Things to do near Cusco, Peru

November 8, 2011 7:10 PM

Last minute things to do in Cusco. Decided to take a day off work tomorrow, and Machu Picchu is both too long a trip and too expensive for us. So, we're looking for a fulfilling alternative that won't break the bank. We want to start tomorrow morning, so any tips would be very welcome! We're open to almost anything, as long as we get outside and do some walking/hiking. Hot springs? Cheap ruins? Spectacular mountain hiking? Hidden waterfall?
posted by omnigut to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

We had a good time taking a taxi to the top of Ollantaytambo and hiking down through the ruins to a market at the bottom of the hill. I have no idea what it cost, but don't let the taxi driver rip you off. There are plenty of taxis waiting to take tourists back when you're done.
posted by asphericalcow at 7:29 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

There are some cool funerary sites just outside of Cusco . . . definitely worth exploring. The history behind the funeraries is of particular interest. We initially took a taxi to the site (there were goats everywhere!). On the way back we shared our taxi with eight other people - I still have no idea how we all fit. It was crowded, but we definitely saved on taxi fare.

If you haven't already, make sure to visit a few markets and drink Peruvian hot chocolate at a little cafe.

Have fun!
posted by WaspEnterprises at 7:32 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

Take a bus to Urubamba and then a taxi to the Salineras. Totally worth it!
posted by ddaavviidd at 7:33 PM on November 8, 2011

Have you done all the cool things within Cusco yet? The Cathedral, La Compania, Coricancha? They're all very cool. Just outside of town is Sacsayhuyman (sounds like "sexy woman"), which is a large set of ruins.

If you want to take a cab down into Sacred Valley, there's lots to see, including Ollantaytambo (mentioned above) and the market at Pisac. There's also quite a few ruins in Pisac.
posted by chbrooks at 7:44 PM on November 8, 2011 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Beautiful. Keep the suggestions coming please! I will show the team in the morning and select the most popular one. Thanks!
posted by omnigut at 8:16 PM on November 8, 2011

Sacsayhuaman
posted by lewedswiver at 8:30 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

For a bit of hiking with some interesting & spectactular sights, head towards Moray village (not far from the main road through that area, to Urubamba), then you can walk for around an hour on an easy & followable path to the concentric terraces also known as Moray. This path follows the top of the hills above the sacred valley, and the walk is spectacular in its own right.

You can see a picture of the terraces in ddaavviidd's link, above.

Then, back to Moray & head straight downhill towards the valley floor. You'll pass the salt pans of Maras / salineras on the way. Hop onto transport back to Cusco at the bottom (plenty of transport passing here), then back to Cusco via Urubamba.

If you start early or hire your own car (for very little $) you could also stop off at Chinchero on the way, which is also worth a look.

For one extra stopover, the ruins at Pisac are great, and personally I preferred them to Machu Piccu anyway - as you're not utterly surrounded by thousands of other tourists.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:03 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

clarification: by "hire your own car" I meant "hire a car & driver", ie a chartered taxi, not that you actually rent a car to drive yourself.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:43 AM on November 9, 2011

Nthing the Pisac recommendations. The bus there is a fun experience in itself!
posted by Kurichina at 10:42 AM on November 9, 2011 [1 favorite]