Tips for Planning Your Tour Itinerary in Cusco: Expert Recommendations and Travel Suggestions

The breathtaking city of Cusco

Cusco is often referred to as the Archeological Capital of America, offering explorers numerous opportunities to discover places connected with archaeology, culture, and nature. The city’s beauty can be appreciated both during the day and at night during Cusco Tours, depending on personal preferences. The must-visit attractions in Cusco include the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Center, the temple of Santo Domingo (also known as Qoricancha), the Inca Qenqo labyrinth, and the archaeological complexes of Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

Starting the journey at the Temple of the Sun or Qorikancha would be a great idea. It is famous for its beautiful stone construction, gardens, and fountains. The Qorikancha Site Museum is also a fantastic place to visit, offering great insights into the culture, religion, and history of the pre-Inca, Inca, and colonial times.

The Archaeological Complex of Sacsayhuman is an impressive place to see how the ancient people were able to construct enormous works without the equipment we have today. Furthermore, tourists can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city of Cusco from there. Finally, the last point on the journey could be the Inca Sanctuary, Q’enqo, which is a labyrinth featuring the beautiful Intiwatana (Astronomical Observatory), underground galleries, and an amphitheatre.

Take the tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Many tourists who visit Peru consider the tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Maras Moray as the most valuable experience. This tour offers a chance to admire the stunning Andean landscapes, glaciers and archaeological parks. You get to explore two important places, including Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras, and Moray. The tour also provides an opportunity to witness the Inca agricultural experimentation using circular terraces to create microclimate differences.

A visit to Maras Salt Pans is also worth experiencing, where over 3,000 shallow pools belong to 380 local families. What sets them apart is that they are filled with saltwater that flows from natural springs in the Qoripukiu (Golden Fountain) hill, showcasing the tradition of salt extraction by pre-Inca.

Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains tour

The tour to Peru cannot be complete without the experience of the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour. It is a route for tourists who are ready to be active, hiking to Palccoyo by the Rainbow Mountain and the Ausangate. One of the stops is the visit to the town of Checacupe, with amazing 3 picturesque bridges, such as the Inca and Colonial bridges.

It is recommended to travel there between March and December, and with not so many tourists on the route and only 45 minutes of walk, it can be called relaxing.

From Cusco to Laguna Humantay

Cusco is a great starting point for the Laguna Humantay tour. Driving through amazing scenery to the small town of Mollepata with a breathtaking altitude of 2,803 m (9,186ft), later to the Soraypampa camp and one more hour from there to the Humantay Lagoon. On the way you can meet alpacas, llamas and vicuñas, and the view of the Salkantay and Humantay mountains.

What to bring along?

As all of the tours require a lot of walking, there are a few important items necessary for the tour. One of the most crucial items is comfortable shoes, as all of the tours require lots of walking. It is recommended to wear many lightweight layers of clothes, as the temperatures in the city will vary from those in the mountains. It is necessary to take a warm jacket, capes or hat, gloves, and rain clothing, such as a rain poncho. Sunglasses are necessary too.

Apart from the proper clothing, it is important to take sunscreen, sunglasses, and bottles of water. As for the documents, a passport or DNI and travel insurance are obligatory.

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