Cusco in 3 days

The Inca capital in the Andes - the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Best time to visit: May-September (dry season, clear skies). Average daily budget: $45 to $110 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Plaza de Armas (Centro), The colonial heart - cathedral, arcades, restaurants. Central but the busiest.

Morning: Machu Picchu. The icon - book the timed permit, train to Aguas Calientes and bus up. Go for the first or last entry slot.

Afternoon: Explore Plaza de Armas (Centro), The colonial heart - cathedral, arcades, restaurants. Central but the busiest.

Evening: San Blas viewpoints. Climb the cobbled lanes for rooftop panoramas and the best coffee in the city.

Eat: Lomo saltado (stir-fried beef, chips and rice)

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: San Blas, The artists' quarter up steep cobbled lanes, with viewpoints, cafés and craft shops.

Morning: Sacred Valley loop. Pisac ruins and market, Ollantaytambo fortress, and Maras salt pans - and it sits lower for easier acclimatising.

Afternoon: Explore San Blas, The artists' quarter up steep cobbled lanes, with viewpoints, cafés and craft shops.

Evening: Qorikancha & the cathedral. The Inca Sun Temple fused with a colonial convent, plus the gold-laden Plaza de Armas cathedral.

Eat: Cuy (guinea pig) for the adventurous, or alpaca steak

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: San Pedro, Around the bustling central market - cheap eats and local life.

Morning: The Maras salt pans and Moray agricultural terraces, an easy half-day from the valley.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore San Pedro, Around the bustling central market - cheap eats and local life.

Evening: San Pedro Market for a cheap menú del día and fresh juice stalls.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Quinoa soup and stuffed rocoto peppers

Hidden gems

The Maras salt pans and Moray agricultural terraces, an easy half-day from the valley.
San Pedro Market for a cheap menú del día and fresh juice stalls.
Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake as a hard but spectacular day hike (only once acclimatised).
Choco Museo or a chocolate-making workshop for a relaxed afternoon at altitude.

Getting around

The centre is walkable but steep and tiring at altitude - take it slow the first two days. Cheap taxis cover the rest (agree the fare first). The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu need pre-booked colectivos, trains and buses; plan the chain in advance rather than at the station.

Safety

Cusco is generally safe, but altitude sickness is the real risk - arrive slowly, hydrate, skip alcohol the first day, and consider acclimatising in the lower Sacred Valley first. Watch for opportunistic theft in crowded markets and taxis; use registered cabs at night. Solo travellers find it easy and very social.

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