How many days to stay in Cusco?

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The number of days to explore and enjoy Cusco depends on your interests, the time you have available and the resources.

If you want to live a complete experience, visit its main attractions with peace of mind and delve into its history, the recommendation is to organize a trip of between 3 and 4 days.

Ideally, trips to Cusco should be planned. Prepare an itinerary and take into account some aspects such as:

The tourist sites you want to visit and the activities you want to do.

The transportation options available.

Book the flight and accommodation in advance. At this point, you can consider Cusco tour packages.

It is a good idea to organize a schedule for each activity.

Main attractions and activities in Cusco

The essence of Cusco is marked by its history. So, most of the city's attractions are related to culture.

In addition, nature provides charming landscapes that are part of the attraction.

Here is a list of attractions and activities that you won't want to miss:

Archaeological sites

From the 13th century until its fall in 1533, Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire. It was a prosperous city and home to different cultures and ethnicities. This meant that it had sites of great architecture and engineering of the time.

Today, these are archaeological sites that attest to the greatness of this civilization. Among the ancient ruins to visit are:

Sacsayhuamán: This is an Inca fortress considered a masterpiece of architecture. It is a historic site with enormous carved stone walls. It is believed to have been built as a religious and military complex to protect Cusco.
Koricancha: It is also known as the Temple of the Sun. It was a religious site, built to praise the Sun God. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moray: This is an Inca archaeological site of sunken agricultural terraces in the shape of a circle. It is believed to have been used for agricultural research.

Museums

A trip to Cusco is a must. It houses artifacts that were once part of the life of the Inca culture.

These are the most notable museums:

Koricancha Museum: located inside the Temple of the Sun. It has a collection of artifacts and murals from the Inca era.
Inca Museum: has one of the most complete collections of ceramics, textiles, jewelry, mummies, and gold and silver objects from the Incas. Here the history of this civilization is told, from its origin to its fall.
Pre-Columbian Art Museum: here you will find pieces from different cultures that inhabited Peru before the arrival of the Spanish, including the Incas, Nazca, Moche, and Chimú.

In the heart of the city

The streets of Cusco are emblematic, because they have spaces that are part of the tourist attraction of the city. These are the most important places:

Plaza de Armas: also known as Plaza Mayor, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the Inca period, it was the ceremonial centre of the empire. Later, with the arrival of the Spanish, churches and colonial palaces were built around it. Today, it is a tourist meeting point.
Cusco Cathedral: its carved stone façade adds majesty to this temple of colonial architecture. In its chapels you can admire the paintings of the Cuzco School.
San Pedro Market: this is a bustling market where you will find crafts, medicinal herbs, textiles and local cuisine.

Suggested itineraries for different lengths of stay

If you decide to visit the capital of the Inca empire, you should know that Cusco tours will allow you to enjoy the best of the region. Here are two itineraries that you can adapt to your expectations:

3-day trip

Day 1: Walk through the heart of Cusco, its cobblestone streets and delight in the beauty of the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and before closing the day, visit the Temple of the Sun.

Day 2: Dedicate it to visiting archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuamán and others that are nearby.

Day 3: Since Machu Picchu is quite close, the last day of your trip is ideal to visit this historic sanctuary. You can also sign up for an excursion to the Sacred Valley, where nature offers waterfalls and small valleys.

4-day trip

Day 1: It is a good idea to take the first day to tour the center of the city of Cusco. Visit the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas and its museums.

Day 2: We recommend leaving very early to visit archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuamán and Moray.

Day 3: Take the whole day to do a complete tour of the Sacred Valley.

Day 4: For the last day, don't miss the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu.

Discover the magic of Cusco

Trips to Cusco are an excellent opportunity to get to know one of the richest cultures in Latin America: the Inca.

So that you don't miss anything, plan your trip in advance and choose the right number of days to visit everything the city has to offer.

Live the adventure of visiting the archaeological sites, discover its history by walking its streets and, of course, give yourself the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu.

Now that you know your next destination, book your tickets to Cusco with us and enjoy the experience.

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The Responsible People foundation is registered under the Peruvian Non-Profit Organization Act. With an annual contribution from Inca Trail Machu, we support our operating costs as well as a significant portion of project development costs.