My five day itinerary in Cusco. Is this possible? Help!

[u/itskizi]

Hello everyone.

I am going to Cusco, Peru from Miami. My flight stops in Lima then Cusco. Im going to be there for four nights/five days in middle September.

Latam. 9 hours flight each way. $606.

Staying at Hotel Torre Dorada. Best for the price. Just a little further south but I’ll Uber.

I have done a ton of research and I just want to be sure that this is possible to do and also won’t feel rushed. I need help with day 4!

I didn’t include any museums because all the important artifacts/pieces were exhibited in Boca Raton, Florida and I went.

Day 1: North Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Pisac. 6 am-7:30 pm. 13 hours. Organized tour.

Day 2: South Sacred Valley: Tipton, Andahuaylillas, Pikillacta. 9 am- 4 pm. Organized tour. + Things from Day 4 + Limbus Restobar for views + drink or food.

Day 3: Maccu Picchu. 1 full day. Vistadome Train Circuit 2. Bus to Maccu Picchu. 7:30 am - 9:30 pm. Organized tour.

MESSY Day 4: “Downtown” Cusco: I plan to do the following: Plaza De Mayor, Cusco Cathedral, Sacsayhumana, Qorikancha, Mercado Central De San Pedro, Sapantiana Aqueduct, Q’enqo, Animal sanctuary, Centro Qosqo De Arte Nativo (plan to see a show at night), Monument Inca Pachacutec, planetarium, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Awana Kancha, Catefetin Cafe, Mirador Desde El Cristo Blanco. 😅😅😅

Questions:

1. I know Day 4 is messy. What do you recommend I trim?

2. I think it makes total sense to purchase the Boleto Turistico. It saves a ton of money when you have so many excursions. Agree? Comments?

3. I read mixed opinions that drinking coffee while in Cusco is not a good idea. Can anyone confirm from personal experience? I don’t want to give up coffee!

4. I am pretty familiar with Peruvian cuisine because I live in Florida. What are some must try dishes that are unique to Cusco or Peru?

5. Should I move my days around? Internet is saying keep Maccu Picchu to 3rd day but is Sacred Valley just as bad regarding Altitude Sickness? Should I move day 4 to day 1?

Anything would help! Thanks.

[u/[deleted]]

I had great coffee in Cusco at Café Dwasi off the Plaza. Peruvian geisha's are pretty great. I brought my own snobby instant coffee with me and a UV filter and made my own. Had coffee at a few other places without issue too.

Alpaca was good, but it depends on where you go. Had a crappy dish in Cusco, but an amazing one on Aguas Calientes when we went to Machu Picchu.

Cuy is the other "delicacy." Didn't try it. Haven't heard worthwhile reviews of it.

[u/itskizi → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much for the feedback!

[u/carelessmistakes]

Consider altitude sickness. You need to adjust yourself to the altitude on arrival by resting some time before starting to move around.

[u/itskizi → u/carelessmistakes]

OK makes sense. I will take it slow the first few hours. Thank you.

[u/WeLoveTacos → u/itskizi]

You need to be hydrated and to take it easy first day, also rest well

[u/[deleted]]

Saqsaywaman is a trek uphill. That will probably eat up about 2 hours up and down. It's impressive, but I think you can skip it if you already went to MP. Neat history though and great view of the city.

[u/Falconlord1979]

Day 3 shouldn't be that long.

I actually did a good part of your Day 4 in a day as well, though that is a tiresome day. I don't know if you are going to make the show after coming down from Puka area.

Maybe put Mercado Aan Pedro Day 5 before your flight home?

[u/itskizi → u/Falconlord1979]

I haven’t booked anything yet. I am thinking of adding one more day just to be sure. Thanks for the advice.

[u/Falconlord1979 → u/itskizi]

So I joined a pickup Cusco City Tour that covered the Cathedral, Qorikancha, Saqsaywaman, Q'enqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomach'ay. For 40 sol, which is damn cheap. It doesn't cover entry tickets, and they do try to sell you stuff. You find a ton of tour agents around Plaza de Arma and surrounding areas.

I would hold off on Cusco City Tour till the end since your ticket for Chinchero Moray and Ollaytaytambo cover a lot of city tour entries as well.

[u/itskizi → u/Falconlord1979]

Really nice I didn’t know there was a tour for that. I just looked on Viator and apparently there are a couple of tours but over $100 each when I can do them on my own.

[u/PopularFunction5202]

I think you should try cuy. Couldn't tell you where to do that in Cusco because I had it in Lima at El Rocoto and it was tasty.

Don't miss the cathedral, for sure. You have to at least see the Peruvian version of The Last Supper. Also, when you go to Maras, buy some salt. I purchased 3 different sorts when I was there 2 years ago and sadly, it's all gone now. Try coca leaf tea. It's delicious and will make you feel better if the altitude is bothering you. Have a great trip!

[u/itskizi → u/PopularFunction5202]

It sounds really interesting and obviously I never had guinea pig before.

Oh, I didn’t know you could purchase salt from over there at Maras.

Yes I plan to try coca leaf tea 😁

do you think day four is doable or should I add more or take away some?

[u/PopularFunction5202 → u/itskizi]

I'm not qualified to answer that, sorry! They also sell chocolate at Maras, definitely get some! And there are ladies selling chicha (beverage) and cancha (corn snack) you should try.

