Our guide to travel to Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley in Peru is based on months of exploration and research. Learn about the area’s famous Incan archaeological sites, best hotels in all price points, cultural festivals, restaurants, and more so you can plan your own trip to these top destinations in South America.
The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus on the main plaza is just one of the great things to see and do in Cuzco, Peru.
How to travel to Cuzco, Peru
The city of Cuzco (spelled Cusco in Peru) is high in the Andes. Once the center of the Incan empire, Cusco is now one of Peru’s top travel destinations, and for good reason.
- Our post about a range of great hotels in Cuzco tells you about winners like El Mercado boutique hotel, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, historic Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection Hotel, El Retablo boutique hotel, and many more including two fantastic budget travel hotel options.
- Our post about where to eat in Cuzco includes a restaurant from Peruvian celebrity chef Gaston Acurio plus where to get legit pizza, great craft beer, and plenty of delicious takes on traditional Peruvian cuisine.
- Our post about what to see and do in Cuzco includes travel tips about museums, colonial churches, shopping, and more.
Massive and expertly-fitted stone walls are a hallmark of the Sacsayhuaman Incan archaeological site on the outskirts of Cuzco, Peru.
- Our post about Incan archaeological sites in the city of Cuzco will help you explore important sites including Sacsayhuamán, pictured above.
- Our post about archaeological sites around Cuzco will help you plan cultural day trips around the city to see other Incan sites including the intricate waterworks at Tipón and the massive walls at the Raqch’i archaeological site.
Cuzco is home to many of the largest festivals in Peru.
- In the month of June Cuzco comes alive with a series of colorful and cultural festivals. Get a glimpse of the action in our post about the festivals of Cuzco.
- If you’ve got travel time for just one festival, our post about the annual Inti Raymi festival in Cuzco will show you why it should be this one.
How to travel to Machu Picchu in Peru
Peru is full of archaeological sites, but if you’ve heard of just one it’s probably the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. This mountaintop marvel is legendary and very, very popular.
Huayana Picchu peak rises above the Sacred Plaza and the center of the Machu Picchu Incan archaeological site.
- Get the essential basics in our post about visiting the Machu Picchu archaeological site.
- Our day-by-day guide to hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu gets into the nitty-gritty of this iconic adventure.
- Our post about getting to Machu Picchu details all of the ways this site can be reached and is a primer for anyone who wants to get off the beaten path and save a few bucks.
- Our post about the Lares Valley trek to Machu Picchu takes you to the Incan citadel through living Incan culture.
How to travel to the Sacred Valley in Peru
Near Cuzco lies the Sacred Valley offering a laid back pace, a slightly lower altitude, and many more archaeological sites.
- Our post about Ollantaytambo tells you how to explore this stunning site and the historic town of the same name.
- Our post about the Moray archaeological site reveals the fascinating theory behind this unusual Incan site.
- Our post about the town and site of Chinchero gives you a glimpse of living Incan culture.
- And our post about the archeological site of Pisac will help you see why we went there twice.
A classic Incan stone wall near the top of the Ollantaytambo archaeological site in the Sacred Valley in Peru.
- Our post about non-archaeological things to do in the Sacred Valley includes an animal sanctuary,
- Our post about places to eat and drink in the Sacred Valley helps you navigate the growing list of great places to eat and drink including a riverside brewpub.
- And our post about some of the best hotels in the Sacred Valley includes everything from luxury options like the explora Valle Sagrada and the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba to our favorite Airbnb.
Here’s more about travel in Peru
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