One Day in Cusco: Perfect Itinerary

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Cusco, Peru was once the home of the magnificent Inca empire. It is now the heart of the Sacred Valley, and the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the seven new wonders of the world. Ancient, colonial, and modern culture melds in a high altitude haven that will take your breath away – literally! With all that, who wouldn’t want to spend one day in Cusco?!

Here’s all you need to know for one perfect day in Cusco!

One day in Cusco – know before you go

The official currency of Peru is the sol. In Spanish this means sun. Don’t worry if you forgot to get soles ahead of time because there are plenty of ATMs around the city center.

S/1 sol = $0.29 U.S. dollar

The official language in Peru is Spanish. Many people in Cusco are bilingual, speaking both Spanish and Quechua, the ancient language of the Inca. Cusco has become a major tourist destination in recent years, so you will run into a lot of people that speak English, too.

Cusco is at 11,152 feet above sea level. Sometimes people experience high altitude sickness upon arrival in Cusco. Try to rest your first day as not to experience fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. If you don’t have time to take a day off, then make sure you stay hydrated. Also, the best natural medicine to combate altitude sickness comes from the indigenous people themselves. Coca tea is commonly found in the lobby of most hotels in Cusco, so drink up! If you really like the taste, you can chew on the leaves for a faster effect. They’re a little bitter, though! The leaves contain iron, vitamins A, B1, B2 and calcium, among other nutrients which makes it easier for your bloodstream to absorb oxygen. It also is known to suppress hunger, combat fatigue, headaches, and coca leaves can calm your stomach.

What to do for one day in Cusco

Admire the Cusco Cathedral

The Cusco Cathedral was built between 1560-1664 with large stones of red granite taken from the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. It is one of the most imposing structures in the city. The cathedral is a symbol of the Spanish conquest, but the Incas won’t be forgotten! Inside, you can find a unique Peruvian touch in the replica of Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ painting. In this version, a guinea pig appears on one of the plates as the main course, and Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro is depicted as Judas the betrayer.

The cathedral houses one of the most significant collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period, elaborately engraved wooden altars, and a beautiful collection of oil canvas paintings.      

This is also great spot to take a seat, relax, and enjoy some great panoramic views of the city.

Walk around Plaza de Armas

One day in Cusco isn’t complete without visiting the main square, known in Inca times as Huacaypata. Nowadays, it is called Plaza de Armas (Warrior’s Square), and it was the scene for many key events in Cusco’s history. It’s also a great spot to grab a traditional Peruvian meal.

The Statue of Pachacuti can be found in Plaza de Armas in Cusco. Pachacuti was the ninth ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco and later the Emperor of the Inca people. Pachacuti is often credited with the massive expansion of the Inca dominion.

Visit the Sun Temple

Coricancha, Koricancha, Qoricancha or Qorikancha was the most important temple in the Inca Empire because it was built to worship Inti, the Inca Sun God.

The word “Qorikancha” is formed through a combination of two Quechua words: “quri” meaning worked gold and “kancha,” which means temple, or place enclosed by walls. Therefore, the name of the sun temple roughly translates to “Walls of Gold.”

It is said that Cusco is shaped like a puma, and the Temple of the Sun is the heart of that puma.

Eat lunch at the San Pedro Market

The San Pedro Market is a bustling hive of activity for the local Peruvians, and it’s only 10 minutes away from Plaza de Armas. It’s bursting with color, flavors, and delicious smells. This is a great stop for an authentic and affordable lunch because you can find just about anything. Watch your clock though, because it’s easy to lose track of time wandering through the countless isles.

I suggest grabbing a bite to eat (or two), and heading to Plaza de San Francisco to enjoy your meal on one of the park benches. You can bask in the sun as you watch kids play around the huge fountain. It was my favorite spot in the city because of how peaceful it was.

Plaza de San Francisco is just a few minutes from the market and only a couple blocks from Plaza de Armas. So one day in Cusco is super doable because of how walkable it is!

Embrace the past at the Regional History Museum

Head to the Regional History Museum if you’re interested in collections of ceramics, paintings, metals & textiles. This museum contains paleontological and archaeological objects from the pre-Hispanic era on the first level. On the second level, goods from the colonial era are exhibited.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at ChocoMuseo

Calling all chocoholics: visit ChocoMuseo to uncover all the cocoa secrets while you taste delicious artisanal chocolate made with the best organic Peruvian beans. This is such a fun experience because you get to learn the ins and the outs of the chocolate making process by making your own to take home. What a great souvenir!

There are several locations for the chocolate museum in the center of the city because it’s a really popular hot spot. And why wouldn’t it be? Peru ranks in the top 10 largest cacao producers in the world, after all.

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Attend a performance at the Center for Folkloric Art

This is a great spot to listen to folk music and watch traditional dances. Tourists can also admire a wide display of traditional costumes and musical instruments from different Peruvian communities.

Go stargazing at the Cusco Planetarium

At the Cusco Planetarium, you can hear stories and interesting facts that will help you understand why our ancestors have watched the skies since the beginning of time in order to better understand the world. Then, visit the dome to enjoy an incredible projection of the starry sky where you can observe the official constellations as well as Inca constellations and all the great stories behind them.

Enjoy the nightlife

Cusco is known as the craziest place to party in Peru! There are bars, restaurants, and clubs near Plaza de Armas, just steps away from most hostels. Most clubs offer one free drink to entice entry. Hard to pass that up!

Some final tips:

You can purchase the Full Cusco Tourist Ticket for access to the majority of the attractions. It is most popular ticket to buy, but also the most expensive. It can be purchased at the BTG Ticket Office, the Official Tourist Information Center, and at any of the places listed below.

• Validity: 10 days
• Price: S/130 ($47 U.S.)
• Included: Sasqsayhuman, Qenko, Pucapucara, Tambomachay, Museo de Arte Popular, Museo Histórico Regional, Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, Museo de Sitio de Korikancha, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, Monumento de Pachacutec, Tipon, Pikillacta, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray

There are also partial tickets for a lower price, but they don’t give you access to as many attractions and are only good for one day. You will need your passport to purchase any Cusco Tourist Ticket. They are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Children under 9 don’t pay, and children ages 10-17 receive a reduced student rate.

If you’re only interested in doing some of the options included in these tickets or would rather do a different combination of visits not listed, you can book each tour online separately, which is sometimes cheaper.

Lots of this stuff is actually outside the city, so check out my guide for the Best Day Trips from Cusco.

Try Cuy

Cuy, also known as guinea pig, is a Peruvian delicacy. Although it might seem a little weird, cuy (pronounced kwee) has been a staple for the Andean diet for thousands of years. The most traditional way to eat it is roasted, so give it a try!

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Are you going to try to hit everything on this list? Or would you rather just spend the day walking through the city’s cobblestone streets, marveling at the Inca and colonial architecture on every corner? Either way, you’ll have a great day in Cusco. You can choose to soak up the history in the museums, or experience the culture firsthand by walking around the beautiful neighboring area of San Blas. You can also scout for nearby miradors (lookouts) for picture perfect views of the city to make your friends jealous!

Although one day in Cusco is enough time to hit all the major attractions, you’ll never want to leave this charming city!

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