Cusco Travel Recommendations

Cusco is the center of tourism in Peru and one of the most important cities in the country. Its vast array of natural and archaeological sites offers visitors from all over the world a unique perspective into the history of the region, and a lasting experience to take home for years to come. Cusco is full of natural charm, scenic beauty, cultural diversity, and ancient history that is still preserved in the customs and traditions of its people. In this blog we provide you with all the information you will need for your travel to Cusco.

1. Safety and Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not mandatory when visiting Peru. However, although there are no specific insurance requirements for entering the country, the Peruvian government does not provide cover for foreign tourists. For this reason, we recommend that all our visitors purchase a suitable travel insurance policy before travelling to Peru, to ensure you are covered for any unforeseen circumstances that take place throughout your travel. Ensuring you have the travel insurance is an essential part of your vacation plan, as it helps you stay safe in the country, and ensures you travel with peace of mind.

As the tourist destinations in Peru have diverse landscapes, varying altitudes and can often experience extreme climatic conditions, visitors could be at risk of unexpected medical events during their stay. If you or your family suffer a medical emergency whilst visiting Peru, there are a variety of medical clinics and hospitals throughout the country that you can visit for assistance. These centers can facilitate tourists in the event they are a victim of sporting accidents, tropical diseases, food poisoning or altitude sickness, amongst other ailments. However, if you do not have a valid travel insurance policy, these facilities will charge you individually for using their services.

Peru is part of The Southern Common Market or MERCOSUR. This enables citizens of another member state to travel in and out of Peru only using their DNI. Please be aware however, if you are traveling from Spain, you will need a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry into Peru. The maximum stay in Peru for a tourist is 90 days. While it may seem like 90 days is equal to 3 months, you will need to keep in mind that some months can be longer or shorter than 30 days, so it’s best to count your stay in Peru in days and not months.

2. The best time to visit Cusco

Peru is located on the pacific coastline, close to the earth’s equator, meaning by default it should have a warm climate. However, due to the influx of the Humboldt marine current and the passage of the Andes Mountain range, Peru has a great ecological diversity distributed through various altitudes. The country is divided into three main regions, the coast, the mountains and the jungle. Each region experiences vastly different climatic conditions, and Cusco is no exception, which experiences two primary climatic seasons throughout the year.

The rainy season 

The rainy season in Cusco Runs from December till April. Throughout this period there is a lot of precipitation, so the experience is very different to that of the dry season. Although Machu Picchu and the surrounding archaeological sites are open all year round, it is likely that they may be shrouded in mist or in the case of the Rainbow Mountain, covered in a blanket of snow. Daytime temperatures during the rainy season can reach a maximum of 20°C and drop to 10°C after dusk, but with 12 hours of high-altitude sunshine a day, you will only tend to feel the cold throughout the night.

if you plan to Travel to Machu Picchu during the rainy season, we recommend that you prepare for your visit with clothing suitable for wind and rain. It is prudent to consider however, that although the rainy season experiences more challenging weather conditions, visitors can take advantage of fewer tourists and less crowds. Providing you with an opportunity to share the beautiful green scenery with less people and perhaps even accompanied by a colourful rainbow.

The dry season 

The dry season in Cusco runs from April to December. During this time there can be significant temperature differences throughout the day and night. The mornings tend to be warm with an average temperature between 17 and 19 ° C. But the nights can be very frigid, with temperatures often falling below 0°C, especially in the winter months of June and July.

What makes this season so attractive though is the consistent good weather due to the lack of rainfall. This is why the drier months bring with them many tourists, with the high season for tourism falling between May and July. One of the main highlights of this period is the Inti Raymi sun festival which takes place in Cusco on June 24 every year.

Consequently, we recommend that visitors favour the dry season, with the best months for exploring Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley being between May and October. Not only are the conditions during the dry season more preferable, but your souvenir photo of Machu Picchu is almost certain to be much more glorious throughout the drier months.

3. Reserve your entrance tickets

As Cusco is the capital for tourism in Peru, it is a popular destination for visitors and backpackers alike. This is especially true during the high season between April and July, when Cusco experiences its highest numbers of visitors. We therefore recommend booking your train tickets and entrance tickets in advance, particularly those hoping to visit Machu Picchu or hike the classic Inca Trail. We also advise that you pay particular attention to the Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets, since they have a limited number of spaces per day and are very popular with visitors throughout the year.

If you need help with your entrance tickets, do not hesitate to contact us directly through WhatsApp.

4. Take the necessary luggage

If you are planning to travel to Peru you will need to pack depending on which season you are travelling in and which regions of the country you intend to visit as well as the route you are hoping to take. Peru has everything from beach destinations, desert regions, Amazon jungle and Andean mountains, so you will need to ensure you pack appropriately for the diverse climates of those regions.

There are however some essential items that we recommend you pack for every eventuality. These include:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent.
• Swimsuit and flip flops or sandals
• Hiking pants which will keep you cool at altitude as well as protect your skin from mosquito bites
• Microfiber towels and scarves can be used as beach towels, skirts, shawls, or as protection from the sun