3 days in Cusco – a full itinerary and everything you need to know!

From antique colonial architecture, to mouth-watering food, we can promise you that you’ll love spending 3 days in Cusco!

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is now the 8th largest city in Peru. In our opinion, it’s also one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Being deep in the Andes mountains, Cusco offers world class scenery and a unique energetic atmosphere that keeps this city alive.

Sara and I spent over a month living in Cusco. During this time we explored every inch of the historic centre, ventured deep into the surrounding foothills and everywhere beyond.

This 3 day Cusco itinerary has been born from our ongoing experience in the city. We’ll make sure that you have all the options available to you to tailor for your best adventure in Peru!

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Prepping for you trip to Cusco

We already know that if you’re planning a trip to Peru, or South America in general, then you kinda already have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

But if Cusco is on your bucket list (actually, if you’re reading this guide then it definitely is!), then here are a few pointers from us: 

1. Prepare for hills – located in the mountains, it’s no surprise that Cusco isn’t the flattest city in Peru. You’re going to be walking up and down a lot of hills while exploring the area.
2. Pack sturdy hiking gear – you’re planning a trip to Cusco, which means you’re probably an outdoor lover like us! There’s plenty of trails and treks around, so bring your best hiking gear.
3. Know about the wet season – the rainy season runs from November until March, so plan your gear accordingly. However, we actually visited in December and January and the rain never stopped us from heading out to explore!
4. Be ready for the altitude – at 3,400m above sea level, Cusco is one of the highest cities on the planet. Altitude sickness is a serious problem for some people, and we’ll cover it in more depth in the next section of this guide.
5. It can get a bit chilly – following on from the altitude, being up this high means that some days can drop in temperature a fair bit. A light jacket or down jacket would be perfect to bring.

Arriving in Cusco and altitude sickness

There are two ways you’re likely to arrive in Cusco. The first is by plane, which is how Sara and I made our way to Cusco. However, this means you don’t have any opportunity to acclimatise.

The second way is by bus. If you’re on a more budget trip and you’re taking the overnight bus routes, we highly recommend stopping for a few days in Arequipa on your way to acclimatise to the altitude.

Altitude sickness in Cusco can affect different people in different ways. For us, we felt tired and lethargic for the first couple of days – especially when walking uphill.

To help with altitude sickness, make sure to drink more water than usual, rest up when you’re feeling tired and don’t undertake any strenuous exercise. 

Also, we found making coca tea by stewing coca leaves in a pot really helped. Or you can chew them with an activating agent like bicarbonate soda.

Don’t worry, it’s not the same as refined cocaine, coca leaves just help your body utilise oxygen and reduce the feelings of nausea.

There are plenty of things to do in Cusco while acclimating. Remember, don’t try to play the hero.

If you’re one of the rare ones that ends up being affected by altitude sickness super nastily, we highly recommend seeking doctor advice or even reducing your altitude to a different city to acclimatise further.

Is 3 days enough in Cusco?

As with most places people like us travel to, is any amount of time really enough time?

Sara and I spent over a month in Cusco, we really dug in deep to the activities here, but there’s still so much we weren’t able to do.

So what we always say is, whatever amount of time you have is the right amount of time. You’ll get to see a lot during 3 days in Cusco, more than if you’d spent less time in the city.

But if you have the flexibility, we would always recommend 4 days in Cusco – or even a week.

Especially if you’re unsure how your body is going to react to the altitude. You might even need to spend two days simply acclimatising! 

What if you only have 1 or 2 days in Cusco?

If you only have 1 or 2 days in Cusco, then obviously you’re going to need to sacrifice some experiences and activities. We really would recommend 3 days in Cusco if you have the means, but if you can’t, then you’re in luck!

We’ve already posted super comprehensive itineraries for if you only have 2 days in Cusco, or even just 24-hours in Cusco.

We spent a long time making sure these guides hit all the major spots in the city so that you can be the most efficient with minimal time!

The best itinerary for 3 days in Cusco

Now, the bit you chose this guide for – the itinerary!

Sara and I have designed this itinerary to hit every major hot spot in and around Cusco, including Machu Picchu. 

Feel free to adapt or rearrange this itinerary to suit your particular needs or desires. By no means does this need to be followed to a tee, but it also can be if you want everything planned out step-by-step!

