If you go to Peru, you will most definitely be spending some time in Cusco. It’s the gateway to Machu PIcchu and the Inca Trail, and anything else you might want to do in the Southern Andes.

Besides being a tourist hub, Cusco is actually really charming and lovely. I spent 2 weeks in this city, and loved wandering the pretty cobblestone streets, looking at the colorful blue ornate doors, and discovering cute cafes and restaurants.

So don’t overlook this charming city on your trip through Peru. Find out the best things to do, eat, drink, and where to stay in this city in the Southern Andes!

Cusco City Guide:

What to Do, Eat, Drink and Where to Stay in Cusco

What to Do:

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is the most famous ruin in Cusco city, and the center of the most powerful kingdom during Inca times. It’s perched on the top of the mountain overlooking the city, and is only a few minutes from the city center.

You can walk up to this ruin through a wide and gradually sloped stone pathway. Be sure to bring water though and take your time – at this elevation, any walking can be a challenge! Or if you’re feeling tired, you can take a taxi to the ruins.

Once inside the ruins, be sure to check out the mirador, or viewpoint overlooking the city. There will be plenty of signs directing you to overlook. This is a great place to take photos of Cusco from above.

Then continue through and see the large ruin site. There are lots of ruins to climb and explore, and you’ll be amazed at the huge stones they carved and moved to build their city!

Cristo Blanco

Cristo Blanco is another site that overlooks the city. It’s actually only a few minutes walk from Sacsayhuaman, so you can combine the two sites if you have time.

Cristo Blanco is a huge statue of Jesus that has a great viewpoint of the city below.

Plaza de las Armas

The Plaza de las Armas is the central square of the city of Cusco. This is where all the action is, so it’s a great place for people watching! There are also often popup tents, events or parades here.

You’ll find the cathedral, a church, and government buildings around the square. They’re all picturesque so sit down and enjoy the view!

Wander San Blas

The San Blas neighborhood is the bohemian, artistic neighborhood in Cusco. It’s full of cute cafes, yoga studios, healthy restaurants, and colorful doors. Wander this neighborhood on the side of the mountain and duck into stores and cafes as you go.

Visit the Markets

I always love visiting local markets when traveling – it’s a great look into everyday local life!

The biggest market in Cusco is San Pedro. This local market has everything from produce, artisan products, to electronics!

There are also lots of small artisan markets scattered throughout the Centro. These are great places to do your shopping for textiles or other goods that you might want to bring home.

Convento La Merced

This gorgeous convent isn’t much talked about, but it’s well worth a visit! It’s a huge old convent with a large central courtyard with greens and flowers. There are also lots of rooms with big paintings and artifacts. Head upstairs to see the courtyard from above, and enjoy the pretty archways.

Where to Eat:

Mr. Soup

This soup restaurant was so good, we went twice! They have lots of varieties of soups from traditional Peruvian soups to Japanese to Thai to Italian. We tried 4 different varieties and they were all delcious!

Inkazuela

This is a super delicious restaurant to have a nice dinner while staying in Cusco. Their specialities are their stews and they are super great!

La Sangucheria 154

This is another restaurant that was so good, we went back twice! It’s pretty casual and is great for a lunch of salad and sandwiches. They also serve freshly made juices that were delicious.

Los Perros

This is an expat restaurant that serves delicious food. It’s casual and is called a “couch bar” so it’s filled with comfy couches to eat your meal.

We had the burger and the fries and it was sooo good and the portions were huge.

Restaurante Qori Sara

If you want a good traditional meal, this is a great place in the centro! We went here for our very first meal upon arrival in Cusco and it’s still one of my favorite traditional meals I had.

It’s a casual cafe, but super busy at lunchtime so you know it’s good! There was still a table for us, so we sat towards the back and ordered the menu of the day. This is a typical lunch option in Peru – it just means that they have 2 or 3 options for you to pick for your entree. You’ll also be served a small starter, a soup, a drink, and sometimes a dessert. It’s a great deal and a great way to try eating like a Peruvian.

The portions are huge, and there are many courses so pace yourself! If you’re not starving, you can probably share one between two people. We had one menu del dia each and couldn’t finish it all.

Where to Drink:

Cholos Craft Beer

This is a great craft beer bar that serves their own craft beer as well as other local favorities. It’s in a great location between the centro and San Blas, and has a great casual atmosphere so we found ourselves stopping here 3 times during our 2 week stay to enjoy a beer and use their fast wifi.

Norton’s Rat Tavern

Despite the strange name, this bar has an amazing location so is a great place to hang out. They are right on the Plaza de las Armas in the middle of the centro and upstairs. You can snag a seat at the balcony outside and have a perfect view of the central square below. Great for people watching! They also have craft beer.

Pachapapa

This cute restaurant also has a front bar area. We tried a couple of their Pisco Sour cocktails (the most famous drink in Peru) and they were delicious and fresh. The atmosphere is also great to relax with a happy hour drink.

Where to Stay:

There are tons of options of places to stay in Cusco since it’s such a tourist-heavy place.

