Cusco Solo Travel Guide: Ultimate 2025 Tips

Heading to Cusco? This short, sharp guide skips the fluff—get the essentials for an epic trip (top hostels below)!

QUICK FACTS

The capital of Peru’s Cusco province, with a population of about 490,000 people.
Was the site of the capital of the Inca Empire (now a UNESCO World Heritage site).
Located 3,399 meters above sea level.
Nickname: The Imperial City. Officially called Ciudad de Cuzco.

Currency: Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Spoken languages: Spanish, Quechua.
Best time to visit: from June to mid-September for the best weather – this is also peak tourist season, with the highest room rates. To avoid the crowds, consider visiting in spring or fall. Expect heavy rainfall from November to February.
Great festival to catch: Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun in June).
Arriving via airport: official taxis overcharge for rides to the centro (it should be 10 soles, and a 10 minute ride) so avoid the taxi line and walk past the gate onto the sidewalk to hail a cab at market rate.
– Buses headed to Avenida del Sol in the city center (70 céntimos) also stop here.
Give yourself at least a day to adjust to the altitude before undertaking any strenuous activities (or treks). Tips for adjusting: drink plenty of water and eat light meals.

Best hostel for solo travelers in Cusco: Kokopelli.
– Just 2 minutes by foot from the main plaza, this is a spacious hostel with great facilities and clean rooms/bathrooms.
– Safe luggage system (including secure storage while you’re away trekking).
– Daily events make this a great place to meet people and socialize.
– Book ahead to reserve your spot!
Most hotels can be found around Plaza de Armas, with the cheapest hostels situated in San Blas.

Cusco’s historic center is easily and best experienced on foot. Churches, museums and ruins are all located within walking distance of each other and it’s especially suited for wandering.
The Tranvía is a street car-like vehicle that takes visitors on 90 minute sightseeing tours throughout town for S/15 (S/8 if you have student ID).
Buses in Cusco can be called colectivos or combis and start around S/1.50, though you won’t need to ride them much unless you’re visiting the Sacred Valley or other destinations outside the city.
Taxis fares: start at 2.50 PEN. Cost per km: 0.90 PEN
– 3 km: 5.90 PEN
– 10 km: 13.90 PEN
Uber and Beat are a safe and convenient alternative to colectivos or taxis.

Drinking age is 18, and last call is at 1:30 (bars close around 2 AM).
Many clubs and bars around Plaza de Armas exemplify Cusco’s mystical personality – candlelit enclaves and cave-like clubs. Modern lounges can be found at the best hotels. While this is a very touristy area, it is fun and convenient too – it’s easy to hook up with other solo travelers for a bar crawl or a salsa dancing class.
Great bars to start your night: La Chupiteria, Cholos Craft Beers, Paddy’s Irish Pub, and Mollys Irish Bar.

The Pisaq Market is the biggest in Cusco, selling handicrafts, medicinal herbs, jewelry and local foods right on Plaza de Armas.
There are tons of museums in Peru, but ChocoMuseo isn’t like any of them: it’s completely dedicated to chocolate! Their cafe carries an array of locally-crafted sweets.
Cusco is surrounded by Inca ruins that form a kind of loop around it. You can hike all of them (the closest is about 40 minutes from Plaza de Armas) or take a bus to the furthest one – Tambomachay – and work your way back to the city on foot.
If you don’t want to spend most of your time in town looking at ruins on tours, take a trip out to Sacsayhuamán, a monumental Inca fortress that remains an archaeological mystery. If you’re going to see only one, it should be this one!
Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, showcases significant Inca architecture.

Interested in trekking to Machu Picchu? A few tips:

The classic Salkantay Trek is 5 days (4 nights). Typical prices:
– $500 to $1000 per person.
– Non-refundable deposit required (online). Remaining balance can be paid in Cusco at least 24 hours before departure.
2-Day Inca Trail: $400-700. (4-Day Inca Trail: $700-1300)
Additional costs:
– Entrance ticket to Humantay Lagoon: 20 soles for foreigners, 10 soles for Peruvians
– Sleeping bag rental: $10 USD for the entire route
– Trekking poles rental: $10 USD for the trek
– Santa Teresa hot springs (optional): 40 soles total (30 soles for transportation, 10 soles entry fee)
Epic money-saving tip: Book a guided trek directly in town. You can save a lot booking like this (instead of booking online). When I did this, I paid 50% less than the online price.
I opted to do the Salkantay route, and went with “Salkantay Trekking” company (Plaza de Armas) and had a great time.
Bring your own (broken in) hiking shoes. You can rent boots in town, but prepare for lots of blisters (I speak from experience!)
You can leave your big bags at your hotel / Bed & Breakfast in Cusco until you come back.
Transportation specifics:
– Train from Cusco to Machu Picchu: 3 hours, $30-$500 USD depending on class
– Train from Ollantaytambo: 1.5 hours
– Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: 30 minutes, $12 USD, departs every 15 minutes.

Plaza de Armas marks the center of the Old Town and thus the prime sightseeing spot in Cusco. The broad square is an important historical point, the center of the tourist district and a perfect place for a stroll.
San Pedro Market is like Pisaq but not as touristy – cheap food, spices and grains are sold in crowded hallways, and many transactions are exchanged in the indigenous language of Quechua.

Must-try local dishes: Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, and Aji de Gallina.
Some of the best restaurants to try (this is a little foodie paradise): Organika Restaurant (great for vegetarians), Yaku, Green Point, Inkazuela, Cicciolina, and La Huerta del Tata.
Typical prices:
– Budget meals at markets: Starting at 8 PEN ($3 USD)
– Mid-range restaurants: 15-30 PEN per meal
– Upscale dining experiences: Around $40 USD per person
Where to find good cheap eats: the San Pedro Market has the cheapest eats in town. Lots of traditional dishes, and easy to find vegetarian options, too.

Get a massage! In any case, you will be offered them everywhere for affordable prices.
It’s appreciated to start with a greeting like “Buenos días” (good morning) or “Buenas tardes” (good afternoon). Basic Spanish phrases can go a long way!
Dangerous areas: Cusco is one of the safest cities in Peru, but if you’re going outside of the tourist areas at night, try going with a group unless you’re already acquainted with the city.

Recommended trip duration: 2-3 days (1 week if doing the Inca Trail or similar multi-day trek while in town)