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Cusco

Things to do in Cusco, the tourist ticket, weather, altitude and tips for the imperial city.

Paul Pumalloclla

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Updated Oct 2026 · 12 min read

Cusco Weather by Month: When to Go

The dry and rainy seasons, temperatures by month and the best time for Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain.

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Updated Oct 2026 · 11 min read

Inti Raymi: The Festival of the Sun in Cusco

Inti Raymi, Cusco’s Festival of the Sun, held every June 24: its history, the three venues, how to watch it and tips for booking.

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This section is about the city of Cusco itself and the places you can visit from it in a day: what to see, how the Cusco Tourist Ticket works, what to eat, what to do after dark, when to come and how to experience Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. It’s for travelers who want more from Cusco than a quick stop on the way to Machu Picchu, whether you have two days or a full week.

Where to start

  • Things to do in Cusco: 12 essential places in the city and around it, from the Plaza de Armas to the South Valley.
  • Cusco Tourist Ticket: the 16 sites it covers, full or partial ticket, and how to use it without wasting days.
  • Cusco food: 12 typical dishes, what’s in them and where to try them.
  • Cusco at night: seven plans for when the sun goes down, plus how to stay safe.
  • Inti Raymi: the June 24 program, how to watch it for free or with a seat, and how to plan the week.
  • Cusco weather: the dry and rainy seasons month by month, and what to wear in each.

The city and its surroundings

Historic center and neighborhoods

Our Cusco destination page is the overview. From there you can go deeper into the Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, and the steep lanes of San Blas, the artisans’ quarter and one of the best areas for an evening out.

Inca sites above the city

Just uphill from the center are Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo and Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. All of them are part of the Tourist Ticket, and they make an easy half day, on foot or by taxi.

Day trips

The Sacred Valley, with Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, and the South Valley, with Tipón, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas, are the classic excursions from the city. Both are covered in detail in their own destination pages.

Before you go