peruvian Andes. This place gave me mixed feelings as it was concealed underneath ice and snow until recently, when climate change caused the glaciers to melt, thereby revealing the geological wonder. It is possible to hike the mountain or make it easier to partially horse ride to the base of the last climb.

Easiest way to get there is to get a tour from Cusco for the price of $20 USD. Usually tours include transportation and a guide. Note to remember - this is even higher than Cusco and I found the hike extremely challenging right after 4 day Salkantay Trek.

Saqsaywaman

This ancient Inca site, lso known as Sacsayhuamán, is a short 45 minute walk away from the centre. You will be treated with stunning overview of the city and incredible stoneworks of the ruins. Explore by yourself or get a city tour to hear more of their history. Make sure you also take a little side trip to see Cristo Blanco – the massive statue of Christ.

ollantaytambo

Popular tourist spot with cafes and shops. Just make sure you will visit the Inca ruins as their stone work and builds are probably the best outside of Machu Picchu, which was used as a royal residence by Emperor Pachacuti. Magnificent place to explore, make sure not to miss it.

LAKE HUMANTAY

This incredible scenic spot has become one of the most popular activities in the Cusco area. If you are not hiking the Salkantay Trek, make sure you will include this day trip to your Itenarary. It takes about three hours one way to reach the trail to the Lake with taxi or tour van, plus roughly few hours of total walk and climb to the lake, however it is totally worth it! This beautiful blue-green lake surrounded by majestic peaks of the Andes, with glaziers is pure magic!

MORAY AND MARAS

Usually these two sites are included in any Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco.

Yes, there are so many ruins in Peru which starts to blend together in your mind, however Moray is different, reminding an amphitheater yet it wasn’t used for theatre and shows. Incas were geniuses with advanced achievements and this ruin was used as an agricultural laboratory. yeah terrace has a different temperature, and therefore different microclimate, and the design and orientation to the sun suggest that Incas experimented with plants and crops here.

Maras, surprisingly not a ruin but salt mines Incas used more than 500 years ago. Witness how these salt ponds are used to harvest salt, although nowadays this is used more for tourist industry. Incredible sight to see.

Quick tips:

Use Cusco as your base to explore the magnificent region - no matter short day explorations and tours or longer, multiway hikes to Machu Picchu.

Note high altitude, which might effect you. You can start the high altitude medication prior arrival, especially if you fly directly to Cusco.

This is the place to get the tickets for all of your adventures, just make sure to compare prices with the delivery. Just make sure you will book activities such as Inca Trail prior as they can sell out months prior.

Cusco is fairly safe city due the high number of tourists, however it is also slightly pricier than other cities in Peru.

Get lost with Peruvian hospitality and culture, you will change forever!