Airbnb

We stayed in an Airbnb since we would be in Cusco for a bit of an extended period (2 weeks). It was a great choice for us – we had a large house to ourselves with a kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, right in the middle of the Centro for the equivalent of $35 USD (with weekly discount). There are lots of great options on Airbnb if you prefer a homey experience.

*Use this sign-up link to get $20 off your first booking.

Splurge – Belmond Hotel Monasterio

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, the Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a gorgeous boutique hotel in a former monastery in the Centro of Cusco. It has great reviews, beautiful grounds, and charming decor.

Mid-range – Hotel Arqueologo Exclusive Selection

The Hotel Arquelogo Exclusive Selection is a great midrange choice. It’s on the hill between the Centro and San Blas, so the location is ideal and a little quieter. It’s well designed, charming, and a good value for the price.

Budget – Amaru Hostal

If you need a more affordable option, Amaru Hostal has great reviews and is charming and colorful. It’s located in the San Blas neighborhood, so you’ll have a more residential feel and be surrounded by the artsy cafes and cute streets.

So if you’re going through Cusco during your Peru trip, be sure to spend a couple extra days in charming Cusco! It’s a good idea to acclimate to the high elevation here, but you will also find no shortage of things to do, great things to eat, and pretty corners to explore.

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Peru is the most complicated destination I’ve ever had to pack for – so I want to help you avoid the stress with some tips on what to pack for Peru! This country has hot coastal beaches, wet Amazon rainforest, a mostly temperate capital city, and very cold destinations in the Andean highlands.

That’s not to mention the specific gear you need for the many amazing treks and camping opportunities in the mountains. So how do you fit it all in one suitcase? You have to be strategic! Here are my top tips for your Peru packing list.

Peru Packing Tips

My trip was a bit tricky since I travel full-time, I only always have the same things in my suitcase. I knew I didn’t have all the necessary things since I don’t often visit places that are cold enough for winter gear. But I had done my research and knew it was possible to buy a lot of things in Cusco or even rent gear. So know this is an option for you if for some reason you can’t bring everything with you, or if you end up forgetting something.

Also, if you just don’t have the space to bring a big item like a down jacket, you can rent this for the days that you need them from one of the many trekking shops in Cusco. I did this since I don’t have room in my suitcase to constantly travel with a down jacket, and it worked out great.

I stayed in Peru for 7 weeks, but I always have about a week’s worth of clothing with me. Then I do laundry at the end of each week. No matter the length of your trip, I recommend you bring clothing for 7 days. It’s really easy to do laundry anywhere in the country.

In Cusco, you’ll find several laundromats on every block since trekking is so common in this region and tourists end up with sweaty/dirty clothing! You can drop it off and pick it back up later in the day: cleaned, folded, and ready to go.

Peru Packing List: Shoes & Socks

City Boots

You’ll want these for walking around Lima and Cusco and can pair them with a dress if you want to “dress up” a bit. Lucky Brand makes some really nice black booties.

Good Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots

One question I had before I went was – would my athletic shoes be sufficient for some of the difficult treks I’d be doing? I had booked tours to hike the Inca Trail for 2 days as well as the 2-day hike to Rainbow Mountain. My tour company advised that many people, the co-owner included, do these hikes regularly in athletic shoes and think they are sufficient.

I did both hikes in my athletic shoes and it was 100% fine. I was comfortable, didn’t feel unstable, and my feet weren’t sore afterward. Just make sure they have good treads on the bottom, are broken in, and give good support. If you have really weak ankles or are trekking during a rainy season, waterproof hiking boots might be more comfortable for you.

Read More: Best Travel Shoes

Teva Athletic Sandals

You only really need these if you’re heading to any of the hot areas like the northern beaches or the Amazon, or maybe Lima in their summer (January-February).

SHOP SHOES BELOW

3 good pairs of long wool hiking socks

Do not underestimate the importance of good socks when heading to Peru! They make a huge difference in comfort. Remember that it’s quite cold in the highlands and warm socks will be a lifesaver.

Be sure to have 3 pairs of long warm socks – preferably wool. You’ll want to wear this on cold weather treks and to bed every single night. REI always has a great selection.

4 pairs of regular socks

You might want to wear this around the city, or on warmer weather treks like the Inca Trail, etc. You can just get any old pair of Target or somewhere.

Peru Packing List: Bottoms

Jeans

Even if you are a dress kinda girl, you’ll be mostly wearing pants and activewear while traveling in Peru. Jeans will be handy for city walks or anytime you’re not hiking. Topshop Jamie jeans are always a favorite.

Athletic Pants

1 other pair of pants – either athletic pants or some comfortable fabric pants to wear on treks and layer thermal leggings underneath for especially cold places or camping in the mountains. Athleta makes some nice joggers that are also good for layering.

A Pair of Leggings

Leggings will be your best friends on this trip! Pack at least one good pair. Girlfriend has some fantastic leggings.

Thermal Leggings

Absolutely bring a pair of thermal leggings. You will want to wear this on especially cold treks like hiking in the Ausangate range. You might also wear them to bed every night in the highlands. Definitely get the UNIQLO Heattech ones.

