Saqsaywaman
A hilltop Inca site above Cusco, famous for enormous fitted stone walls built in zigzag terraces. The open esplanade and city views make it an easy first stop on foot from the centre.
Cusco and Machu Picchu
Colonial churches and stone streets mark this former Inca capital, a gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Attractive locations
Coricancha
Once the Inca empire's main sun temple, its precise stonework now forms the base of the Santo Domingo convent. Visitors see both Inca chambers and the colonial church built on top.
Cusco Cathedral
A large Spanish-era cathedral on the main square, built from stone taken from Inca structures. Inside are colonial paintings, carved wooden choir stalls and silver-covered altars.
Plaza de Armas
Cusco's central square, framed by arcades, balconies and two grand churches. It is the natural meeting point for walking the old town, with cafes and a lively evening atmosphere.
Sacred Valley
A fertile Andean valley northwest of Cusco, dotted with Inca terraces, market villages and ruins such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Many visitors use it as a base before heading to Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu
The best-known Inca citadel, set on a ridge high above the Urubamba river valley. Visitors walk among terraces, temples and stone houses, with steep green peaks all around.
Ollantaytambo
An Inca town in the Sacred Valley with a steep terraced fortress and narrow streets still laid out on the original stone grid. It is also the usual rail starting point for Machu Picchu.
Airports
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport CUZ
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Andahuaylas Airport ANS
It is about 150 km in a straight line from Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan8.5 °C129 mm
- Feb8.5 °C127 mm
- Mar8.3 °C96 mm
- Apr8.2 °C44 mm
- May7.9 °C9 mm
- Jun7.5 °C4 mm
- Jul7.2 °C11 mm
- Aug7.9 °C8 mm
- Sep8.5 °C18 mm
- Oct8.9 °C63 mm
- Nov9.1 °C72 mm
- Dec8.8 °C137 mm
Driest months: May, Jun, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 52% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Inti Raymi (festival of the sun)
Hotels fill and prices climb for one of the largest annual events in the country; early planning is recommended.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 105. Ambulance 106. Fire 116.
local government
PromPerú (Peru's tourism promotion agency)
Helps with: Peru's tourism promotion agency, which runs the iPerú visitor information service. Its website lists a head-office phone line and address in Lima for travel questions.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Peru or planning a trip there.
Phone: (511) 616 7300
Address: Calle 1 Oeste N° 050, San Isidro, Lima, Peru
ngo
Peruvian Red Cross (Cruz Roja Peruana)
Helps with: Peru's national Red Cross society. Its website describes disaster risk management, health and wellbeing work, emergency response, and first aid and CPR courses.
Who qualifies: People in Peru who need its health, emergency or disaster-related services.
Phone: +51 986 204 095
Email: [email protected]
Address: Av. Arequipa 1285, Urb. Santa Beatriz, Lima
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Peru
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Peru since 1966. It gives humanitarian support to migrants, displaced people, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in Peru. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +51 1 6330000
Email: [email protected]
Address: Calle Miguel Seminario 320, San Isidro 15047, Lima
local government
Police emergency number 105
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 105
local government
Ambulance emergency number 106
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 106
local government
Fire emergency number 116
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 116