Welcome back! Are you trying to find a list of activities for your next trip to Cusco, Perú? Or perhaps you’ve come to check out my vacation photos? Either way, look no further because I’ve got a list of 12 amazing places and activities to see near Cusco, Perú. Including a restaurant suggestion, because eating is an activity in itself and deserves to be honored as its own category.
Before we hop in, I feel like it should be mentioned that Cusco, Perú is essentially one giant oval. You could spend so much time driving around the whole city. There’s so much to explore in every direction. Consider renting a personal guide who can drive you to each location and start your days off early.
We found a guide who took us on a tour around the whole city, stopping at each destination to let us explore for as long as we wanted. Since he was local to the area, he was able to make suggestions about how much time we should spend in each area if we wanted to make sure to hit everything in our limited amount of time.
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You can buy a two-day Cusco Tourist Ticket, which allows you to tour up to 16 different locations, a few of which will be mentioned below. The ticket is absolutely worth the price for the amount of things you can see.
Lastly, come prepared to do a lot of walking. Sunscreen, sunglasses, warm clothes, and walking shoes are perhaps the most important things you’ll need on this trip – besides your camera.
We’ve got a lot of content to cover and a lot of pictures to see, so let’s get into it!
Saqsaywaman
Saqsaywaman was the most important military base of the Incan Empire, containing the biggest rocks I have ever seen. No, no…I don’t think you understand.
These. Rocks. Are. HUGE.
Saqsaywaman was so cool to see! Showing up as early as we did also allowed us to see a pack of wild alpacas which is a moment I won’t soon forget.
Q’enqo
Q’enqo was an Incan religious site. Many ceremonies were performed here in honor of Inca gods. You can see a table for sacrifices carved out of stone and intricate tunnels woven around rocks.
Though Q’enqo is not a very big place and doesn’t take long to explore it shows some fascinating Peruvian history and offers another stop on your trip around Cusco, Perú.
Puka Pukara
Puka Pukara is another military compound, though certainly on a much smaller scale. It offers more beautiful views and stunning tales of Peruvian culture.
Santuario Animal De Cochahuasi
The animal sanctuary is small but so fun to visit! We arrived when no one else was around and were given a personal tour. Allowing us an opportunity to interact up close and personal with the alpacas and llamas.
If alpacas and llamas are something you want to see on your trip to Cusco, Perú, this is a must-see destination. While we saw plenty of these animals on our trip at other locations, we never had the opportunity to really interact with them as we did here.
One very cool experience, the condors. Now let me tell you – they’re bigger than you think in real life! We were asked to sit at the bottom of a hill while the trainer urged the birds to fly down toward us. A total must-experience moment!
Visiting Santuario Animal De Cochahuasi gives you the perfect opportunity to experience local Peruvian animals and support a local charity at the same time.
You definitely have to go if you want the llama/alpaca experience without the downtown tourist fees you’ll find in the city center.
Moray
This place was incredible! I highly recommend getting someone to explain the backstory to you, because I will not do it justice.
Essentially, this place was created as an agricultural research center. There are three circular complexes ranging up to 150 meters deep (about 164 yards). With an average height for each platform of nearly two meters (a little more than two yards). In this, the existence of almost 20 different microclimates has been proven.
Each ring offers a different climatic environment which allows all different kinds of plants to grow at their own altitude. More than 250 different types of plants were able to be grown here, including medicinal herbs, quinoa, potatoes, and corn. The Peruvians went through a process to take the inedible versions of certain crops (like corn and quinoa) and refine them so they’re now edible today.
Ollantaytambo
This place was marvelous…annnd also incredibly crowded. Boy oh boy was the line to the top a long one. Hundreds of people back to back taking it one step at a time all the way to the top.
The Ollantaytambo ruins are a huge Incan fortress, known for the Sun Temple and the Princess Baths which are found inside.
But if I’m being honest, we didn’t make the trek to the top. When we arrived, we wouldn’t have had enough time to make it to the top and explore before closing hours. If you’re able to take a couple of days to tour Cusco, I would recommend that. Then hopefully you’ll have enough time to visit each site and take your time exploring.
