Cusco itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Cusco, day by day: Sacsayhuamán, Qenko, San Blas, the Twelve-angled stone, the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Compañía church, San Pedro Market and the Coricancha first, then the Cristo Blanco hill, the Pre-Columbian art museum, the Inca sites of Puka Pukara and Tambomachay and Písac, and the Inka Museum and Ollantaytambo as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Cusco in 1 day
Day 1
Sacsayhuamán
Inca fortress on the hill above Cusco, with zigzag walls of huge fitted stones and the Inti Raymi festival in June.
Qenko
Inca shrine carved into a limestone outcrop, with zigzag channels on top and a cave altar inside.
San Blas Church, Cusco
Small adobe church in the hillside San Blas quarter of artisans' workshops, known for its carved cedar pulpit.
Twelve-angled stone
A perfectly fitted Inca stone with twelve corners in the wall of the Archbishop's Palace on Hatunrumiyoc street.
Cusco Cathedral
Renaissance cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, built over an Inca palace, with Cusco School paintings and a Last Supper with guinea pig.
Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
The city's main square, once the heart of the Inca capital, framed by arcades, the Cathedral and the Compañía church.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco
Baroque Jesuit church on the Plaza de Armas, built over the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, with a carved facade.
San Pedro Market, Cusco
Cusco's main covered market near San Pedro church, with fruit juice stalls, local food, produce and crafts.
Coricancha
The Inca Empire's most important temple, once lined with gold, with fine Inca walls inside the Santo Domingo convent built on top.
Cusco in 2 days
Day 1
Sacsayhuamán
Inca fortress on the hill above Cusco, with zigzag walls of huge fitted stones and the Inti Raymi festival in June.
Pukamuqu
Hill above Sacsayhuamán topped by the Cristo Blanco statue, with a wide view over Cusco's red-tiled roofs.
San Blas Church, Cusco
Small adobe church in the hillside San Blas quarter of artisans' workshops, known for its carved cedar pulpit.
Twelve-angled stone
A perfectly fitted Inca stone with twelve corners in the wall of the Archbishop's Palace on Hatunrumiyoc street.
Cusco Cathedral
Renaissance cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, built over an Inca palace, with Cusco School paintings and a Last Supper with guinea pig.
Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
The city's main square, once the heart of the Inca capital, framed by arcades, the Cathedral and the Compañía church.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco
Baroque Jesuit church on the Plaza de Armas, built over the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, with a carved facade.
San Pedro Market, Cusco
Cusco's main covered market near San Pedro church, with fruit juice stalls, local food, produce and crafts.
Coricancha
The Inca Empire's most important temple, once lined with gold, with fine Inca walls inside the Santo Domingo convent built on top.
Museo de Arte Precolombino, Cusco
Museum of pre-Columbian art in a colonial mansion on Plaza Nazarenas, with ceramics, gold and silver from Peru's cultures.
Day 2
Qenko
Inca shrine carved into a limestone outcrop, with zigzag channels on top and a cave altar inside.
Puka Pukara
Small Inca site of reddish stone walls on the road above Cusco, probably a fort or way station facing Tambomachay.
Tambomachay
Inca site above the city with carved stone terraces and channels still carrying spring water, thought to be a royal bath.
Písac
Sacred Valley town with a busy craft market and large Inca ruins and terraces on the mountainside above.
Cusco in 3 days
Day 1
Tambomachay
Inca site above the city with carved stone terraces and channels still carrying spring water, thought to be a royal bath.
Puka Pukara
Small Inca site of reddish stone walls on the road above Cusco, probably a fort or way station facing Tambomachay.
Qenko
Inca shrine carved into a limestone outcrop, with zigzag channels on top and a cave altar inside.
Sacsayhuamán
Inca fortress on the hill above Cusco, with zigzag walls of huge fitted stones and the Inti Raymi festival in June.
Pukamuqu
Hill above Sacsayhuamán topped by the Cristo Blanco statue, with a wide view over Cusco's red-tiled roofs.
San Blas Church, Cusco
Small adobe church in the hillside San Blas quarter of artisans' workshops, known for its carved cedar pulpit.
Twelve-angled stone
A perfectly fitted Inca stone with twelve corners in the wall of the Archbishop's Palace on Hatunrumiyoc street.
Inka Museum
University archaeological museum in a colonial mansion, with Inca and pre-Inca pottery, textiles, mummies and gold.
Day 2
Museo de Arte Precolombino, Cusco
Museum of pre-Columbian art in a colonial mansion on Plaza Nazarenas, with ceramics, gold and silver from Peru's cultures.
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco
Baroque Jesuit church on the Plaza de Armas, built over the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, with a carved facade.
Cusco Cathedral
Renaissance cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, built over an Inca palace, with Cusco School paintings and a Last Supper with guinea pig.
Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
The city's main square, once the heart of the Inca capital, framed by arcades, the Cathedral and the Compañía church.
San Pedro Market, Cusco
Cusco's main covered market near San Pedro church, with fruit juice stalls, local food, produce and crafts.
Coricancha
The Inca Empire's most important temple, once lined with gold, with fine Inca walls inside the Santo Domingo convent built on top.
Day 3
Písac
Sacred Valley town with a busy craft market and large Inca ruins and terraces on the mountainside above.
Ollantaytambo
Sacred Valley town on an Inca street plan, below a fortress of terraces and temple stones; the station for trains to Machu Picchu.
Watch: Cusco
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Cusco
The dry season from May to September brings sunny days and cold nights, and is the busiest, especially around Inti Raymi on 24 June. The wet season from November to March brings afternoon rain and greener hills, with fewer visitors. April and October are good in-between months.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Cusco on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Cusco on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Cusco on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Peru from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Cusco
- Cusco lies at about 3,400 m: take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water and avoid heavy meals and alcohol until you adjust.
- The Boleto Turístico del Cusco covers Sacsayhuamán, Qenko, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay, Písac and Ollantaytambo; the Cathedral and the Coricancha need their own tickets.
- Qenko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay lie along the road above the city; take a taxi up to Tambomachay and walk back down past the others.
- Písac and Ollantaytambo are in the Sacred Valley, an hour or more by road; a day tour or a hired driver covers both in one day.
- Sun at this altitude is strong even when it is cold; bring sunscreen, a hat and warm layers for the chilly mornings and evenings.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Coricancha: WMrapids, CC0
- Cusco Cathedral: PoolPs, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inka Museum: Arabsalam, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museo de Arte Precolombino, Cusco: Chalisimo5, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ollantaytambo: FLASHPACKER TRAVELGUIDE, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Plaza de Armas (Cusco): FrederickCusco, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Puka Pukara: Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pukamuqu: Cacophony, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Písac: Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0
- Qenko: Esmée Winnubst, CC BY 2.0
- Sacsayhuamán: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Blas Church, Cusco: Qoqawa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tambomachay: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Twelve-angled stone: WMrapids, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
