Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Cusco 🇵🇪 Backpacking Peru

Wild Rover Hostel Cusco is a highly recommended hostel for partygoers, known for its wild parties.

Selina Plaza de Armas is a well-located hostel in Cusco, offering excellent amenities, events, and Wi-Fi, though it is one of the pricier options.

Kokopelli Hostel Cusco is consistently rated as the best all-around hostel in the city, offering good value, amenities, and atmosphere.

Intro Hostel Cusco is a good quality option for travelers on a tighter budget, offering a solid experience.

Nao Victoria Hostel is a personal favorite, praised for its excellent location right next to Plaza de Armas, high-quality rooms, and quiet atmosphere.

Supertramp Hostel Cusco is noted for its incredible town views and cool social vibe, though it is situated up a very steep hill.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a major attraction near Cusco, offering numerous Inca ruins that can be explored through day or multi-day trips.

Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, can be visited as a day trip or part of a trek from Cusco.

The Inca Trail is a world-renowned four-day trek to Machu Picchu, highly sought after but requiring booking around six months in advance due to limited spaces.

Humantay Lake is a breathtakingly beautiful natural site in the Andes, often visited during the Salkantay Trek.

Pisac is a well-worthwhile Incan ruin site located about an hour away from Cusco, accessible via local transport.

Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is an extremely high-altitude hike offering iconic views, with an optional walk through the Red Valley.

The Red Valley offers a landscape unlike any other, providing a unique walking experience after visiting Rainbow Mountain.

Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain, is famous for its challenging high-altitude hike and stunning colorful scenery.

The San Blas region in Cusco is a hilly area known for its artisan shops and charming cafes and restaurants.

Sakte Woman refers to Inca ruins located on a hill above Cusco, accessible by a 20-minute uphill walk.

Nueva Vida is a massage place in Cusco recommended for traditional Inca massages, including hot stone treatments.

The Choco Museo in Cusco offers a popular cooking class and is a place to learn about and enjoy chocolate.

The Inca Museum in Cusco offers a comprehensive look into the history and culture of the Inca civilization.

The Pre-columbino Art Museum displays a valuable collection of ancient art from Peru, offering a deep dive into the region's artistic past.

The Chocolate Museum (Choco Museo) is a place to learn about the history of chocolate production and even participate in making it.

The Religious Art Museum displays a collection of religious art, primarily from the Cusco School of painting.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Cusco showcases modern and contemporary art from both Peruvian and international artists.

Morena is a highly recommended restaurant in Cusco, known for its trendy decor, chilled ambiance, excellent service, and exquisite traditional Peruvian food, especially the alpaca risotto and seafood rice.

KUSI Kai is a fine-dining Peruvian restaurant in Cusco celebrated for its exceptional service and exquisite dishes.

Or Lena provides an exquisite Peruvian dining experience with a similar flair to Morena, also offering a good selection of tapas.

Sissiolina Cafe is recommended for a 'bougie' breakfast experience in Cusco.

Perdoto UK is a recommended low-key restaurant for those seeking high-quality Peruvian food in a relaxed setting, suitable for solo diners.

San Pedro Market is a bustling market in Cusco perfect for local shopping, fresh juices, and budget-friendly meals like 'arroz con huevo'.

Wado Sushi restaurant is crowned the best sushi spot in Cusco, praised for its lovely staff and delicious, mouth-watering sushi.

Yokomo restaurant is recognized for serving the best ramen and other excellent Japanese dishes in Cusco.

Carpe Diem is a top Italian restaurant in Cusco, highly recommended for its delicious and fresh pizza and pasta, including unique dishes.

La Bodega 138 is a popular Italian restaurant in Cusco known for serving classic Italian dishes.

Chinchero is a town near Cusco known for its traditional weaving and a lively Sunday market.

Green Point is highly praised as the best vegan restaurant in Cusco, offering a stunning setting and delicious, creative plant-based dishes.

Avocado Toast and More is Peru's first avocado bar, offering a menu centered around creative avocado-based dishes.

Grain Falafel is a recommended spot in Cusco for delicious falafel wraps and hummus, located up on a hill.

Kura is a favorite cafe noted for its chilled vibe, great service, food, and exceptionally fast Wi-Fi, making it ideal for working remotely.

The Starbucks in Cusco has particularly poor Wi-Fi, making it a less-than-ideal location for working or browsing.

Jack's Cafe is a popular spot in Cusco, often with a queue, known for its generous portions of traditional breakfast food.

Limbus Resto Bar offers lunch with great views, but it requires a significant uphill climb to reach.

Three Monkeys Coffee Cusco is a favorite coffee shop known for its local Peruvian coffee blends, good vibes, and a charming courtyard.

Florencia e for donara Cafe is a pleasant spot to enjoy a great coffee, especially if you are exploring the upper parts of Cusco.

Barrio Cafe is a tiny but cute cafe in Cusco serving good coffee and offering a pleasant atmosphere.

Cafe duazi is located near Plaza de Armas and offers a great local coffee blend in a traditional coffee shop environment.

Kucharitas is a dessert haven in Cusco, offering an extensive variety of sweet treats to satisfy any craving.

La Casa de los crepes organicos, also known as the creperia, is celebrated for making excellent crepes.

Pachapapa is a traditional Peruvian restaurant in Cusco famous for its Andean cuisine, particularly its cuy (guinea pig).

Republica Del Pisco is famous for serving excellent Pisco Sours and features live music, making it a lively spot for drinks.

La chupederia, also known as the shop bar, is a popular pre-drinks spot offering strong, well-priced cocktails and a fun, energetic atmosphere.

Los Perros is a low-key bar next to La chupederia, providing a cozy atmosphere with comfortable seating and a lively yet relaxed vibe.

Rossoba is a classy and low-key cheese and wine bar in Cusco, perfect for a date night with its intimate setting around wine barrels.

Black Cat is a small, chill, and classy bar next to Rossoba, famous for its amazing cocktails and comfortable sofas.

Changos is the largest club in Cusco, known as the main nightlife destination where most people end up.

Casatisok is a small, underground techno club in Cusco for dedicated techno fans, offering a different vibe from mainstream clubs.