the BEST way to enjoy two weeks in Cusco, Peru!
I just got back from a biggg trip to South America, where I spent some time in Cusco, Peru, as well as Patagonia, Argentina, where I hosted a 7-day hiking trip. My time in South America was incredible, and Cusco, Peru was one of the highlights.
Cusco sits at about 11,000 feet above sea level, tucked inside massive rolling mountains and nearby glaciers. There’s so much romance to the city streets, we were amazed with how much we enjoyed it. Like all cities, Cusco is a mix of tourist areas and small pockets of wonderful, local communities. The streets are extremely clean given the moderately large population, tourists, and the many stray dogs. We quickly realized we needed to hire the same cleaning crew to come to the cities in the US! :)
Much of Cusco’s economy relies on tourism. An estimated 1.5 million people per year visit the area to see the beautiful history. Whether it’s Machu Picchu, the glacier mountains, or the Amazon, there’s so many things to do from Cusco!
For the most part, everything is more affordable than in the US. (The conversion rate is 26 cents to 1 Peruvian Sol!) We ate the fanciest restaurants and had the most delicious food that averaged about $15 per dinner! The morning or lunch meals were more in the $10 range and that is eating WELL. I’m talking nice meals. If you’re going for even more local and cheap options, you’re looking at $3-$5 meals.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
How to Get There: You’ll most likely fly into Lima and then connect to Cusco. (If you have a long layover in Lima they say there’s incredible food). When you land in Cusco there are usually a lot of taxis outside waiting so don’t stress about having that lined up before arriving.
ProTip: Some super helpful info we got from many tour guides was to never drink tap water and to stay away from fresh fruits and veggies unless you can peel them. Tap water isn’t filtered and often contains harmful bacteria that can make you sick. Most produce is washed with this water as well.
ProTip: Check your hotel before you book to make sure they have hot water 💦 and know you cannot throw any toilet paper in the toilets they don’t have the same plumbing system that we do in the US, so you’ll be throwing your TP in a bag or trash can. Sounds gross, but you get used to it.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
FOR MY BUDGET PEOPLE
I highly recommend looking at multiple options when buying tours, food, gifts etc. It is a tourist town, so they will often try to overcharge you. Do your research. Go to 3-5 places and see what the average price is for that activity/item. Then offer a lower price than the average. Most places are willing to negotiate on the price.
For example:
At one store a sweater was priced at S/100 ($26USD). At another store we were able to buy that same sweater for S/35 ($9USD)!
For our 2-day Machu Picchu tour we got offered prices between $210-$270 (without an entry ticket).
For more budget-friendly food, go three to four blocks away from the center plaza (aka where all the tourist attractions are.) We found a lot of options for S/20-40 per dish just a block away from the center, while meals are priced more in the S/50-70 range in the busy areas. That’s a big difference for a short walk! Sometimes you can even get free drinks or a small discount at restaurants if you play hard to get.
Also ask prices before you purchase things like a taxi or groceries. If they know you’re not from there they will charge you more/ the tourist price. We quickly realized Uber was usually a cheaper option than a taxi because they have set prices and can’t randomly charge extra.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
FOR MY BALLIN’ OUT PEOPLE
Look up the 5 star restaurants and try it all! It’s so good. Make sure to see the local ruins in the city in your spare time, and try all the fresh juice you can because it’s so flavorful.
When it comes to activities, I recommend Salkantay Trekking. They have amazing reviews and are 5 star worthy. Book these trips ahead of time. They might not be as flexible on pricing but they are worth every penny! Carlos “The Mountain King” was our guide and he made the trip so positive and fun! If you book with Salkantay, make sure to request him! (More info on our experience below.)
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
RESTAURANTS WE ATE AT & LOVED
Yaku
Jacks cafe
Papacho
Green point
Qura
Sumacha traditional Peru
Chullos Peruvian
Ponchos
Kusykay
Organika
Avocado toast
MY FAVORITE LOCAL DISHES & DRINKS
Any fresh juice! Mango, Maraquia, and chicha Morada are my favorite.
Saltado - kinda like a stir fry!
Papa relleno - Stuffed potato!
Any slow cooked lamb or beef
Aji de gallina - Peruvian cream sauce dish with chicken
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
AIRBNBS WE STAYED AT
Sara’s Place Great location with a view of the whole town. It was only a 10-15 min walk to the main square along a very nice walkway. They are able to pick you up from the airport, do laundry, and make food if you ask.
Virginia's Place Studio was very affordable and in a great location! Even closer to town and it’s still on the same cute walkway to town.
Mountain View Very fancy place near Maras. It was EXTREMELY beautiful. Just know it was isolated in terms of places to eat other than the hotel which was a limited menu and slightly pricey.
Hotel Iorana This is in Urubamba. They were extremely nice and accommodating. They made a delicious fresh breakfast for us and helped us order delivery dinner to the hotel. They have a hot tub, sauna and yoga room for guests.
Hotel Luz Garden This was a great place to stay during our time in Aguas Caliente near Machu Picchu. Nice hotel, near the train station and shops.
ACTIVITIES & TOUR COMPANIES
Machu Picchu
I would highly recommend getting Machu Picchu entry tickets online and in advance. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait in line for hours in Aguas Caliente, the town nearest the ruins, and a ticket isn’t 100% guaranteed. Buy the entry ticket only, then book an all inclusive tour with a local company in town when you arrive in Cusco (there’s hundreds of tour companies, don't stress). I recommend Illapa Tours(Joel is the manager). Everything will go way smoother this way and you won’t have to worry so much!
Here are a few options if you want to buy in advance:
Full 2 day Tour to Machu Pichuu with salt mines
Full 2 day Tour to Machu Pichuu
Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain is a stunning and unique mountain famous for its vibrant colors. It’s actually alternating layers of mineral deposits that create such a mesmerizing variety of hues. We paid for a taxi to take us. It was S/400 for the whole day, which is definitely worth it if you have a large group and want to do it on your own time.
If you want to book in advance:
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Humantay Lake
Salkantay Trekking, overall best experience with a tour company. They communicated extremely well and were very officiant. They fed us incredible meals and went above and beyond to make everything fun and enjoyable for everyone. We did two days and one night hiking Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass. We stayed in the most incredible domes that were made of glass. We ate four-course meals and watched shooting stars. Again, I would highly recommend any trip with that company and ask for Carlos “The Mountain King.”
On the Humantay + Salkantay trek
Amazon Jungle
We booked in Cusco at a local tour company but we would not recommend booking with them… I will have a separate blog post coming on our four days in the jungle, which will include my tour guide recs and where you should stay! Message me for information if it’s not up yet!
Our tour was about $500 for 4 days 3 nights. Here is a link for similar tours for now if you are interested in checking them out;
ACTIVITIES WE DIDN'T DO BUT RECOMMEND
Maras Salt Flats. They are 1.5 hours away and you can ATV there or just hike around! Very beautiful.
We would also recommend looking for cooking classes and dance classes! A great way to experience the local culture.
Overall the trip was incredible! There is SO much to do just in the city of Cusco alone! The city itself has so much charm that you’ll enjoy it just as much as you enjoy the tours of the surrounding attractions!
My biggest advice is to book your flights and plan the rest when you arrive! The laid-back vibe of the country made for lots of spontaneity. We decided the day before the jungle that we wanted to go and we found multiple places that had available trips.
I hope this guide is a sign to book your ticket to Cusco and see how your adventure unfolds! Have you ever been to Peru? Let me know in the comments below!
