For those traveling to Cusco on a short itinerary, we have prepared this segment to help you organize a visit to the Imperial City without missing the best of this ancient capital. As you may know, there are many things to do there, ranging from cultural activities, archeological sites and historical monuments, therefore, here we have made the perfect itinerary for you!
Whether you’re planning a 24-hour stay in Cusco before or after visiting Machu Picchu, this full-day itinerary will work for you. Here you’ll be able to experience the historical and cultural side of the region, while also discovering the most impressive archeological sites in the area.
There are plenty of adventures in the ancient land of the Incas and though 24 hours may not seem enough, we have structured this experience so you get to know more of our heritage without it being exhausting. Let’s get to it!
1-Day Itinerary in Cusco
Cusco is known as the Archeological Capital of Latin America thanks to the many Inca settlements inside and around the city. Likewise, the former capital of the Inca Empire is also the perfect place to experience our gastronomic expression. Here we have divided the itinerary into hours, so you get to organize everything step by step.
08:00h to 09:00h | Breakfast
You could either have some breakfast in your hotel’s facilities or at a restaurant in the historic center of Cusco. There are plenty of options to choose from but our top picks are definitely Cicciolina or Jack’s Cafe, both located at walking distance from Plaza de Armas.
Start your morning with a hearty and delicious meal to later continue exploring the city like a total expert. Once you’re set and ready, you can start with a Cusco Walking Tour to get to know the most important sights of the old town.
09:00h to 11:00h | Cusco Walking Tour
This will be the perfect way of knowing the city since you’ll get to explore the touristic area of Cusco while also learning about its history, which it pretty much tells itself on each corner. Luckily for you, we include this service in most of our travel packages.
The Cusco Walking Tour starts with a visit to the San Blas Neighborhood, known for its artistic and cultural expression. Following the circuit, we’ll head down to Plaza de Armas with a short stop in the famous Rock of the Twelve Angles, a perfectly carved stone in the Hatun Rumiyoc street.
Once in the Plaza de Armas, we’ll be able to see many interesting points and attractions such as the Cathedral of Cusco and the Compañia de Jesus Church. Afterwards, we’ll continue with our recognition tour to the San Pedro Market, a place full of culture recognized for its vast artisan shop stands, food courts, and more.
However, the adventure doesn’t stop there since we’ll visit the Coricancha Temple from the outside but on the way our tour guide will show you where the main avenue is, as well as ATMs, banks, money exchange houses, and more. The tour will finish right after the visit to the so-called Temple of the Sun.
11:00h to 13:00h | Free Time in the City & Lunch Break
By this time, you must already know how to get around the city like a Cusqueñan! If you’d like to visit another attraction on the way to your lunch spot, our pick will be a museum! There are many art galleries and museums in Cusco, but since you’re in the very heart of the Inca Empire, then there’s no better place than the Inca Museum!
Casa Almagro is the headquarters of the Inca Museum, owned by the San Antonio de Abad University. This colonial structure was built on top of an Inca royal precinct intended to be the palace of the Inca Huascar, the penultimate emperor of the Tahuantinsuyo.
Apparently, the structure was so impressive during Inca times that the Spanish conquerors specifically reserved it for Diego Almagro. Nowadays, it houses the largest pottery collection of the Inca culture, along with Inca mummies and pre-Inca metallurgical work.
Now, if you’re looking for the best place to eat in Cusco, we have two options that could work for you! In case you’re looking to experience the delicacies of our culinary art, the Morena Restaurant is one of the perfect places to do so.
Cusco also holds one of the restaurants of the renowned chef Gaston Acurio, called Chicha. This famous dining spot looks to combine Andean ingredients with the flavor and seasoning of other Peruvian regions.
13:00h to 18:00h | Cusco Archeological City Tour
On this occasion, you’ll get to explore the outskirts of the city, where some of the most impressive archeological sites lie. Our Cusco Archeological City Tour will take you to those attractions, so you can get to know all the secrets and mysteries contained in them.
These ancient constructions served as ceremonial and administrative centers, and though a great part was disassembled, they still stand with greatness looming over Cusco.
One of the most impressive archeological complexes is the Sacsayhuaman Ceremonial Fortress, which was built with perfectly carved stones that can weigh over 100 tons and be as tall as 9 meters.
A few meters from there, lies a temple with a gloomy past, thought to be an important religious center for the Incas since it’s been destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. The Temple of Q’enqo is another construction that you shouldn’t miss during your stay.
Going a bit further up is another structure called Puca Pucara, which seemed to be a checkpoint for travelers and messengers that came from other regions. A few meters from there, you’ll find an ancient water cult temple and resting point called Tambomachay.
In the Evening…
We encourage you to know much more of our city, especially at night, when Cusco lights up with bright yellow lights and the lively night scene begins. If you’re still into experiencing our gastronomic experience, there’s a place just in front of Plaza de Armas that you simply can’t miss!
Limo Restaurant is recognized for its Peruvian Nikkei cuisine that combines top-quality fresh ingredients and the indistinguishable Japanese cooking technique. That makes it the perfect option for fine dining in Cusco.
You can also find many bars and nightclubs around Plaza de Armas, in case you’re looking to experience Cusco’s nightlife.
We’d love to show everything we know about Cusco’s historical and cultural heritage. Therefore, we encourage you to check our Peru travel packages so you can have an idea about what to do in our country before visiting this mystical land!
We, at Viagens Machu Picchu, will take care of all the details regarding your experience in the ancient country of the Incas. We want you to travel in comfort and most importantly, live an authentic experience in Peru from start to end.