5 days in Cusco

Day by day

1. Day 1: Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral

   Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral and Qorikancha and Santo Domingo, then Planetarium Cusco in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza de Armas

      Climb to a café balcony overlooking the plaza for views of the churches at night when they are lit. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Cusco Cathedral

      Use the audio guide to find the Last Supper painting and the Señor de los Temblores, Cusco's patron crucifix. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cuy al horno

      Traditional restaurants (picanterías) in Cusco and towns such as Lucre and Tipón known for it.

   4. Afternoon

      Qorikancha and Santo Domingo

      Look at the curved Inca wall from Avenida El Sol below, which survived earthquakes that toppled the Spanish church. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Planetarium Cusco

      Book a spot for the evening session and dress warmly; nights are very cold.

2. Day 2: Sacsayhuamán and Cristo Blanco

   Sacsayhuamán, Cristo Blanco and Ollantaytambo archaeological site, then Plaza de Armas in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sacsayhuamán

      Walk up from San Cristóbal early in the morning; the site is included in the Boleto Turístico. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Cristo Blanco

      Visit at sunset, then walk down through San Cristóbal while it is still light. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Alpaca

      Restaurants across the historic centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Ollantaytambo archaeological site

      Visit early in the morning or late afternoon, before or after the tour buses from Cusco. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Plaza de Armas

      Clubs and pubs around the plaza and on Calle Plateros and Calle Tecsecocha, busy late into the night.

3. Day 3: Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone and Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

   Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone, Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús and Museo de Arte Precolombino (MAP), then San Blas in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone

      Walk the street early or late to avoid crowds around the stone, and continue uphill into San Blas. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

      Climb to the choir loft or bell tower for a view straight over the Plaza de Armas. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chiri uchu

      Around Plaza San Francisco and the Plaza de Armas during Corpus Christi celebrations.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo de Arte Precolombino (MAP)

      A compact, high-quality museum for an hour on a rainy afternoon; the courtyard restaurant is a calm place for lunch. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      San Blas

      Smaller bars with live Andean and folk music and a quieter atmosphere.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Machu Picchu

   About 3.5–4 hours each way by train and bus each way. Getting there: Train from Poroy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Machu Picchu

      About 3.5–4 hours each way by train and bus (Train from Poroy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then bus); about 75 km.

   2. Day

      Machu Picchu

      The 15th-century Inca citadel on a ridge above the Urubamba River is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Best for first-timers, culture, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cusco

      Dinner: try Rocoto relleno.

5. Day 5: San Blas quarter and San Pedro Market

   San Blas quarter, San Pedro Market and Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, then Sunrise at Machu Picchu in the evening.

   1. Morning

      San Blas quarter

      Come in the late afternoon and have coffee on a terrace looking down over the city's roofs. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      San Pedro Market

      Grab a fruit juice blended to order at the juice stalls, and keep your bag in front of you. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rocoto relleno

      Picanterías and criollo restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco

      Visit before shopping for textiles elsewhere; you will know how to judge quality. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Sunrise at Machu Picchu

      Stay in Aguas Calientes and take an early bus up to see the ruins in the morning light.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Historic Centre keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, San Blas ($$) suits couples, culture, solo travellers and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–16 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.3 hours in June to 12.9 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cusco
• 2 days in Cusco
• 3 days in Cusco

Questions travellers ask