Day 1 – Explore the city of Cusco

We’ve strategically created the first day of this 3 days in Cusco itinerary to be followed in order. It’s also a completely walkable route.

Sara and I called upon our experience and knowledge of the layout of the city to minimise walking times and distances as much as we could between attractions. So this it the most efficient way to spend your first day!

Plaza de Armas

The best thing to do is start your 3 days in Cusco nice and early in the beating heart of the city – Plaza de Armas. Also known as Plaza Mayor, it’s a public area surrounded by tons of restaurants and shops.

Historically, Plaza de Armas was actually the centre of Cusco, predating even the Spanish conquest.

Now, it’s a great place to chill out on a bench, feed the birds and people watch as the locals go about their daily lives.

If you’re planning to visit Cusco around the holidays, just like we did, then this is a great place to spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 30 minutes
• Location: Del Medio 123, Cusco 08000, Peru

Cusco Cathedral

There are two religious buildings around the edge of Plaza de Armas, but the one that stands out the most is Cusco Cathedral.

Located at the north end of the plaza (honestly it’s hard to miss), this cathedral was built in 1668 by the Spanish.

It’s kind of expensive to enter in our opinion, but if you’re into history and religious architecture like we are, it’s going to be a great visit!

• Entrance fee: S/.40 ($10.68)
• Opening times: 6am – 8pm
• Time to visit: 30 to 60 minutes
• Location: Cusco 08002, Peru

Twelve Angled Stone

Just a short walk around the corner of the cathedral, in a narrow city alley, we found an original Inca wall that’s home to the infamous Twelve Angled Stone.

Once a section of the Inca palace in Cusco, this stone stands out in the wall thanks to… well, it’s twelve sides! These days it’s actually considered a national heritage object in Peru.

It’s worth noting that we walked past this stone on multiple occasions during our time in Cusco, and it can get quite busy. So an early morning visit is definitely something we’d recommend!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 10 minutes
• Location: C. Hatunrumiyoc 480, Cusco 08002, Peru

The Sun Temple (Santo Domingo Convent & Church)

Unfortunately, the Spanish took it upon themselves to destroy (almost) every Inca temple inside the city of Cusco. They did so to reuse the stones to build the currently standing churches and monasteries. It was a whole catholic strategy to convert the indigenous peoples to God.

Lucky for us, they actually preserved the Sun Temple, the most important temple in the Incan religion.

Albeit they preserved it inside… you guessed it, a church and monastery!

So it’s time to head on a short walk to the Santo Domingo Convent and Church. Enter inside, be welcomed by the most ornate courtyard and marvel at how well preserved these Incan temples are!

• Entrance Fee: S/.15 ($4)
• Opening times: 6am – 5:30pm
• Time to visit: 30 to 60 minutes
• Location: Ahuacpinta 659-A, Cusco 08002, Peru

San Blas Market (Lunch)

Cor blimey, that’s been one hell of a morning already, hasn’t it?!

Don’t worry, we’re sending you to your first food stop of the day – San Blas market.

A lot of blogs will actually send you to Mercado San Pedro. However, from our experience eating in both, even though San Blas is smaller, it offers fresher food and a way cleaner environment.

We opted for a steak sandwich that was prepared right in front of us, as well as a freshly blended mixed fruit juice. But you could also take your pick from a range of stalls offering menu del día too!

• Entrance fee: FREE! But the food costs.
• Opening times: 6am – 4pm, closed Sundays.
• Time to visit: 30 minutes
• Location: C. Tandapata, Cusco 08003, Peru

Temple of the Moon

What we didn’t tell you, is that we sent you to San Blas market to fuel up for the biggest walk of the day. Sara and I are sending you up into the foothills of Cusco to explore the ruins of the Temple of the Moon!

The antithesis to the Sun Temple, the Temple of the Moon evaded destruction by the Spanish because it’s not technically in the city. Although, it hasn’t stood the test of time as well as the Sun Temple.

The Temple of the Moon is built into a giant bedrock and offers views of the surrounding mountains as well as over Cusco. 

We actually really enjoyed escaping the city and getting into the countryside!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 20 minutes
• Location: F2VP+P3, Cusco 08003, Peru

Cristo Blanco Viewpoint

You’ll be happy to know that all the uphill walking is pretty much done for the day. Now it’s just a short, flat walk through the foothills of Cusco to Cristo Blanco – one of the most popular viewpoints in Cusco.

