Where To Stay In Cusco?
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on November 26, 2021 by James Bustamante
Cusco has several different areas that all harbor accommodation facilities for travelers so Where to stay in Cusco? Many travelers that ask for ideas for accommodations in the city look for a general area where it is safe, centric, and visually appealing. Well, there are several areas in Cusco that fit the description.
This highland city is full of interesting places to discover with Incan structures, historic sites, colonial buildings, and charming people. Deciding on where to stay in Cusco is also convenient because most activities and day tours begin here. Most travelers going on their Machu Picchu Hike will begin their journey in Cusco. So, let’s go over some of the best neighborhoods to stay in during your trip to Cusco.
Cusco Neighborhoods Neighborhoods To Stay At
There are two very popular neighborhoods where travelers prefer to stay at while in Cusco, these are the Plaza de Armas area and the artsy San Blas neighborhood. Both of these popular neighborhoods make up what is commonly known as the historic center of Cusco. They aren’t the only places to stay at though. We can add two more neighborhoods to review, the Airport district and Sacsayhuaman.
The Cusco Historic Center
Many of the local neighborhoods make up the whole of the city’s historic center, the two most notable are the Plaza de Armas and San Blas neighborhoods. When you think of where to stay in Cusco, The Plaza de Armas is one of the first places that pop into travelers’ minds, and with good reason. The airport is only a few minutes away from the historic center, taxis will charge rather reasonable prices to get there.
You would place this part in Cusco as a very tourist-oriented area, it is where all the hotels are located after all. You can also find several restaurants, local shops, chains, important monuments, and many landmarks going back to Incan times. This is also one of the more popular options on where to stay in Cusco due to the beautiful Spanish, colonial buildings like the church of Santo Domingo.
This mix of colonial with native Incan structures provides a unique setting for travelers to stay in. Visit The Temple of the Incan sun god and the Pachacutec monument and then the cathedrals and churches during your stay,
Some of the most notable museums to visit in this neighborhood are the following:
- Casa Concha Museum
- The Inca Museum of Sacred Plants
- Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
- Historical Museum of Cusco
- Korikancha Gold Museum
The Historic center is also where you’ll find several souvenir shops as well as stores that feature locally sourced products. Among the many interesting finds, you’ll be able to purchase Alpaca clothing, Andean jewelry, ponchos, scarves, different types of Andean alcohol, Coca candy, Andean and Amazon chocolates, and many others. If you are in the mood for a drink you will also find bars and pubs throughout the neighborhood.
Plaza de Armas In Cusco
The “Plaza de Armas” or main square can be found in the very nucleus of the historic center. The plaza de Armas concentrates a mix of local culture that emanates from the long line of Inca kings that made this their home. Year the main square you can find several smaller plazas with beautiful gardens decorating the center and hotels surrounding each one.
The Plaza de Armas is one of the more popular places to stay in Cusco due to its proximity to museums and structures. Someone can literally take a walk around one’s hotel and find museums cathedrals to visit, all this without the need for a guide. The plaza will be crowded with vendors trying to sell their products and you might even run into locals that walk around the city with their llamas and alpacas.
There is no shortage of places to eat near the Plaza de Armas. Just by taking a short walk, you’ll find bars, nightclubs, Peruvian restaurants, a KFC, and even a Starbucks. The Starbucks is fine but I suggest trying the local cafes and asking for locally sourced organic coffee.
Hotels are just about everywhere in this neighborhood. You can find some local hotels, Peruvian chain hotels, and even international chains like the Marriott or the Hilton. Prices range from the very cheap hostel to the 3,4 and 5-star categories.
The San Blas Neighborhood
San Blas Neighborhood
The area known as the balcony is the San Blas neighborhood. It is nicknamed the balcony since it is located at a higher part of Cusco. This particular neighborhood has a more residential area it has a good mix of houses, apartments, and hotels. If you plan on staying at an Airbnb this might be a place to look for.
San Blas has a quaint cobblestone staircase that reaches the highest landmarks in the city and colonial homes that make it a really charming place. It is one of the best places to stay in Cusco due to the proximity to the Plaza but it is also far away enough so that it seems like a more tranquil place to stay.
This neighborhood also has its own main square called the “Plaza of San Blas” which is close to the popular temple of San Blas which was constructed in 1563. There are several art galleries and artisan stores for travelers to find unique pieces of art.
As you walk around you’ll find the Casa Merida restaurant, the Coca museum, and several specialty restaurants, featuring local cuisine as well as vegan and vegetarian places. The San Blas neighborhood can be particularly interesting during the weekend where you’ll find street performers, food stalls, and Andean artists displaying their creations.
Staying In Sacsayhuaman
Some travelers prefer to stay in the outskirts of Cusco known as Sacsayhuaman. This neighborhood is also quite nice however it is rather far from the city center and it might make joining a tour group a little difficult. That said, if you are planning to stay an extended period of time and touring is not your main objective, Sacsayhuaman can be a good choice.
Some travelers like to stay in this area because they plan to visit the Sacsayhuaman ruins the next day. This includes researchers, international students, and Ph.D. applicants that are conducting some kind of investigation.
Hotels in this area that has more locals than tourists are located South of the fortress in San Cristobal. There are a few interesting museums like the Art museums and the museum of Sacred plants for travelers to visit.
Staying Near The Cusco Airport
Some travelers like to stay at the airport district when in Cusco. Also, known as “Wanchaq” there are a lot of advantages to staying near the Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport but overall it might not be the best place if your objective is touring.
The area is relatively close to the city center and it might take you 10 minutes to 45 minutes to reach the Cusco Plaza, depending on traffic. It is mostly a residential area that has a few hostels and hotels to choose from but we wouldn’t really recommend tourists to stay here.
The neighborhood does have some interesting places to is it like the Wanchaq market, the Temple of San Sebastián, and a few churches and chapels nearby, Along the 3S highway you’ll also find many places to eat.
The major advantage of staying here is the proximity to the airport, you can rapidly arrive in the city and head to your hotel. The major drawback is that most tours start at the city center and it will be difficult or incur extra costs to pick you up in Wanchaq.
Again, unless you are here on business you are better off staying near the historic center of Cusco.
Conclusion
When planning on where to stay in Cusco you should first consider the purpose of your trip. If you are heading to the city for tourism then we recommend staying near the main square and San Blas at the historic center. Both are rather touristy but you will be near accommodations, tour groups, restaurants, and pretty much anything you’ll need during your stay. For more information on visiting Cusco or anything related to Peru travel, contact us today!
Resource: Cover Photo by NINA PASCAL
