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Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, and the Spanish built their churches and mansions directly on its fitted stone foundations, leaving a city where two civilizations are literally stacked on top of each other. Set high in the Andes of southern Peru, it is the base for exploring the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the fifteenth-century Inca citadel perched above the Urubamba River.
The Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral form the heart of town. Qorikancha, once the empire's most important temple, now supports the Santo Domingo convent, and the alley of Hatun Rumiyoc displays the famous twelve-angled stone. Uphill, San Blas is known for artisans' workshops and steep lanes, and San Pedro Market feeds locals with juices and soups. Just above town, the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuaman show Inca masonry on a massive scale. In the Sacred Valley, Pisac's terraced ruins and market, the fortress town of Ollantaytambo, the circular terraces of Moray and the salt pans of Maras fill a day or two. The journey ends at the citadel, reached by train to Aguas Calientes or on foot along the Inca Trail.
Cusco sits at very high altitude, so take the first days slowly. Machu Picchu entry tickets and Inca Trail permits are limited and should be booked well ahead.
WiserMap travel guideCusco and Machu Picchu Peru Inca Walls and Sacred ValleyPlan Cusco and Machu Picchu: Inca walls, Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras salt pans, timed tickets, trains, altitude tips and a full itinerary.Read the guide
The heart of Cusco, built over the Inca main square, framed by arcades, balconies and two grand churches: the Cathedral, with colonial paintings including a Last Supper with guinea pig, and the Jesuit Iglesia de la Compañía. Sit on a balcony cafe and watch processions and daily life below.
A narrow lane lined with a superb Inca wall of fitted stones, including the famous twelve-angled stone set without mortar. The wall once belonged to the palace of Inca Roca and now supports the Archbishop's Palace and its religious art museum. Go early before tour groups and street vendors arrive.
The 15th-century Inca citadel on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River, with temples, terraces, plazas and houses of finely cut stone. Entry is by timed ticket on set circuits with a guide. Book tickets and trains months ahead in high season, and take the bus up from Aguas Calientes early.
The ruins of the Inca Temple of the Sun, once covered in gold sheets, with a Dominican convent and church built on top of its finest stonework. Inside are original Inca chambers with precise trapezoid niches. Allow an hour, and walk down to the gardens below for the best view of the curved wall.
A steep bohemian quarter above the Plaza de Armas with whitewashed houses, blue doors, artisan workshops, cafes and the small Church of San Blas, known for its carved cedar pulpit. The lanes are narrow and stepped. Take it slowly while you adjust to the altitude of about 3,400 meters.
Cusco's main market near the San Pedro church, with stalls of fruit, juices, Andean cheeses, breads, potatoes, herbs and textiles, plus food counters serving soups and set lunches. It is a lively look at local life. Watch your belongings, and try a fresh fruit juice at the long counter.
A huge Inca fortress and ceremonial site above Cusco, with three zigzag terraces of massive fitted limestone blocks, some weighing over 100 tons. Each June it hosts the Inti Raymi festival. It is reachable on foot from the center by a steep climb; the Cusco tourist ticket covers entry.
Inca terraces, temples and the largest known Inca cemetery spread across a mountain ridge above the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley. Below, the town holds a well known craft market. Take a taxi to the upper entrance and walk down through the ruins to town, which takes two to three hours.
Steep Inca terraces climbing to a temple of giant pink granite blocks above Ollantaytambo, a town that still keeps its Inca street grid and water channels. It was the site of an Inca victory over the Spanish. Most trains to Machu Picchu leave from here, so visit before or after your ride.
Two sites on the plateau above the Sacred Valley. Moray has deep circular Inca terraces believed to be an agricultural laboratory, and nearby Maras has thousands of salt pools on a hillside, still worked by local families. They are usually visited together on a half-day tour, and salt is sold on site.
The steep peak rising behind Machu Picchu, climbed by a narrow stone stairway with drop-offs to Inca terraces and a small temple near the top, with views down over the citadel. Permits are limited and sell out early. Allow two to three hours and avoid it if you fear heights.
The small town at the foot of Machu Picchu, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo, where trains arrive and buses leave for the ruins. It has hotels, restaurants, a craft market and thermal baths. Staying overnight lets you take the first bus up for a quieter morning visit at the citadel.
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