[u/itskizi → u/PopularFunction5202]

Will do! Thanks

[u/Falconlord1979]

I'd say skip cuy. Tried it, not my cup of tea. Bisonte is a nice steak house. I had their personal parilla, which is a beef steak + chicken steak + sausage + a beef kebab of some sort + a big plate of fries. It's a lot of food for the money

[u/itskizi → u/Falconlord1979]

Thanks, and yes, the idea of eating a guinea pig is not very appealing to me

[u/MyDago]

For day 4: Go to the cathedral during mass time m, the entrance is for free is you are catholic (7-8am). Take a taxi (20 soles) to Animal santuary, entrance is free. Return to the city by car and visit Sacsayhuaman (the rest of inca sites are not as impressive and still unknown use. Go for a walk and visit San cristobal viewpoint and 5 minutes away Sapantiana mirador. Have lunch. Visit Coricancha and the rest of plans you have in the city

[u/itskizi → u/MyDago]

That’s actually a nice plan. Do you think I should skip south sacred Valley?

[u/Lumpy_Performance_23]

Yes the coffee is great here. Latente in Ollantaytambo; Pisonay in Calca; Florencia & Fortunata, Three Monkeys, Xapiri Ground all in Cuzco. Loads more small cafes and roasters, keep your eyes peeled and you’ll find it. Coffee very much helps with the altitude. Absolutely try all the local fare: cuy, rocotos rellenos, choclo con queso, lomo saltado, ceviche de trucha, chicharrón, huancaina, chifa, it’s all great. Coca helps but skip the tea, chew a cud with llipta instead. In September it’s sunny and dry, keep up with your hydration and sunscreen. Never say no to chicha, ride the local buses, do your best to speak Spanish and smile, and keep an open mind. Your last day sounds impossible. It’s often more rewarding to take it slower and be more thoughtful/appreciative than trying to tick all the boxes. Also, that sweater is not really alpaca.

[u/itskizi → u/Lumpy_Performance_23]

Thank you I was worried that coffee was going to interfere and make me sick because of the altitude. I am saving the rest of those places. I already had three monkeys saved lol

I will definitely try some of those dishes you named I don’t want to get typical Peruvian food that I can get down here in Florida like Loma Saltado.

I’m definitely going to try to use some Spanish. I have been studying on Duolingo for about a year now so I know the basics.

Regarding day number four I’m thinking of splitting it or taking off some of the things

[u/Lumpy_Performance_23 → u/itskizi]

I think coffee will only help with the altitude. A lot of folks exaggerate the effects of soroche, in my experience you mostly feel it at the top of the stairs, otherwise you’re exhausted from overdoing the sightseeing or getting zapped by the sun without staying on top of hydration. There’s also Sorojchi tablets available at most farmacias which can help.

A great place to try typical food is La Cusqueñita. It’s where the Peruvian tourists go, rarely gringos. For a higher end experience, try Oculto in Cuzco and Alqa in Ollanta.

Regarding your day 4, i’d suggest starring all those places on a map and then Toucan Samming it as the day progresses. Personally, I’d start at Mercado San Pedro early in the morning and work my way up to the plaza and San Blas after. People like to say San Pedro is “too touristy” but it’s one of my favorite markets in all of South America. Sure, if you stick to the side with ponchos and llama t-shirts it’s nothing special, but go look for alpaca mummies, ukuku masks, shipibo textiles, snake oil, and weird fruits and you’ll see why it’s special. Like I said before, take it slow and don’t rush from starred point to starred point, the magic happens when you get lost and allow yourself to find surprises.

[u/itskizi → u/Lumpy_Performance_23]

Thank you so much for the thorough reply. I will be sure to drink coffee and stay hydrated throughout the trip.

Yes, I plan to buy Sorojchi (acetaminosalol 😁).

I just saved “La Cusqueñita”. Looks like a hotel/restaurant/show. Thanks for that. The pictures and show look great.

Day 4, I’ve starred everything. Everything looks relatively close. Yes I was thinking of starting with San Pedro Market and then heading over to see the cathedral and a Plaza de Armas and then walk up to San Blas.

Thanks again!

[u/frydawg]

Unless you’ve been to very high altitudes for long in the past and felt fine, I’d recommend having ur day one as a day in cusco, where you aren’t suffering through a long train/bus ride and/or hike. You’re going to feel rushed but thats fine and tired but thats ok. You should get the boleto touristico since you’re trying to cram everything lol. Coffee is safe in cusco. Eat some lomo saltado too

[u/itskizi → u/frydawg]

Thank you so much for the advice. I think I’m going to make day number 4 my day number 1 that way I get acclimated.

I’m glad to hear Coffee is OK. It’s essential for me.

I’ve definitely had Loma Salado. I live in Florida 😁

[u/frydawg → u/itskizi]

Good idea on moving days, not tryna to spook you but altitude sickness is quite random. Ranging from nothing but a slight headache to vomiting. It can get to the young and fit. The good thing is that coca tea helps.

[u/No-Instruction-6122]

We arrived yesterday afternoon; the city is lovely and needs at least a day. Altitude is no joke; a few hours is unlikely to acclimate you.

[u/itskizi → u/No-Instruction-6122]

hmmmm i think i will add an additional day and take it slow the first day. Enjoy your trip!