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Cusco, Cuzco Department, Peru

3 days in Cusco

Inca heartland and the gateway to Machu Picchu. Here's how to spend 3 days in Cusco: a realistic day-by-day plan you can copy and tweak. The best time for this 3 days Cusco trip is May, June and July. Budget roughly $130/person/day before flights.

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Length
3 days
Best time
May, June, July
~Cost/day
$130
Currency
USD
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Your 3 days Cusco itinerary, day by day

1

Day 1

09:00
LANSA Flight 502~$5
LANSA Flight 502 was a Lockheed L-188A Electra operated by Líneas Aéreas Nacionales Sociedad Anónima (LANSA) which crashed shortly after takeoff from Quispiquilla Airport near Cusc
12:30
Araway Qhata
Araway Qhata which further to the south is named Kunturuma is a mountain in the south of the city of Cusco in Peru. It lies in the Cusco Region, Cusco Province, Santiago District.
16:00
Central market & street-food lunch~$12
Grab lunch where locals do.
2

Day 2

09:00
Estadio Garcilaso~$5
Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, commonly known as Estadio Garcilaso, is Cusco's principal stadium and the home venue of the local football teams Cienciano, Deportivo Garcilaso a
12:30
Muyu Urqu
Muyu Urqu is an archaeological site and a prominent hill in Peru. It is situated in the Cusco Region, Cusco Province, Santiago District, east of the mountain Araway Qhata, at the r
16:00
Wanchaq District~$5
Wanchaq District is one of eight districts of the province Cusco in Peru. It includes Avenida de la Cultura, and Avenida de los Incas. It is home to 2 hospitals, and borders the di
3

Day 3

09:00
Cusco District~$5
Cusco is a district in the northern Cusco Province within the Cusco Region of Peru. It is bordered by districts of Ccorca and Poroy on the west, the provinces of Anta, the Calca, a
12:30
Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, Cusco
The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo is a 17th-century colonial monastery in the historic centre of Cusco, Peru. It was built on the foundations of the pre-Hispanic Inca temple
16:00
Coricancha
The Coricancha was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, and was described by early Spanish colonialists. It is located in Cusco, Peru, which was the capital of the empire.

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What 3 days in Cusco costs

What this trip costs

$871
Flights$45052%
Stay$11713%
Activities$708%
Food$11713%
Local transport$475%
Shopping$314%
Buffer$394%
$290/day

Estimates for planning, so check live prices before you book.

Have more or less time in Cusco?

2 days in Cusco 4 days in Cusco 5 days in Cusco 1 week in Cusco Full Cusco guide

3 days in Cusco: FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Cusco?+

3 days is enough to cover the main highlights of Cusco without rushing the essentials. The plan above balances the must-sees with time to wander.

What should I do on day 1 in Cusco?+

Start with LANSA Flight 502, Araway Qhata and Central market & street-food lunch. The full first day is mapped out above.

How much does 3 days in Cusco cost?+

Budget around $130 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and activities), before flights, so roughly $390 per person for 3 days. The cost breakdown above splits it by category.

When is the best time to visit Cusco?+

The best months to visit Cusco are May, June, July and August, when the weather suits sightseeing best.

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