From here, we had an unobstructed view over the majority of the city of Cusco. We could see down to Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral, all the way to where our Airbnb was on the opposite side of the city.

Not to mention, the giant, white statue of Jesus that looks down over all the people below!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 20 minutes
• Location: Cristo Blanco, Cusco 08003, Peru

Saqsaywaman Inca Ruins

Built in the 15th century by Sapa Inca Pachacuti, one of the most prominent Incan figureheads, Saqsaywaman was an Incan citadel overlooking Cusco.

At 3,700m above sea level, one of the main characteristics of these ruins are the perfect Incan walls. Similar to the Twelve Angled Stone wall and the Sun Temple, walls as pristinely made as these are reserved only for palaces and temples.

You can pay the pretty high price to venture inside and explore the ruins… or you could do what we did. While walking towards Saqsaywaman from Cristo Blanco, you’ll be able to see the entire compound without stepping a foot inside. 

You can even get up close to the walls of Saqsaywaman along the path that leads back down to Cusco!

• Entrance fee: S/.70 ($18.72)
• Opening times: 7am – 5:30pm
• Time to visit: 60 minutes
• Location: Cusco 08002, Peru

Morena Peruvian Kitchen (Dinner)

After a long walk into the hills and back again, we were super hungry when we finally arrived back down Cusco. So we’re sure that you are too!

One of our favourite restaurants we visited in the city was Morena Peruvian Kitchen. It offers mouth-watering local cuisine at an affordable price.

And the food here is pretty much gourmet! You won’t regret it.

• Opening times: 12pm – 10pm
• Location: Esquina con, plaza de armas, C. Procuradores 320, Cusco 08002, Peru

Note: if you’re a budget traveller, then check out Restaurante y Pizzería URPI beside Mercado San Pedro. We found it to have a high quality Peruvian menu for a pretty low price!

Pisco Sour Tasting

Finally – and you can skip this if you don’t drink alcohol – Sara and I thoroughly enjoyed dipping our toes into the national drink of Peru – the pisco sour.

Pisco sours are made with a pisco brandy liquor, along with lime, egg whites and a dash of bitters. It has a taste that sort of resembles a mild tequila… at least I think it does!

There are a few places to try pisco in Cusco, but one of the most popular is Republica del Pisco near the main plaza. Just don’t go too crazy, you have an early start and a long day ahead tomorrow!

• Opening times: 12pm – 1am
• Location: C. Plateros 354, Cusco 08002, Peru

Day 2 – Visit the mystical Machu Picchu

Today is the day to visit the historic wonder of the world, Machu Picchu!

If you’re like Sara and I, this is one of the things you travelled all the to Cusco for in the first place. So we’re going to overview everything you need to know to visit Machu Picchu in one day!

What is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is Peru’s famous world wonder that sits atop a mountain in the remote jungles of the Andes.

Actually named after the mountain beside it (Machu Picchu literally translates from Quechua as ‘old mountain’), this complex is considered the Lost City of the Incas.

The story goes, Machu Picchu was commissioned by the Inca Emperor Pachacuti, to be a sort of ‘holiday estate’ from Cusco. And between 1420 to 1530 (or as is estimated), it became a functional mountain city with state-of-the-art houses, drainage and agricultural systems.

Machu Picchu was lost in the early 1500’s and wasn’t found again until Agustín Lizárraga rediscovered it in 1902.

But it wasn’t until 1911 when Hiram Bingham went looking for Machu Picchu that the news of the lost city was spread through the world.

Is Machu Picchu worth it?

Machu Picchu is 100% worth it, and we don’t say that lightly!

Between us, we’ve visited 5 out of the 7 world wonders, and we both agree that Machu Picchu is by far the best one.

Buy why?

Well the remoteness of the Lost City is hard to beat. All of the other world wonders you just sort of drive up, park in the car park and pay to go in…

But not Machu Picchu, no no no.

Machu Picchu is in the mountains beside a tourist town called Aguas Calientes, and it’s impossible to drive there. But we’ll cover the ways to get there in the next section.

However, this remoteness and absolute adventure to reach Machu Picchu is what, in our opinion, lands it in the number one spot of world wonders.

