Cusco holidays
Cusco holidays at a glance
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and you can still read that history in the streets – huge mortarless stone walls with Spanish colonial churches built straight on top of them. At 3,400m in the Andes, our Cusco holidays use the city as the base for most trips to Machu Picchu and the springboard for the Sacred Valley.
The Plaza de Armas is the centre of it all, and from there the old Inca quarter climbs towards San Blas, a steep tangle of workshops and cafés. Don’t miss Coricancha, the Inca sun temple the Spanish built a convent over, and the great zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán on the hill above town. Further out, day trips reach the salt pans at Maras, the terraces at Moray and the striped slopes of Rainbow Mountain. From Cusco, the Sacred Valley opens up to the north – lower, warmer and a gentler place to acclimatise – with the terraces at Ollantaytambo and Pisac’s market. From Ollantaytambo, the train runs down to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu. Take the first day slowly; the altitude can catch people out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Cusco
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Don’t do everything on day one – take Cusco slowly at first. Spend your first night in the Sacred Valley if you can; it’s lower and warmer. And time Pisac for a market day.
When to visit Cusco
Cusco can be visited year round, but the dry season from May to September gives the most reliable weather for trekking, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The rainy season is greener and quieter.
These are the months with most rainfall – expect some on at least half of all days. Daytime temperatures are pleasant and there should be plenty of sunshine. Increased cloud cover keeps the nighttimes relatively mild.
Showers become less frequent as the rainy season draws to a close. Cusco is noted for its Easter celebrations
A rewarding time to visit the city and region, with landscapes green and fresh after the wet season, and a number of celebrations taking place, notably Corpus Christi and the spectacular Inca festival of Inti Raymi on the 24th June; crisp bright days are followed by cool nights, making layered clothing a must
This is the driest time of the year, with rain unlikely; plenty of bright sunshine (take care, the Andean sun is very strong) and little in the way of cloud. The temperature drops markedly at night and can go below freezing.
Plenty of daytime sunshine, though expect the occasional showers as the dry season draws to a close. Temperatures still drop at night, but become gradually less severe. Although still a popular time to visit, it tends to be a little quieter than in July and August
The rains gradually increase, though tend to come in bursts and there should still be plenty of sunshine. Temperatures are pleasant, though still cool at night.
Top Things to do in Cusco
From walking the Inca capital to riding the train to Machu Picchu, Cusco offers some of the most rewarding days in Peru. Here are three to build a trip around.
Explore spectacular Andean scenery on a challenging high-altitude route, an alternative trek in the Cusco region.
An exhilarating seven-day cycling expedition from Lake Titicaca through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, launching pad for a visit to Machu Picchu.
Saddle up for an Inca Trail with a difference – you can now travel the Salkantay route to Machu Picchu on horseback.
Join the spectators of Peru’s most extravagant Inca festival, Inti Raymi, which take place annually in June in Cusco.
Take on the tempestuous Apurimac on a full day white-water rafting adventure, exploring side canyons and lunching on a deserted beach.
Make the journey between Cusco and Lake Titicaca a highlight in its own right on this luxurious day-long train journey travelling through Peru’s Andean highlands.
Travel on one of the continent’s most scenic rail journeys to arrive at the incomparable Lost City of the Incas.
Haggle for handicrafts at Chinchero’s Sunday market, a busy hive of commerce and local colour.
Take a tour of the colossal stone fortress of Sacsayhuamán, a hugely important Inca ruin on the outskirts of Cusco.
Get out and about around Cusco to discover its most important Inca temples on foot.
Take a guided stroll through the historic Inca capital with its extraordinary mix of ancient stonework and colonial architecture.
Loop around the highland rim of the Sacred Valley on a mountain bike, stopping to admire the Inca terraces at Moray, the salt pans of Maras and the village of Chinchero.
Visit a traditional weaving community and an ancient ruin while hiking through the gorgeous scenery of the Inca heartlands.
Enjoy thrills, spills and plenty of stunning scenery on a rafting trip along the sputtering Urubamba river.
Walk the Inca Trail, South America’s most iconic trek, to reach the Sun Gate at dawn for spectacular views over Machu Picchu.
Accommodation in Cusco
We hand-pick every place we use for character, location and quality – from converted colonial mansions around the Plaza de Armas to small hotels in San Blas and lodges down in the Sacred Valley, where the lower altitude makes for an easier first night. Tell us how you like to travel and we’ll match the style to the trip.
Atmospheric first class hotel in a converted colonial monastery, featuring the ultimate in modern comfort juxtaposed with a vivid sense of history.
Antigua Casona San Blas is a friendly colonial-style hotel blending the old with the new in the arty San Blas district close to Cusco’s historic main square.
Top-notch luxury hotel housed in a former 16th century convent, combining all the atmosphere of its colonial past with the enhancements of the modern age – including state-of-the-art amenities and Cusco’s first outdoor heated pool.
Casa Andina Private Collection is an upmarket hotel where the décor and furnishings reflect Peruvian imperial tradition.
