In this guide you can find an itinerary of things to do in Cusco if you only have 3 days to spend in this cozy city.
Cusco, Peru was one of my favorite cities that I visited in 2022. In this guide, I am sharing a rough 3-day itinerary for visiting Cusco, which includes where to stay, what to eat, and some of the places to visit during your stay there.
During my trip to Peru, I spent three days in total in Cusco. Cusco has a lot more things to do that three days does not do it justice. The relaxed vibe of the city makes you want to unwind and spend a lot more time there.
This 3-day trip is almost identical to my trip in 2022, with some additions and subtractions that I wished I had done during my three days there. There are also some additional suggestions such as things to do, restaurants, and other places if you have more than three days. I am also attaching links of tour companies that I used, but I am not affiliated to any of them.
I hope that you enjoy your trip to Cusco.
Table of Contents
Tips for visiting Cusco
Cusco is a city located 11500 feet (or 3400 m) above sea level. Unless you lived all your life on a mountain, you will most likely get elevation sickness. You can find more details below.
Get your local currency converted to Peruvian Sol from your bank before you go. It will save you from having to find a place to exchange money. You can also withdraw from ATMs in the airport.
There is not a strict requirement to tip in restaurants or for other services. Tour guides can expect a tip at the end of a trip.
It is recommended to get an international phone plan before your visit to Cusco. I purchased an international pass for my provider in advance, and it really helped that I could rely on data instead having to search for WiFi all the time.
If you are going from the months of April to October, the weather is generally pleasant. However, from November onwards its rainy season. Be sure to pack a waterproof outer shell irrespective of the season you are visiting.
When to visit Cusco
I visited Cusco during the Thanksgiving holidays of 2022. This was a risky time to visit Cusco, as rainy season had begun. I was lucky that it only drizzled while I was outside, and the heavy rains only occurred at night.
The popular season for travel to Cusco is April to October. From November to April, there is a possibility of rain.
Getting to Cusco
Cusco is home to the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ). There are several flights to this airport from Lima. Most travelers reach Cusco through a connection at Lima.
You can also drive to Cusco if you are already traveling within Peru. This would need some more additional research from your part as I did not take this route.
Getting around Cusco
From the airport to the city, I would recommend taking an Uber to your hotel. It is a short drive, around 15 minutes to the city center from the airport.
Once you are in the city you have a couple of different options. Local cabs are all over the place. Be sure to ask the price to your destination prior to getting in a cab. Getting the bus to visit nearby destinations around Cusco is also pretty easy.
If you are staying in the Central part of Cusco, you can easily walk around to most destinations in the city. The city is hilly, so do bear in mind that going somewhere and getting back might be two different levels of physical effort.
Where to Stay in Cusco
Cusco is a walkable city, but also contains a lot of inclined walks. Try to get a hotel or airbnb next to Plaza De Armis, as this can save you from having to climb up an inclination after you have already walked around for most of the day. You could always take a cab up in case you are feeling tired.
Acclimatizing to the elevation
Almost everyone who did not live at a high elevation will experience altitude sickness when they visit Cusco. I would recommend spending at least two days in Cusco to acclimatize to the high altitudes before visiting any destinations from Cusco.
Medicines are available in the local pharmacies for altitude sickness, and locals helpful as they are aware that travelers face this issue when visiting Cusco. I am no doctor, so talk to your friendly neighborhood doctor about what medication will help you.
3 Days in Cusco Itinerary
The itinerary is assuming that you are getting three full days in Cusco. If you are arriving at Cusco on the first day, or leaving early on the third day, re-arrange them as per your schedule.
Day 1 - Getting used to the altitude sickness.
Kick off your day with a walk around Plaza De Armis (also called the Cusco Main Square) (link to Google Maps). There are several places around the Square where you can grab a coffee. Also this will allow you to walk around before the crowds kick in.
Get some coffee with a view from the Cappuccino Cusco Cafe (link to Google Maps). Try to get a table by the booth to get a good view of the Cusco Cathedral while you sip on your morning caffeine.
