16 Completely FREE things to do in Cusco!
Sara and I started our travels as budget backpackers back in 2018. Almost six years later and we’ve never really managed to evolve our mindset away from that – even though we now work online!
So whenever we choose a new place to visit or base in, we’re always super mindful when it comes to budget and cost. For us, cheaper is always better!
And this was certainly the case for Cusco, which is super affordable for budget travellers!
If you’ve found this blog, then you share the same mindset we do, because who doesn’t love a bargain?
Thus, Sara and I have pulled from our lengthy experience staying in the old Incan capital into one easy to read, budget travellers guide to all the free things to do in Cusco!
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Is Cusco a good destination for budget travellers?
Let us think about that for a second… ABSOLUTELY!
Like all places, you can live as frugal or as bougie as you please. If you want to rack up thousands of dollars of expenses in Cusco, then you can.
But that’s not us, is it?
Well don’t worry, Cusco also offers super affordable hostels and hotels for $5-20 per night. We could head to local restaurants or markets for a $2 menu del día in most areas of the city.
And best of all, there’s plenty of free things to do in Cusco!
Before visiting all the free things to do in Cusco
Before we dive into all the free things to do in Cusco, we just wanted to make sure you’re prepared for your trip!
For Sara and I, we were glad that we brought a range of clothing options. We’ had’d packed down jackets as well as shorts, and the weather in Cusco can be a bit bi-polar, so it’s good to be prepared – oh, and a raincoat too!
For footwear, Cusco is pretty hilly, so we wore running shoes like Hoka’s or Nike’s to most places. Then for more strenuous climbs we’d bust out the hiking boots.
Finally, be prepared for altitude sickness in Cusco. It can affect everyone differently, but for us it manifested as light headedness, slight nausea and tiredness. There were some points when we had to take it easy and relax. But the symptoms abated after a couple of days of acclimation!
In the meantime, there are plenty of things to do in Cusco while acclimating!
Free things to do in Cusco city
We’ve split this guide into two sections. This first section will cover all the free things to do and attractions inside of Cusco city.
None of these are too far from the historic centre and everything is walkable!
Join one of the FREE walking tours!
One of the first things Sara and I ALWAYS do when arriving in a new city is to book a free walking tour. They’re offered in almost every city we’ve visited and we think they’re an awesome way to learn about a new location and its history.
There are a couple of companies to choose from in every city. We usually book most of our walking tours with Guru Walk as they’re super reliable. In Lima and Cusco there’s also another company called Inkan Milk Way Tours, which we also had a great experience with.
Both tour companies take the same route and offer the same information. The tour itself is around 3-hours long and takes you around the historic centre. The guides are full of information and great at answering any questions!
You are expected to tip at the end – that’s how the companies make their money back – so a walking tour isn’t truly “free”. But if you’re on a shoestring budget, the guide won’t be upset if you don’t tip, or if it’s just a small amount.
Stroll around the historic centre
After your walking tour, it’s a great idea to just mooch through the streets of the historic centre yourself.
These streets are stunning examples of colonial architecture, mixed with Peruvian and Incan elements. Sara and I spent hours just wandering around the city centre!
If you’re staying in Cusco long-term, like we were, then just walking around is the best way to learn the city!
People watch in Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas has been the beating heart of Cusco since before the Spanish conquest. It’s a large square in the centre of the city that’s bordered by shops, restaurants and Cusco’s huge cathedral.
One of our favourite things to do was to arrive in Plaza de Armas quite early in the morning, and then watch the city of Cusco go about its day.
We’d see everything, from the elderly getting their morning exercise, to workers making their morning commute, and maybe even backpackers heading drunkenly home after a night out!
Study the mural on Avenida del Sol
Not too far from Plaza de Armas, along the main Avenida del Sol, you’ll find a giant mural around 50m x 6m (164ft x 20ft) in size.
Painted by Juan Bravo Vizcarra in 1992, the mural tells the story of over 3000 years of Peruvian history. You’ll see ancient civilisations, the Inca Empire, colonial times and the current republic all represented in a single painting.
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Visit the ChocoMuseo (a unique free thing to do in Cusco)
Okay, one of our favourite experiences in Cusco was to book a chocolate workshop at the ChocoMuseo. However, this does cost around $20, so we know it’s not for everyone.
But on the bright side, the ChocoMuseo itself is free to enter!
Inside this unique museum are chocolate states and chocolate sculptures… chocolate everything really!
We could even head upstairs and get a peek into the chocolatiers workshop as they cooked up new products. The gift shop attendant also offers lots of different chocolates to sample as well, at zero cost.
Wander around Mercado San Pedro
Mercado San Pedro is the first of two markets in our guide, and it’s the biggest!
Inside Mercado San Pedro we found everything from butchers, to fresh produce and unique tropical fruit juices, to clothing, to kitchenware.
At the back of the market is a giant food hall with hundreds of stalls offering local Peruvian dishes. It’s here that we found probably the cheapest menu del día in the city at around $2.15!
Mercado San Pedro can be a bit of a shock to the senses, but it’s worth a visit.
Or visit Mercado San Blas
The second market in our guide is Mercado San Blas. Located in the beautiful San Blas neighbourhood, this market is quite a bit smaller than Mercado San Pedro. But in our opinion, if you’re going to eat anywhere, Mercado San Blas is much cleaner!