Contemporary hotel near Cusco’s main plaza with good facilities and friendly, helpful staff.
Remarkable design-led boutique hotel offering first class comforts and bold, strikingly contemporary décor within a classic colonial building.
Warmly welcoming, community-focused guesthouse whose proceeds support a grass-roots charity that provides sanitation, sustenance and medical assistance to the city’s neglected children.
Independent mid-range hotel with a convenient location, mixing colonial and contemporary style.
Cosy, well-located and amiable hotel with original Inca and Spanish colonial features: one of our favourite good-value options.
This internationally-acclaimed boutique hotel fuses an enchanting colonial atmosphere with meticulous luxury to create an oasis of calm in central Cusco.
Superior hotel with colonial character and an ideal location near the main square, housed in an early 16th century building with a contemporary extension.
First class hotel with original Inca features, next to Cusco’s most important ancient temple.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Cusco
Group Cusco Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
17 days from £5,636
Condor: Peru in depth
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
20 days from £3,851
Galapagos Hawk: Peru and Galapagos
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Guayaquil
15 days from £7,009
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Jacana: Crossing the continent
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Asuncion and the heartland · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
19 days from £4,583
Pato Andino: Panorama of the Andes
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Atacama Desert · Uyuni salt flats · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
20 days from £5,222
Pelicano: Essential Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
14 days from £4,087
Swift: Ultimate highlights of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
10 days from £2,790
Tailor-Made Cusco Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
A Taste of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Paracas, Ica and Nazca · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco
12 days from £4,470
Active Peru and Bolivia: trekking Andean peaks to tropical rainforest
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · La Paz and the altiplano
17 days from £4,140
Active Peru: Cycling, rafting and the Inca Trail
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
12 days from £3,500
Active Peru: The Ausangate Trek
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
11 days from £2,920
From Paddington to Peru
Places visited: Cusco · Lima · Machu Picchu · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Northern Peru
14 days from £4,050
Luxury Peru and Galapagos: Machu Picchu and the Enchanted Islands
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Quito
14 days from £10,310
Luxury Peru: Andes to Amazon
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (north)
13 days from £9,880
Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon
Places visited: Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
12 days from £2,450
Peru by Rail
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Arequipa and Colca Canyon
11 days from £10,420
Peru Odyssey – 21 Days of Discovery
Places visited: Lima · Paracas, Ica and Nazca · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
21 days from £6,230
Peru: Beyond the Sacred Valley with the Lares Adventure
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu
11 days from £4,470
Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Places visited: Lima · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Uyuni salt flats · Atacama Desert · Santiago and the vineyards
16 days from £5,510
Signature Peru and Brazil: Machu Picchu and Rio de Janeiro
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Rio de Janeiro
12 days from £4,240
Signature Peru and Chile: Machu Picchu and Easter Island
Places visited: Lima · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Santiago and the vineyards · Easter Island
15 days from £5,930
Signature Peru and Colombia – Andean Wonders to the Caribbean Coast
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Bogota · Coffee Region (Zona Cafetera) · Medellin · Cartagena · Caribbean coast and islands
20 days from £6,030
Signature Peru: Classic highlights of Peru
Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
15 days from £3,940
Signature Peru: The Inca heartland and Amazon Rainforest
Places visited: Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · The Peruvian Amazon (south)
10 days from £2,510
Value Galapagos and Peru
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · Sacred Valley of the Incas
13 days from £4,930
Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca
Places visited: Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
12 days from £1,950
FAQs about visiting Cusco
Cusco is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Cusco?
Cusco can be visited throughout the year. Most visitors will use climate as a criterion but others may be attracted by any one of numerous fiestas: Inti Raymi, Easter, Corpus Christi, Christmas. The dry season when sunny days can be expected runs May-Oct but in Jun-Jul it can be below freezing at night. Rain falls Jan-Mar.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Cusco?
The main language spoken in Cusco is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in Cusco?
The Peruvian Nuevo Sol is the main currency used in Cusco. Notes in local currency or US dollars can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. Numerous money exchanges (casas de cambio) change US dollars cash (few accept euros or sterling and the rate may be poor).
- What is the time difference between Cusco and the UK?
The time difference between Cusco and the UK is GMT -5 hours.
- What does a visit to Cusco combine with?
Cusco can be used as base to explore the following places: the Sacred Valley of the Incas olnly 53 km by road; Machu Picchu is 75km by road and rail from Cusco; Tambopata and the lodges of the southern Amazon, 1 hour by air; Lake Titicaca, 6-9 hours by road or 10 hours by train; Colca Canyon, 236km by road.
- How do I get to Cusco?
Cusco is just a 1 hour flight from Lima
- What key events are there in Cusco?
Inti Raymi: 24 Jun. Inca festival of the winter solstice celebrated at the temple of Sacsayhuamán.
El Señor de los Temblores: Variable. Vast Easter Monday religious procession.
Corpus Christi: Jun. Statues of the Virgin Mary and saints have a day out from their churches and are paraded to the Cathedral.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
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