Not to mention wandering around the city is one of the most mystical feelings we’ve ever experienced.

How to get to and from Machu Picchu?

There are a few ways to get to Machu Picchu…

There are the Inca trails and Salkantay treks that take around 4 to 5 days to complete.

There’s the way we took, which is a 6-hour bus to Hidroelectrica and a 3-hour hike to Aguas Calientes. This is the cheapest route!

But unfortunately, because you only have 3 days in Cusco, you’ll need to use the final and most expensive mode of transport – the train.

The train is the only way to get from Cusco, to Machu Picchu and back in a single day.

Within the $60+ ticket, a bus will run from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll swap over to the train which takes you directly to Aguas Calientes. The entire journey takes around four hours and it’ll cost another $60+ ticket to book the return trip. 

You can also purchase more expensive ticket packages that include a guide and the entry ticket to Machu Picchu.

If you opt for the basic ticket, you’ll also need to fork out a further $25 for a return shuttle from Agua’s Calientes to the entrance gate.

How much does Machu Picchu cost?

We paid around $40 each for our tickets. But there are some more expensive options as well if you plan to hike the mountains.

Also, if you’re a college or uni student, or a minor (3-17 years) then tickets are around $20.

You can book tickets to Machu Picchu online. Just remember that some circuits (more on that soon) book out month in advance. I just had a quick look at the website to double check the prices and some tickets are sold out until the 8th of October (I’m writing this on August 2nd). 

When we booked online, we then had to head to the Machu Picchu ticket office in Cusco to pay for them in person. You head in with your confirmation email and the person at the counter will sort out the rest!

It’s worth mentioning that a friend of mine took the trip to Aguas Calientes without a ticket and managed to pick one up in the tourist office the day before she visited Machu Picchu. But they only allocate 1000 tickets per day here so in our opinion it’s not worth the risk.

Which circuit should you book for Machu Picchu?

When we visited Machu Picchu, there were 4 different circuits that could be booked. After just checking now, there are only 3, but of different variations.

So if you’re finding this guide a few months down the line, definitely double check our information here to the information on the official website. There’s a high chance the circuits have changed.

We personally booked the Inca Laqta ticket that meant we could explore all 4 circuits. Unfortunately it looks like this option doesn’t exist anymore.

The next best thing is to book onto Circuit 2 the “classic designed route”. Similarly to when we visited, Circuit 2 will take you to most of the major sites around Machu Picchu.

But if you want to see the Inca Bridge or climb Machu Picchu (the mountain), you’ll need to book Circuit 1. Also, if you plan to climb Wayna Picchu, you’ll need to book Circuit 3.

The hassle free option…

If you have no interest in booking each of these tickets individually, you can also just book directly onto a Machu Picchu day trip tour from Cusco.

Then all you need to do is turn up to the right place at the right time, and everything else is handled for you!

Day 3 – Visit a rainbow mountain or tour the Sacred Valley

Welcome back from Machu Picchu, we sincerely hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did!

On your final day of your 3 days in Cusco, we’ve given you two options for tours that we really liked. We had so much fun on both we couldn’t pick one that’s better than the other!

Trek a rainbow mountain

What trip to Cusco wouldn’t be complete without visiting one of the super colourful and picturesque rainbow mountains?

Yes, we said mountains, because despite what it looks like on social media, there’s actually more than one!

The Instagram famous rainbow mountain is called Vinicunca, and while it’s the tallest and most vibrant of the rainbow mountains, it’s also by far the busiest. Vinicunca receives more than 3000 tourists a day!

On the other hand, we visited Palcoyo – a different rainbow mountain that only gets around 300 visitors a day. In fact, when we visited our tour group was the only one there!

Okay, so it’s not as point or vibrant as Vinicunca, but we got to take the same alpaca photo with a similar rainbow mountain AND we got to enjoy it with nobody around… we’ll take that as a win!

Head on a tour of the Sacred Valley

If you’re not keen on heading up to 5000m above sea level at Palcoyo, then our second recommendation might be your jam!

Something we didn’t even know about until we arrived in Cusco is the Sacred Valley Tour. This is a full day trip that takes you to multiple different locations across the Sacred Valley.

We stopped at multiple different Incan archeological sites (Pisac, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero), at the Moras Salt Mines and at a local artisan market.