Take a walk to the Twelve Angled Stone (link to Google Maps). This is around 5 minutes from the Cafe, just a couple of streets away.
Have lunch at the one of the restaurants around the Square. I had lunch at the Inca Grill (link to Google Maps), a restaurant I picked because it was the first one that showed up that had an Alpaca steak. They also had a passion fruit juice that was refreshing.
Take a walk through the San Pedro Market (link to Google Maps) to see the hustle and bustle of Cusco. This is a good place to start looking out for souvenirs you might want to buy for back home.
Head over to the Chocolate Museum (link to Google Maps) where you can watch chocolate being made, and also taste a wide variety of chocolate locally made.
Watch the sunset and the city of Cusco at the Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco (link to Google Maps). I would recommend taking a taxi as this can be quite a climb for the first day at Cusco.
Grab dinner at a restaurant near the Cusco Main Square. There are plenty of options depending on your food preferences.
Day 2 - Walking around
Start the day by grabbing coffee and a bite from the La Valeriana cafe (link to Google Maps). Try the orange cake if they still have it.
Head over to the Huaca Sapantiana (link to Google Maps). This is a small climb up some slopes.
Reach the Acueducto Colonial (link to Google Maps)
Grab dinner at a restaurant near the area. There are plenty of options depending on your food preferences.
Grab your evening coffee at the L'atelier Café Concept cafe (link to Google Maps). The cafe has an amazing view of the street downstairs if you are lucky to get a spot by the window.
Go for a tour of the Cusco Cathedral (link to Google Maps).
Take a walk around the Cusco Main Square once the sun has gone down. Cusco's evening lights are a sight to behold.
Grab dinner from Organika (link to Google Maps). I recommend the Alpaca steak, which was the best I had during my entire trip.
Day 3 - Churches, museums, shopping
Grab your morning drink and bite from a cafe from around the Cusco Main Square. I am a coffee person, so you would see a pattern here.
Head over to the entrance of the Saqsaywaman (link to Google Maps), an ancient Inca fortress. You will get dropped off the entrance and then there is a small climb up to the entrance of the ruins. (Side note, the ticket to Saqsaywaman will give you access to multiple other locations, so save the ticket in case you want to visit the other locations.)
Head back to Cusco Main Square to grab some lunch. Again, leaving the restaurant decision up to you depending on your food preferences.
Talk a small walk to Qorikancha (link to Google Maps). This is an Inca ruin of a prominent 15th-century temple. The template once had walls & floors covered in pure gold.
Talk a walk to Museo Inka (link to Google Maps), a museum with a collection of Inca arts and crafts. Another good place to buy souvenirs.
Take a taxi to the Q'enco Archaeological Complex (link to Google Maps). This is a collection of rock formations that stood the test of time.
Head back to the Cusco Main Square to grab dinner.
If you have extra time
Places around Cusco
These are places around the city of Cusco that you can take a bus or a taxi to visit. Multiple of these can be done in one day.
Museo De Historia Natural - Located around the Cusco Main Square, this is an interesting small museum about Peru's natural history.
Templo de San Sebastián (link to Google Maps) - Located around a 15 minute taxi ride away, this is a beautiful church in Cusco.
Templo del San Blas (link to Google Maps) - A church near the Cusco Main Square with a carved wooden pulpit.
Convent of Santo Domingo of Guzmán (link to Google Maps) - A church built on top of Coricancha, an important Inca temple of the capital of the people's empire
Places near Cusco
These are places that require you to dedicate a day for visiting them, as they are either a little too far from the city.
Rainbow Mountain (link to Google Maps) - Originally known as Vinicunca, this is a checklist hike for hike-lovers. Located at 17000m above sea level, the hike to the top of this mountain takes a notable effort.
Humantay Lake (link to Google Maps) - a gorgeous lake located at about 4200 m above sea level. There are multiple tours that go to this lake from Cusco and was a trip that was recommended by a lot of sources. To get to the lake there is a three. hour drive from Cusco and a 2 hour hike up, so definitely plan to dedicate an entire day for it.
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