Hidden Gems in Cusco: 20 Places Beyond the Tourist Trail

Ceremonial site on the edge of the city

A natural limestone outcrop carved with channels, niches and an altar. The name is usually linked to the Quechua word for zigzag, a nod to the winding channels.

Good to know: It is part of the Sacsayhuamán archaeological area, on Circuit 1, and is often visited in the same outing as Sacsayhuamán, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

Inca water gardens, southeast of Cusco

Stone terraces fed by canals and fountains that draw water from a natural spring, still flowing today. The complex climbs from roughly 3,250 to 3,960 m and is enclosed by a long defensive wall, though the terraces are the most accessible part.

Good to know: It lies along the Cusco–Puno road and is covered by Circuit 2 and the full ticket. The site is set back from the highway, so many visitors arrange a taxi that waits and agree the return before setting off.

Wari city in the Lucre basin

Built by the Wari culture, which came before the Incas: a planned administrative and ceremonial city of hundreds of structures, some walls still standing roughly a dozen metres high. It was never finished.

Good to know: The setting is cold and arid, so bring layers. It shares Circuit 2 with Tipón and lies farther out on the same road, so the two pair naturally.

Wari aqueduct and Inca gateway beside the main road

A Wari-built wall that carried a water channel, later faced with Inca stonework. The adjacent quarry supplied the stone used for Inca buildings in Cusco. Look closely at the entrance and you can see Inca stonework on one side and Wari on the other.

Good to know: It is a short walk along the main road from Pikillacta and often skipped. The route follows the highway, so watch for traffic.

San Pedro Apóstol church

Nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas," this early 17th-century church looks modest outside and is densely painted inside. One of its best-known murals, by Luis de Riaño, shows the paths to heaven and hell. Its original organ has been restored.

Good to know: It is a working church, not a Boleto Turístico site, so expect a separate entry arrangement.

San Juan Bautista church

Another stop on the Andean Baroque route. Murals by Tadeo Escalante, one of the last masters of the Cusco school of painting, cover its walls and ceiling.

Good to know: With Andahuaylillas and the Canincunca chapel facing Lake Urcos, it makes an easy half-day circuit along the Cusco–Puno road.

Wetland about 25 km south of Cusco

A high-Andean wetland popular with birdwatchers, with waterbirds, reed specialists and seasonal migrants. Great crested grebes, Andean gulls and Chilean flamingos have been reported, and two Cusco endemics, the Rusty-fronted Canastero and the Bearded Mountaineer, are prized sightings.

Good to know: Guided birding outings usually start early, and the lake sits close to Pikillacta and Rumicolca.

Temple of Wiracocha, Canchis Province

An Inca site on an old lava field near Sicuani, at roughly 3,450 m along the Vilcanota River, with the remains of a large temple dedicated to Wiracocha, an artificial lagoon and around 150 circular storehouses.

Good to know: It is more than 100 km from Cusco, so it suits a stop on the road toward Puno better than a half-day outing. An entrance fee applies.

Andean village and Inca estate

Chinchero is thought to have been an estate of the Inca ruler Túpac Yupanqui. A colonial church stands on Inca foundations in the plaza, its interior painted with floral and religious motifs.

Good to know: The village is on Circuit 3, and Lake Piuray, which once supplied water to Cusco, can be reached on foot from the village.

Storehouses above Ollantaytambo

Hillside storehouses on the slope opposite Ollantaytambo's main ruins. A signposted stone staircase leaves from the town, passing smaller Inca structures before reaching a large multi-tiered storehouse.

Good to know: The path becomes unclear higher up, so most visitors turn back at the storehouse.

Hilltop ruin above the Patacancha and Yuracmayo rivers

A small, well-preserved site thought to have controlled access to Ollantaytambo. Guidebooks describe a moderate, steadily climbing hike of several hours round trip from town.

Good to know: The route has several turns off the road, so a local guide or a downloaded map helps.

Inca quarry

Three quarries within half a kilometre of each other, littered with worked blocks. The highest holds needle-shaped stones up to seven metres long. Blocks were slid down the slope and hauled across the river to build Ollantaytambo.

Good to know: The quarries sit far above the valley floor, so a guided hike is the easiest way in.

"Little Cusco," a plateau above the Sacred Valley

Often attributed to the Inca Wiracocha in the early 1400s, probably as a royal estate. Terraces, storehouses, large halls and an irrigation canal about 800 m long, with views toward Urubamba, Calca and Lamay. There is no road access.

Good to know: The common day route crosses a pass near 4,200 m before descending to Lamay, and operators quote about six to seven hours of walking. Acclimatize first.

Hot springs and weaving villages, Calca Province

Quechua farming and weaving communities, glacial lakes and simple concrete-lined hot-spring pools often shared with local families. The Lares trek is a quieter alternative to the Inca Trail and does not need a permit.

Good to know: Public transport runs from Calca, but as a day trip from Cusco it means several hours each way.

Inca ceremonial site west of Cusco

A ceremonial centre with an ushnu, a structure where ritual offerings were prepared. The name means "house of the tara tree." It sits at about 2,675 m on the road toward Cachora.

Good to know: Groups heading to Choquequirao usually stop only briefly, and travelling independently lets you stay longer.

Inca citadel above the Apurímac canyon

Often called Machu Picchu's sister city, and still only partly excavated. It is reached only on foot from Cachora, in the classic version over four days. The ruins, at 3,050 m, are the highest point of the classic route, but the steep descents and climbs make it demanding.

Good to know: It was closed for about two months in early 2026 after heavy rains and reopened in April, so check its status before booking.

Sacred peak, 6,384 m

The highest mountain in the Cusco region and a revered apu, or mountain spirit. The multi-day trek around its base stays above 4,000 m on average and is remote, far from medical facilities.

Good to know: Spend several days acclimatizing in Cusco first, and go in the dry season.

The quieter rainbow mountains, Canchis Province

Three colored mountains, a stone forest and, on clear days, views of Ausangate, reached by a shorter and gentler walk than Vinicunca. The viewpoints are near 4,900 m.

Good to know: Most visitors go on a full-day trip, with about 3.5 hours each way on mostly unpaved road. An entrance fee is charged locally.

The "horned fortress," Acomayo Province

Named for two horn-shaped rock formations above the Apurímac canyon, at more than 4,000 m. The site is thought to have begun as a Qanchis ceremonial centre before the Incas took it over.

Good to know: The walk in from the trailhead takes roughly two to three hours, depending on the route, and the entry fee is usually paid separately. There are no supply points nearby, so bring water and warm layers.

The last Inca rope bridge, Quehue District, Canas Province

A grass-rope bridge about 28 m long across the Apurímac, rewoven each June by four local communities in a three-day ritual recognized by UNESCO in 2013. A modern bridge stands beside it.

Good to know: The bridge was damaged in May 2025, so confirm its current condition before making the long trip from Cusco.