This is a long day with a lot of time spent on a coach, but we actually really enjoyed it. Our guide was awesome and we learnt a ton of history about the Inca empire and how advanced they were as a civilisation.

Where to eat in Cusco?

Just quickly before we let you go, we just want to blast through some of our favourite places to eat in Cusco!

Morena Peruvian Kitchen

We won’t delve too deep on this one as we covered it as part of day 1 in this 3 days in Cusco itinerary!

But expect delicious, high quality Peruvian cuisine.

KION Chinese-Peruvian Fusion

If you fancy something a bit different, a twist to Peruvian food if you will, then we really enjoyed a dinner date at KION.

KION is a Peruvian-Chinese fusion menu that combines the best of both cuisines into one dish. Historically, there’s always been a large community of Chinese in Peru, and over time the food has come to reflect that. 

So KION is a great way to celebrate the coming together of these two cultures!

JC’s Cafe Cusco

For more breakfast and brunch vibes, check out JC’s Cafe not too far from Plaza de Armas. The food here was super delicious and filled a craving for a western breakfast that we’d been having.

The wi-fi here is great too!

Mercado San Blas or Mercado San Pedro

Once again, we covered Mercado San Blas on day 1, but there’s also San Pedro too!

Mercado San Pedro is Mercado San Blas’ bigger and older cousin. It’s a place you can pick up anything, from trinkets, to presents, to juices, to fresh produce to lunch. At the back of the market, rows upon rows of small cantinas offer menu del día at very reasonable prices.

But like we mentioned, Mercado San Pedro seemed to us a bit dirtier and grittier than the equivalent in San Blas.

Molly’s Irish Bar

Sara and I didn’t even set foot inside Molly’s Irish Bar until the night before we left Cusco. But we were gutted we hadn’t tried it sooner!

Now, we know everyone loves an Irish bar, and Molly’s is exactly what you’d be looking for. Rustic Irish charm, decoration and the juicy and mouth-watering food to go with it!

Chakruna Native Burgers

Finally, the BEST burgers we came across in Cusco were at Chakruna Native Burgers. Sara and I visited a few times. It was that good!

The smashed beef patties are to die for. It’s also a great place to try an alpaca burger if that sort of thing is on your bucket list. We did, and it was amazing!

Where to stay in Cusco Peru

If you’re planning to spend a few days in Cusco here are a few great spots in the historic center at different budgets!

Best budget hostels:

• Wild Rover Cusco ($7-15/night) ← Cusco’s party hostel.
• Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Cusco ($15-40/night)
• Cusco Rock Hostel ($16.50/night)

Best budget hotels:

• Eco Bunnu Inn ($23/night)
• Cochito Cusco ($28/night)
• Andean Valley Hotel ($26/night)

Mid-range hotels:

• Amaru Colonial ($57/night)
• Casa Montes San Blas ($49/night)
• Hotel Hacienda Cusco Centro Historico ($56/night)

Top luxury hotels:

• Union Hotel Cusco ($100/night)
• Auka Boutique San Blas ($74/night)
• Anahuarque Hotel Boutique ($72/night)

Should you spend 3 days in Cusco?

If 3 days is all you have spare for Cusco, then definitely. As we’ve outlined in this itinerary, there are plenty of things that you can get done in just 3 days in Cusco.

However, if you do have the capacity to spend even just 4 days in Cusco, then we’d highly recommend it. But our top suggestion would be to put aside a full week. There’s so much more to do in this area than we’ve covered in this guide.

So to get the most out of it, and maybe save a spare few days for altitude sickness, the more days you can spend in Cusco the better!

Check out our other Cusco guides:

• Is Cusco safe to visit in 2024? Everything you need to know
• What’s the rainy season in Cusco like? – Peru Travel Guide
• Cusco Weather in January: A good time to visit?
• Spending Christmas in Cusco: Things to do and how to celebrate!
• One day in Cusco: The perfect 24 hour itinerary!
• 2 Days in Cusco: The best way to see everything quickly!
• 16 Completely FREE things to do in Cusco!
• How to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco and Peru!
• Visiting the Temple of the Moon in Cusco: Everything you need to know!
• Cusco in December: Weather, celebrations, things to do and more!

We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about spending 3 days in Cusco. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!