Cusco district, Peru

Places to visit near Cusco

Cusco is a city in Cusco district, Peru, home to about 312,140 people. Within 50 km by road there are 154 places to visit — 60 hill stations & viewpoints, 45 forts & heritage, 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs and 14 churches. The must-see places are Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (1 km), San Blas (1 km) and City of Cuzco (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Cusco on the map

Cusco, Peru
Cusco, Cusco district, Peru. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Cusco at a glance

Location
Cusco district, Peru
Population
about 312,140
Coordinates
13.5226° S, 71.9673° W
Places within 50 km
154 (33 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Cusco

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Cusco: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Cusco

Things to see near Cusco, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Cusco

122 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is City of Cuzco (1 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Peru →

Forts & heritage near Cusco

72 forts & heritage within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is Q'enqo Grande (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Peru →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Cusco

15 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is Quriqucha (13 km); the best-known is Kinsaqocha (30 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Peru →

Churches near Cusco

14 churches within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is Iglesia de la Recoleta (1 km); the best-known is Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Peru →

Waterfalls near Cusco

10 waterfalls within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is Poq Poq Waterfall (22 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Peru →

Museums near Cusco

9 museums within 100 km of Cusco. The closest is Qorikancha (1 km); the best-known is Inca Museum (2 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Peru →

A one-day trip from Cusco

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 6 km on the road.

  1. Start in Cusco
  2. 1 km Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán · church, Cusco
  3. 1 km City of Cuzco · viewpoint, Cusco
  4. 1 km Cuzco Cathedral · church, Cusco
  5. 1 km Templo de la Sagrada Familia · church, Cusco
  6. 1 km San Blas · church, Cusco
  7. 1 km Back to Cusco

Plan a longer trip from Cusco — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Cusco

No traveller has reported from around Cusco yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Cusco

    All places near Cusco by distance

    Within 15 km of Cusco

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Cusco by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints60122City of Cuzco (1 km)
    Forts & heritage4572Q'enqo Grande (2 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs715Quriqucha (13 km)
    Churches1414Iglesia de la Recoleta (1 km)
    Waterfalls410Poq Poq Waterfall (22 km)
    Museums89Qorikancha (1 km)
    Other attractions59Twelve-angled-stone (2 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens59Sacred Valley of the Incas (24 km)
    Caves34Cueva Tambomachay (6 km)
    Treks12Qhapaq Ñan - Antisuyu (1 km)
    Parks22Plazoleta Santa Catalina (1 km)
    Temples02Principal Temple (93 km)

    Cusco: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Cusco?

    Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (church, about 1 km), San Blas (church, about 1 km), City of Cuzco (viewpoint, about 1 km), Cuzco Cathedral (church, about 2 km), Templo de la Sagrada Familia (church, about 2 km), Basílica Menor de la Merced (church, about 2 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Cusco?

    154 places on Spotwander: 60 hill stations & viewpoints, 45 forts & heritage, 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 14 churches, 4 waterfalls.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Cusco?

    City of Cuzco, about 1 km by road; Pukamuqu (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Cusco?

    Q'enqo Grande, about 2 km by road; Kusilluchayoq (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Cusco?

    Quriqucha, about 13 km by road; Laguna Piuray (17 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Cusco?

    Start in Cusco, visit Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, then City of Cuzco, then Cuzco Cathedral, then Templo de la Sagrada Familia, then San Blas, and drive back — about 6 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Cusco?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Cusco

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Cusco’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Cusco on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.