For us, we only had one day to visit as many of these sites as we could, and by the time we reached Ollantaytambo, we were too tired to climb any more steps. Since we already paid for the tourist pass, we made a point to go inside, look around, take pictures, and do some shopping in the market outside where we bought some hats.
Centro Textil Qhawarina
If you are a crafty person, this place is for you. Experience a personal tour of the yarn-dying processes for some of the traditionally woven Peruvian textiles. During the tour, you’ll witness the many different techniques for adding colors to the textiles. Learn about the wool cleaning and weaving process and get an opportunity to shop their products. The whole process is truly fascinating!
If that sounds like your type of activity, check out this post where we go into more detail about the whole experience. From touring the workshop to shopping for their handcrafted goods.
Do you like to knit or crochet? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this kind of travel activity in the comments.
12-Angled Stone
The famous 12-angled stone is well known and tucked away in a little side street. If you’re not specifically looking for it, it’s easy to miss amidst all the pedestrians in the street.
On this same street is also a little chocolate factory right in front of the 12-angled stone. Be sure to stop in and check it out. It’s not very big, but certainly offers a quick little sweet treat.
Centro Artesanal Arte Inca
This market was some of the best shopping we did in Cusco, Perú, and it’s right around the corner from the local Cathedral, so it’s super easy to find. Honestly, there are so many places you can go shopping in Cusco. But if you’ve got some extra space in your suitcase, I recommend you stop at the Centro Artesanal Arte Inca and check out their vast selection!
We got so many things at the shops here that our suitcases were a little tight heading back, but it was worth it. Some of the best Peruvian treasures are found in Cusco, Perú. If you’re in the market for the Peruvian baseball hats you might see me wearing, I recommend buying a handful in Cusco. The selection at Machu Pichu will be more expensive for the same products, and the Indian Market hardly has any available as the hats are imported from Cusco.
A little heads up: There is a tourist attraction to get your picture taken with the local ladies dressed in traditional Peruvian attire right outside the Cathedral. It’s not expensive, per se, they’ll tell you to pay what you feel comfortable paying (3-5 soles).
However, you should be aware that they walk around in large groups, and as soon as they see you stop to take photos with one of them, the rest of them will rush to join. This sounds exciting and like you’re getting a really good deal with so many people and cute baby alpacas. But when you go to pay for the photo you’ll discover that you need to pay each of them individually because they won’t split the money with the whole group. They’re not working together.
We paid a higher amount because we wanted the group to have a fair amount to split between all of them, but the girl we paid immediately ran off with the money, and the other two stuck around until we paid them as well.
Restaurant Cicciolina
Restaurant Cicciolina is a street away from Centro Artesanal Arte Inca, tucked away in an alley. The food is a little more on the pricey side but so worth it. Experience dishes like sweet wine-soaked quinoa, alpaca steak, and squid fettuccine.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is of course the most famous Cusco attraction.
When you visit I really recommend paying attention to the signs and doing some research beforehand. Make sure you plan what you’re most interested in seeing because there’s no way to see it all. There’s a lot to consider.
At Machu Picchu, we wanted to see the llamas but picked a direction that didn’t connect with them. When we tried to go up to that viewing area we were told it was a one-way direction and we weren’t allowed to pass that way. Do your research beforehand because the paths don’t intersect and obviously you’ll want to make the most of your trip.
Be conscious of the fact that this entire thing will involve a lot of hiking and walking at different altitudes than you may be used to. Remember to research any hiking paths you’re interested in and if you want to hike to or down from Machu Pichu.
We chose to take the bus up to Machu Picchu and hiked back. It wasn’t an easy breezy walk. So. Many. Steps.
Personally I wouldn’t recommend hiking up and back because you’ll also need to walk around Machu Picchu. I don’t think we would have had enough energy to do all three.
Baños Termales de Ccaccato
The hot water springs are something you’ll be needing after all the walking you’ll be doing on your trip. Though I will say it’s quite crowded. If you can find the time to squeeze this into your busy trip, it will make a nice addition to your adventure.
Explore the different temperatures available in the various pools and experience poolside treats as you relax in the hot pool surrounded by the chilly Cusco weather.
In Machu Picchu town on your way to the hot water springs, you can also explore the local art.
I hope you found this list of places/activities to check out near Cusco, Perú helpful! Let me know in the comments what else you’d like to discover in or about Perú.
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