Shorts

1 pair ONLY if you’re heading to beaches or the Amazon. You absolutely won’t need them otherwise. You can’t go wrong with Levi’s.

SHOP BOTTOMS BELOW

What to Pack for Peru: Tops

4 T-shirts

Make these shirts a mix of comfy t-shirts that can be worn layered on treks, to bed, or around the city. Always a fan of Everlane T-shirts as well as ASOS T-shirts.

1 or 2 Dresses

You might want to bring 1 or 2 dresses for a change of pace, going out in Cusco, or strolling the streets in Lima. But you really don’t need more than 1 or 2! You will most likely be dressing in active clothing for most of the trip.

Uniqlo Heattech Thermal long sleeve shirt

This is an important one! Having a warm base layer under your other layers will make you much more comfortable when hiking, camping, or sleeping in Cusco. I used a Uniqlo heat tech shirt and it worked wonderfully. It’s so small and thin, but really keeps you so much warmer and is easy to layer.

1 Hoodie

Having a warm hoodie is important in the chilly highlands. You’ll want to layer this with t-shirts and your thermal long sleeve shirt when it gets especially cold. This can also be nice to throw on as a light jacket in temperate places like Lima.

A Down Jacket

A down jacket will make you so much more comfortable during the Peruvian winter, and on highland treks. I did most of my trip without one since I don’t want to travel with one all the time. But I knew I absolutely needed one for my Rainbow Mountain overnight trek (where temperatures can get down to 10 degrees F at night!). So I rented one from a trekking shop in Cusco for the 2 days for $6 a day. It was totally worth it!

Rain jacket – and/or poncho

These are more must-haves. Even if you’re traveling in dry season, the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Don’t be caught out in the open on a trek without some protection.

Pack a lightweight rain jacket – it won’t take up much space and will keep you comfortable in a storm. Also consider bringing a big rain poncho to put overtop yourself and your backpack. This will keep you extra dry and keep your things from getting wet while you’re trekking. If you don’t have one to bring with you, you can find these for cheap in any tourist area.

Accessories to Pack for Peru

A pair of gloves

Gloves will make you much more comfortable while hiking. I wore a versatile pair that was fingerless but had a mitten flap that folded over. This made it easy for me to take pictures, but then pull the flap over when I needed extra warmth.

Scarf

A scarf will be a welcome layer when doing high altitude hikes or even in Cusco in the evening.

Warm beanie

A must-have for warmth when trekking or even at night in Cusco.

Baseball hat/hat with brim

This is super important for any hikes. The sun is strong at this altitude! Can also come in handy if you’re lounging on a beach.

Other Things to Pack for Peru

Bathing suit

This is probably only necessary if you’re heading to the beaches, but there are also some hot springs in the highlands that you might want to visit after a difficult trek!

Read More: My Favorite Bikinis for Travel

Camera

You’ll definitely want proof of all the beautiful places you go! Whether it’s your phone, or something more substantial, be sure to pack this. I like to travel with a [easyazon_link identifier=”B01DOKHS8E” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Lumix mirrorless camera[/easyazon_link] – it’s fairly small and lightweight, but takes great photos.

[easyazon_link identifier=”B073FHBNGY” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Portable charger powerpack for phone[/easyazon_link]

A portable charger like this one by [easyazon_link identifier=”B01JM2VEII” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Cheero[/easyazon_link]is always a lifesaver for me when traveling, but even more so when doing overnight treks or long tour days. My phone will run out of battery fast when I’m taking a lot of photos, or if you’re camping in the wilderness, you won’t be able to recharge overnight unless you have one of these with you.

Read More: The Best Travel Gadgets

Toiletries to Pack for Peru

[easyazon_link identifier=”B0051SZB14″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Moisturizing lotion[/easyazon_link]

It’s very very dry in the highlands. You’ll want to use more lotion than normal!

[easyazon_link identifier=”B0054NFYDG” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Insect repellent[/easyazon_link]

Some of the highlands like Cusco are too high in elevation for bugs, but Machu Picchu is lower, and has lots of mosquitos. You’ll also find mosquitos in the Amazon and on the beaches.

[easyazon_link identifier=”B004XGPMFA” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Sunscreen[/easyazon_link]

The sun is strong! You’ll want to make sure to apply sunscreen often when you’re out on treks or tours.

Read More: 18 Travel Beauty Hacks You Need to Try

What NOT to Pack for Peru

The last suggestion is actually what NOT to pack. You’ll want to be sure to leave extra empty space in your suitcase before you arrive in Peru because this country has some of the most beautiful textiles in the world! You’ll be tempted to buy lots of alpaca sweaters, knit hats, colorful blankets, and other beautiful things. Do yourself a favor and leave yourself room to pick up things as you go.

And that’s it! Everything you want to know on what to pack for Peru for any length of time.

For more packing posts:

• Where to Buy Stylish Travel Clothes
• 17 of the Best Travel Packing Hacks
• How to Use the KonMari Method to Pack Efficiently

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