people walking on street during night time

Cusco

Cusco is the old Inca capital and the main base for Machu Picchu, at about 3,400 m, so plan for the altitude from arrival.

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Cusco is a city in the Andes of southern Peru, at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft). It was the capital of the Inca Empire, and the old town still shows that past. Inca stone walls sit under colonial buildings, and the Santo Domingo church was built on the foundations of the Qorikancha temple. The city is also the base for the Sacred Valley, a line of Inca sites and farming towns along the Urubamba River, and for the train to Machu Picchu.

The trip suits people who want history, Andean food and day trips out of the city. Three nights or more gives your body time to adjust before you walk uphill, and a longer stay leaves room for the valley or a trek. The dry season, roughly May to September, is the most reliable time for trails and day trips. From December to March, the rains are heavier and paths can be slippery.

Cusco in five

Sleep low firstThe Sacred Valley is several hundred meters lower than Cusco, which makes the first nights easier.
Take the train to Aguas CalientesPeruRail and Inca Rail run from Ollantaytambo in about 1.5 hours, with some trains from near Cusco.Machu Picchu tickets
Buy the boleto turísticoOne ticket covers many sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu is sold separately.
Expect afternoon storms in the wet seasonFrom December to March. The Inca Trail closes every February.

Things to do in Cusco

See all attractions in Cusco

Sight · CuscoRunkurakay

brown and gray concrete houses on green grass field under white cloudy sky during daytime

Sight · CuscoInca Drawbridge

Sight · CuscoTemple of the Three Windows

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to CuscoPut the places you like in Cusco on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Cusco (CUZ), 15–20 min to the center
Altitude: About 3,400 m
To Machu Picchu: Train from Ollantaytambo or near Cusco, then the bus up
Best base: San Blas or near the Plaza de Armas

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain27 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Rain, storms
FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Wettest, trail shut
MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Wet, green
AprilRain18 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Rain easing
MayCloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low5°Dry, clear
JuneCloudy5 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh16°Low4°Inti Raymi, dry
JulyPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low4°Dry, busiest
AugustCloudy9 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low5°Dry, busy
SeptemberRain13 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh17°Low6°Dry, calmer
OctoberRain20 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh17°Low7°Showers return
NovemberRain25 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh17°Low8°Showers
DecemberRain27 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh16°Low7°Wet, storms

Average daily high and low in Cusco, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Cusco

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 40%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 76%

Cusco

06:22 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today21°7°76%Monday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 76%.
Tue20°5°79%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 79%.
Wed22°6°47%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 47%.
Thu22°6°39%Thursday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 39%.
Fri20°6°51%Friday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 51%.
Sat20°5°55%Saturday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 55%.
Sun18°6°56%Sunday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 56%.

Updated 04:35 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Cusco

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

CuscoInti RaymiJun 24, 2027 · Read the event guide

Day trips by train

Day trips from Cusco, the full guide

Pisac and the Sacred Valleyabout 1 hour by carA hill market, Inca terraces and valley villages.
Machu Picchuabout 1.5 hours by train from OllantaytamboTimed entry by circuit; the tickets guide explains the choices.Read the guide
Lake Titicacaabout 6 to 7 hours by bus to PunoReed islands and island homestays, higher than Cusco.Read the guide

Before you go to Cusco

Machu Picchu entry ticketsTimed entry by circuitBook timed entry

Sacred Valley day toursPisac, Moray and OllantaytamboCompare tours

eSIM for CuscoTrain and entry times on your phoneRead the guide

Insurance for the Inca TrailCover for trek and rail cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Cusco, checked

Many nationalities need no visa for Peru. Check entry rules on the Migraciones site before you book, and fill in the migration card on arrival.Source
Machu Picchu needs a booked, timed ticket. Check current rules with the Ministry of Culture and book only through its official channels.Source
At Inca sites, stay on marked paths and do not climb on walls or stones.
Dial 105 for police, 116 for fire or 106 for an ambulance anywhere in Peru.

All Cusco guides

a mountain with a lake in the middle of it

AlternativesMachu Picchu is booked out: Choquequirao, Ausangate and two quieter treksChecked Oct 3, 2026

The ancient stone ruins of Machu Picchu nestled among lush green mountains in Peru

RulesMachu Picchu tickets: circuits, routes and how to bookChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Cusco

All of Peru

Regions, best months and entry rules

Read the guide Lake Titicaca

The next step up, by train or bus

Read the guide Arequipa

A lower stop with Colca Canyon, an hour by air

Read the guide Lima

Flights from the capital take about 1.5 hours

Read the guide Travel insurance

Altitude, trek and rail cancellation cover

Read the guide Connectivity

Data for train and entry times

Read the guide

Cusco FAQ

How many days do I need in Cusco?

Plan three or four days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley to acclimatize and see the sites, plus one more for Machu Picchu itself.

How do I handle altitude sickness in Cusco?

Arrive rested, drink water, go slowly and limit alcohol on the first day. Sleeping in the lower Sacred Valley first helps. Ask a doctor about medication before you travel, and seek help if symptoms worsen.

Is Cusco or the Sacred Valley a better base?

Use the valley for the first nights because it is lower, then Cusco for the old town. Ollantaytambo is the best base for early Machu Picchu trains.

How do I get from Cusco to Machu Picchu?

By train from Ollantaytambo or near Cusco to Aguas Calientes, then a bus up to the site. Book the train and the timed entry together.

Do I need the boleto turistico?

Only if you plan to visit the sites it covers in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Check which sites are included before you buy. Machu Picchu is sold separately.