Top 8 Things to Do in Cusco & the Sacred Valley, Peru

One year out of college, with the impending doom of the “real world” approaching, I decided to plan my first independent international adventure to Peru. With not much more than $1200 to spend, I was determined to go to Machu Picchu and explore as much as I could of the Sacred Valley with only 10 days’ time.

Check out my Favorite Things To Do in Cusco and the Sacred Valley below!

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Cusco

Cusco is an enchanting small city located in the Andes and former capital of the Incan Empire, originally founded in the 12th century. The city itself features cathedrals, temples, museums, excellent restaurants, and serves as a great base to visit Machu Picchu and explore the rest of the Sacred Valley.

Located at an elevation of 11,152 feet above sea level, visitors are at risk of experiencing altitude sickness. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, stomach ache, and vomiting. Be sure to take care of yourself, drink plenty of water, and rest if needed! Pro tip: Coca leaves are a great natural remedy to help elevate altitude sickness. Try chewing the leaves or drinking coca tea, which can be found in most hotel lobbies.

1. Plaza de Armas

Spend time exploring and relaxing in the Plaza de Armas Cusco. The Plaza is the main public square that marks the center of the Old City. Numerous important historical buildings, including the iconic Cusco Cathedral, ring the Plaza de Armas as well as an abundance of shops and restaurants.

2. Qorikancha (aka. Koricancha or Coricancha)

Make a stop at Qorikancha, the most important temple in Incan culture. The temple is believed to have been built in the 12th century and includes the Golden Temple of the Sun and Santo Domingo monastery. I paid a little extra to have a guide for this site, which was worth it because I learned so much more about Incan history and the significance of the temple than I would have if I visited this site alone.

Golden Temple of the Sun: The most sacred site in the Inca religion and was considered the very center of the Inca world. It was originally covered completely in gold.

Santo Domingo: A Christian monastery that was built by the Spanish on top of the original foundation of Qorikancha. No doubt it was built in a deliberate attempt to signify that one religion had been replaced by another.

3. San Pedro Market

One of my favorite activities when visiting a new city is to check out the local market. Located one block away from the main square, the San Pedro market has stalls of fresh produce, meats, fish, souvenirs, and flowers. I stopped by the market several times during my stay in Cusco to grab breakfast or lunch at one of the food stands to have an authentic Peruvian meal.

4. Saqsaywaman

I didn’t get a chance to visit this site, but I wish I did! Located just outside the town, the ruins of Saqsaywaman (pronounced “sexy woman”, yes you read that right) is the site of an old Incan fortress. This citadel is a complex of enormous interlocking stones—one alone can weigh up to 360 tons! To get there, it is about 1 mile walk uphill from the Plaza de Armas.

5. Festival of the Sun / Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi (the Incan Festival of the Sun) is celebrated every year to honor the Incan god Inti (Sun god) on the winter solstice (typically June 24). It just so happened that my trip to Cusco overlapped with the festival. I'm really lucky I was in Cusco at this time because I was able to experience one of the most important Incan rituals, which is celebrated with numerous parades and performances.

Remainder of the Sacred Valley Region

The Urubamba (aka. Sacred) Valley is a region in Peru's Andean highlands, which stretches between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Along with the nearby town of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu, it formed the heart of the Inca Empire.

6. Machu Picchu

No trip to the Sacred Valley is complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. Known as the “Lost City of the Incas”, it is located in an isolated mountain ridge more than 7800 feet above sea level. Originally built around 1450, it was abandoned by the Incas during the Spanish conquest and remained unknown to the outside world until an American explorer rediscovered it in 1911.

The day I spent at Machu Picchu was the absolute highlight of my trip to Peru. Although my alarm went off around 5:00am to catch the first bus out of town up to the citadel, it was well worth it. I arrived to entrance gates of Machu Picchu just as the sun was rising and was able to enjoy some solitude before the tourist masses arrived later in the morning.

Surrounding Machu Picchu are several mountains, including Machu Picchu Mountain (10,042’) in the south and Huyana Picchu Mountain (8,924’) in the north.

Graphic by Emily Scalzo

As part of my Machu Picchu visit, I really wanted to be able to hike one of these mountains, which require an additional ticket. As recommended, I purchased my Machu Picchu entry ticket far enough in advance that I was able to secure a ticket to Machu Picchu Mountain, too. Hiking Machu Picchu Mountain was the most memorial part of my day. It was an incredibly difficult hike for me given the steep incline and lower oxygen levels from the higher altitude, but it was well worth it. From the top, I was able to have sweeping views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area. 10/10 would recommend.   

7. Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is an Incan village in set in the mountains of the Sacred Valley along the Urubambo River. I really enjoyed the quaintness of this town, which is filled with cobblestone streets and markets. There are numerous Incan ruins in Ollantaytambo, including the Ollantaytambo Sanctuary Ruins and Pinkuyllana.  

Ollantaytambo Sanctuary Ruins: A well-preserved Incan fortress which was used as a defensive structure during battle with the Spaniards

Pinkuylluna: Incan store houses opposite of the main ruins. I took a short hike to this archaeological site adjacent to town. The hike provides great views of town and the surrounding Urubambo Valley.

8. Natura Vive Via Ferrata and Zip line

Looking for an adrenaline rush? I spent a day at Natura Vive climbing 1300 feet up the Via Ferrata (translating to “Iron Rung” in Italian) and then soaring down the mountainside along six zip lines.

This was one of my favorite activities during my trip to Peru, simply because I’ve never done anything like it. The Via Ferrata allows you to “rock climb” without needing the technical skills of actual rock climbing. Plus, the views of Urabambo River Valley from the top and along the zip lines are incredible.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 10-days I spent in Peru. The sites, culture, and landscape were so beautiful and the Peruvian people were incredibly welcoming. A visit to Machu Picchu should be on everyone’s bucket list and I hope this guide on Cusco and the Sacred Valley helps inspire you!

Happy adventuring! xxx -Emily

Questions about my 10-day trip to Peru or interested in learning more?