Cusco
Cusco sits at 3,400 meters and your lungs will remind you the moment you try to climb stairs. Give yourself a day or two to acclimatize — coca tea helps, and every hotel offers it. Once you adjust, the city is extraordinary: Inca walls so precisely cut you can't slide a credit card between the stones, colonial churches built on top of temples, and a central plaza that comes alive every evening. It's the staging point for Machu Picchu, but Cusco itself deserves more than just a layover.
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Cusco travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Cusco?
2 days for the city, but most people need 5–7 for the whole region. Day 1: Arrive and take it easy — altitude sickness is real at 3,400m. Walk the Plaza de Armas, visit San Pedro Market for fresh juice and lunch. Day 2: Sacsayhuamán ruins (massive Inca stonework, 20 minutes uphill from the plaza), Qorikancha. Day 3–4: Sacred Valley — Ollantaytambo, Pisac ruins, Moray terraces, Maras salt mines. Day 5: Machu Picchu by train from Ollantaytambo (about $60–80 round trip). Or book the 4-day Inca Trail trek months in advance — permits sell out fast.
How do I deal with altitude sickness?
Take it seriously — Cusco is at 3,400m and most people feel something. The first day, walk slowly, drink lots of water, eat light, skip alcohol. Coca tea (mate de coca) is everywhere and genuinely helps with headaches and nausea. For medication, acetazolamide (Diamox) helps — consult your doctor before the trip. The worst symptoms usually pass after 24–48 hours. Some people fly into Lima first and take the bus to ease in. If symptoms get severe (confusion, fluid in lungs), get to a lower altitude immediately — rare but serious.
How do I get to Machu Picchu from Cusco?
Most people take a train from Ollantaytambo (about 2 hours by bus from Cusco) to Aguas Calientes at the base. Peru Rail and Inca Rail both run the route — $60–80 round trip for basic service, $200+ for the panoramic train. From Aguas Calientes, it's a 25-minute bus up to the entrance ($24 round trip) or a 1.5-hour steep hike. Entry is $50–60 and you need a specific time slot booked online. The classic 4-day Inca Trail trek costs $500–700 with a licensed operator and permits sell out months ahead.