You can expect a similar experience to Mercado San Pedro, but on a much smaller and less hectic scale.
Pose next to the Colonial Aqueduct of Sapantiana
When the Spanish colonised Peru, they had a nasty habit of tearing down the Incan temples. But they did reuse the bricks to build other structures, like the churches.
One of the more unique things built in the 17th century with old temple bricks was the aqueduct of Sapantiana. A large wall with multiple Roman-style arches, it has a stair-like structure down which water cascades.
It’s a bit of a walk outside the historic centre, but worth a visit!
Chill by the fountain in Plazoleta Regocijo
In Spanish, Plazoleta means tiny plaza. Although Plazoleta Regocijo isn’t actually that tiny, it’s a lot smaller than the huge Plaza de Armas.
However, Plazoleta Regocijo has a lot of character. It has a stunning water fountain in the centre and is surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings. We really enjoyed perching on a bench here and taking in the ambience.
Even if you’re just passing through quickly, Plaza Regocijo should be on your itinerary!
Admire the Twelve Angled Stone
Just a short walk around the corner from 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!
Walk up to El Arco de Santa Ana
The arch of Santa Ana was declared a historic monument of Peru in 1972, and was made a UNESCO heritage site in 1983 along with Cusco’s entire historic centre.
From the top of the street, you’ll look downhill at Arco de Santa Ana, and Cusco beyond it. It’s one of the best views of the city that doesn’t require a bit of an uphill walk!
Free things to do near Cusco city
If you’ve exhausted all your free things to do in Cusco in the city, then it’s time to venture a but further afield!
Enjoy Mirador San Cristobal
The neighbourhood of San Cristobal is not only beautiful to explore, it’s also got a great view point! (There is a better view point but it’s more of a hike – more on that next!)
From Plaza San Cristobal we could see over the majority of the city, with views in every direction.
Hike to Mirador Cristo Blanco (most popular free thing to do in Cusco)
Cue the better view point! Up in the foothills surrounding Cusco is Mirador Cristo Blanco. In fact, you may have seen the giant statue of Jesus from Plaza de Armas, yup that’s the spot!
This view point is one of the most popular spots in the city. From Cristo Blanco we could see over the ENTIRE city of Cusco – it’s actually insane!
It is a bit of a walk up though, so be prepared for shortness of breath due to altitude. But it’s definitely a must-see!
Look into Saqsaywaman ruins
Usually, you’d need to pay for a ticket into Saqsaywaman ruins – about $20 per person. However, you can actually see most of the complex for free!
On the walk up to Cristo Blanco, you’ll pass by the old Incan wall that borders the ruins. Then a tad further up you see into the complex itself just from the public footpath.
For us, this was good enough. We saw enough ruins, like Machu Picchu and the Temple of the Moon (the next spot), so we didn’t feel the need to pay for an entry ticket.
Visit the Temple of the Moon
Our final stop in the foothills was the Temple of the Moon. The antithesis to the Sun Temple, this was one of the most important religious sites for Incan ceremonies and traditions.
It’s actually bored into a giant rock that sticks out from the ground. But you can no longer enter inside due to fencing and boundaries.
Although in a slow state of decay, the Temple of the Moon is still a great free thing to do in Cusco!
Explore the Real Plaza mall
Lastly on our list of free things to do in Cusco is to take a wander to Real Plaza. Sara and I are avid mall-goers (is that strange?), so we’re always on the look out for a good place to window shop.
Unfortunately South America doesn’t have the same mall culture we know and love in SE-Asia, but we still took pleasure in discovering new malls everywhere we went!
Real Plaza is a simple mall, but with everything you might need. You can buy clothes at the H&M, or taste test Bembos – a Peruvian fast food chain – or catch a movie the cinema… if you’re Spanish is good enough!
With Real Plaza, you can either take it or leave it, it’s up to you!
Where to stay in Cusco
Seeing as this guide is more or less about saving budget, we’ve put together some of the best rated budget stays below. There’s also some more fancy options too if you’re feeling scandalous!
Hostels:
- Wild Rover Cusco ($7-15/night) ← Cusco’s party hostel.
- Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Cusco ($15-40/night)
- Cusco Rock Hostel ($16.50/night)
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)
Luxury Hotels:
- Union Hotel Cusco ($100/night)
- Auka Boutique San Blas ($74/night)
- Anahuarque Hotel Boutique ($72/night)
Final thoughts on free things to do in Cusco
If you’re looking for a city that has a ton of free things to do, then Cusco is a great option. And if you’re a budget traveller (or an “affordable” traveller like us), then outside of the free activities, the museums and food options won’t break the bank.
But, in our opinion, all the free things to do in Cusco will keep you busy for a full day if you rush around, or two days if you take your time. So enjoy!
Our other Cusco blogs:
- 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?
- Cusco in December: Weather, celebrations, things to do and more!
- 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!
- 3 days in Cusco – a full itinerary and everything you need to know!
- 4 days in Cusco: A full itinerary and everything you need to know!
- How to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco and Peru!
- Visiting the Temple of the Moon in Cusco: Everything you need to know!
We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about all the free things to do 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!
