Cusco
Information about the city of Cusco
Cusco
Cusco is the historic capital of Peru. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. The name of the city is sometimes spelled Cuzco or with its name in Quechua: Qosqo. It is the capital of the Cusco Region, as well as the province with the same name. In 2017, the city of Cusco had a population of 429,559. It is located at an altitude around 3.400 m (11,200 ft) in the Andes.
Cusco is a very interesting city with lots of things to do and to see. And the city is the perfect starting place to explore the beautiful nature in the Andes, do adventure sports and make spectacular trips. In and outside the city, you can discover everything that has to do with to old Inca Empire. As Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire.
Here you can find more information about the altitude of Cusco, altitude sickness and the climate of Cusco:
Fiestas and nightlife
Cusco has parties all year long. You can see the traditions in parades and parties celebrated throughout the city very often. The biggest one is the Inti Raymi fiesta on the 24th of June. But you will see processions, parades and parties every week. Especially around the plaza de armas, the main square in the city center, every week (and many times several times per week) something is going on! Cusco has a very interesting nightlife and is famous for it by travelers. You can go out seven nights a week and find discos, bars with live music, happy hours and parties. It goes on all night and it is always busy. If you like to go out, Cusco is your city!
If you go to a restaurant, you can choose everything from Peruvian food to international food and within all price ranges. Cusco has a very diverse offer in everything that has to do with food. A popular option is to take cooking classes. You will do a workshop first and then eat the food you made. We have developed a program combining Spanish and cooking classes:
Tourism in Cusco
There is so much see and to do in and around Cusco. It is the gateway to Machu Picchu and to various destinations in the Amazon Rain Forest. And from Cusco, you can do amazing weekend trips to Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon. And you can´t go without a visit to the lovely Sacred Valley of the Incas. Further away, but interesting and doable from Cusco: the enigmatic Nazca Lines, the Islas Ballestas near Paracas and the sand dunes of Huacachina.
So, there are a lot of different day trips in and around the city of Cuzco. And you will find a big variation of adventure as well. Check out the most popular tours in Peru:
The list of things to see and do in Cusco is enormous. For most attractions like Inca ruins and museums you can buy the tourist ticket of Cusco. This gives you entrance to 16 of the main attractions.
Treks from Cusco
The Andes is beautiful, so you can´t visit Cusco without doing at least one trek. You can do one of the most famous treks of the whole world from Cusco: the four day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. But there are more treks and trails leading to Machu Picchu as well. And you can also walk treks in other parts of the region like the Ausangate trail.
The treks to Machu Picchu are the most popular treks in the region. There are four treks going there: the classic Inca Trail, the Lares trek, the Inca Jungle trail and the Salkantay trek. It depends on your preferences which trek suits you best.
Accommodation in Cusco
As Cusco is a tourist destination, the offer in accommodation is great. You can find hotels in every price range, from small budget hotels to well known luxury international hotel chains. And you will find lots of hostals, from quiet ones to big party hostels.
But we would advice you to stay in a guest family. In a host family you will have your own bedroom and you share the rest of the house with the guest family. This is a local family and they can tell you everything about Cusco. The family can give you a good idea of every day life in Peru and about the culture in a nice and safe environment. And you can practice your Spanish!
Or enjoy your stay in the city in an apartment. You can share an apartment with other students from different parts of the world. A shared apartment is really popular as it is an economical way of staying and you will have lots of fun. Many long-lasting international friendships started here!
You can also stay in a private apartment, having the apartment all for yourself or for your family or group of friends.
Learn Spanish in Cusco
If you want to learn Spanish, Cusco is probably the best place in the world to do this. First of all, the people speak Spanish relatively slow and easy to understand. Secondly, the Spanish in Peru is similar to the Spanish in the biggest part of South and Central America. This makes it the most used Spanish in the world. So that is a big advantage to study Spanish in Cusco.
The Spanish school of Mundo Antiguo is located in the city center. Mundo Antiguo offers you different Spanish courses. We offer Spanish classes for complete beginner to well advanced level. You can take classes in a small group or private classes.
Volunteering in Cusco
Peru is a developing country with enormous differences between the rich and the poor. A big part of the population is living in poor circumstances and extreme poverty also exists widely. Unfortunately, the region of Cusco is no exception to this. That is why there are many NGO´s and social projects in and around the city, trying to do something about this situation. If you want to help out as a volunteer, you will be very welcome to do this in Cusco!
Top 10 things to do in Cusco
- Stroll around the historic center, visit a market and enjoy the great architecture.
- Do a trekking to Machu Picchu. The classic Inca Trail, the Salkantay trek, Ausangate or the Inca Jungle trail. They all lead you in a fantastic way to Machu Picchu.
- Visit the Rainbow Mountain near Cusco on a day-trip. Fantastic views!
- Dive into the nightlife of Cusco, there is plenty to do every evening!
- Spend a day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit interesting Inca sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
- Visit the 4 Inca sites near the city center of Cusco: Saqsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Pukapukara and Tambomachay.
- Take a cooking class, do a chocolate workshop or an intercultural workshop in Cusco.
- Visit one of the many museums in Cusco.
- Eat “cuy” in Tipon and visit the ruins up the hill.
- Learn Spanish! Cusco is probably the best place in the world to take a Spanish course.
