The city of Cusco is full of things to do, and the center of action is Plaza de Armas, the main town square.
Let’s be real, you probably have other priorities on your trip to Cusco — Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, for instance. But on your days off, or after a long day of hiking, Plaza de Armas has your back.
I had a sneaking suspicion that I’d want to spend more time in Cusco on my trip to Peru. When it came time to fly back to Lima, I didn’t want to leave!
Something about the cobblestone streets and old world atmosphere will keep you coming back for more. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Plaza de Armas Cusco, Peru.
Things to Do in Plaza de Armas Cusco:
- Cusco Cathedral
- Cappuccino Cusco Cafe
- Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant
- Shopping for Incan Clothes and Handicrafts
- Eat Guinea Pig at Andean Grill
- Try Alpaca at Los Balcones Restaurant
- Enjoy a Rejuvenating Massage
1. Cusco Cathedral
This one will become immediately apparent when you first step into the Plaza de Armas. Personally, I wasn’t expecting to see such a beautiful and impressive cathedral nestled into this mountain town.
The building’s full name is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, constructed over the 16th and 17th centuries. While the cathedral does serve as a place of worship, it also acts as a museum for Cusco’s colonial art, and archaeological finds from the surrounding area.
It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
2. Cappuccino Cusco Cafe
This place stuck out to me for its intense devotion to not just “coffee”, in a broad sense, but for some reason to the cappuccino in particular.
Sure, the Italian coffee beverage has nothing to do with Cusco, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a great place to stop by!
You can sit windowside upstairs and enjoy a daytime view of the square, and if you’re feeling more traditional, a mate tea as you adjust to the altitude. One more thing, they do offer a boozy “Irish” cappuccino if that’s your bag…
3. Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant
Sometimes, after a long day exploring the depths of local Peruvian culture, you may find yourself in need of an ice-cold, draft beer.
I happened to find myself in this situation, and Hanz Craft Beer & Restaurant turned out to be a thing of beauty — tall, cold, beers on tap, as well as quality cocktails and some excellent Peruvian food.
While this place advertises its draft beer front and center, and rightfully so, it’s really so much more.
Not only were they serving an interesting, locally distilled gin and tonic, but the food was incredible. I had a seafood dish that was one of the best I’ve tasted (not something I was expecting in this mountain town). Smothered in unique local flavors, it was a thing of beauty.
All of this while looking down onto the nighttime scene of people in Plaza de Armas. A great spot to wind down at the end of the day.
4. Shopping for Incan Clothes and Handicrafts
This wasn’t necessarily on my to-do list, but now I realize it should have been!
I tend to be pretty wary of “souvenir shops.” If you’re not careful, you’ll get upsold on cheap trinkets. But heading back into town one day, I let down my guard and entered one of the nearby shops selling Peruvian handicrafts. I’m so glad I did.
Inside, an elderly couple was winding down their day of selling, surrounded by piles of beautiful Incan clothes and fabric designs.
This time, I let myself go. I bought scarves, gloves, socks, and alpaca wool sweaters for my whole family. I basically knocked out a huge chunk of Christmas shopping, and collected unique treasures for friends back home.
What’s more, the prices were reasonable! In my travels, I’ve seen some shady things go down. On a university-sponsored trip to Israel, I watched our guide get scammed out of hundreds of dollars, carried away by an unscrupulous vendor with cheap, colorful scarves.
But in this little shop, the energy was just right. The older couple didn’t want to scam anybody, and offered fair prices. After a little bargaining, I walked out with much more than I’d expected, and was very happy with the price. I wear those sweaters all the time — it’s like being hugged by an warm, friendly alpaca.
If it’s a kind elderly couple, don’t haggle too hard! But be warned: the folks vending in the streets will have a big bag of lower quality goods, and they will push hard to sell their products at much higher prices.
5. Eat Guinea Pig at Andean Grill
One of the most infamous things to do in Plaza de Armas Cusco is partake in the dish known as cuy.
Cuy, in case you didn’t know, is roasted guinea pig. It may sound weird to some of us, but before Spanish colonists introduced cows, pigs, and horses, guinea pig and alpaca were basically the only kinds of meat available.
I’ve always felt that foods seeming “weird” or “normal” is mostly a matter of cultural conditioning. In the US, we chow down on burgers, while in India, many people hold the cow as sacred and refuse to eat it.
Being a money-where-my-mouth-is kind of guy, I decided to try cuy at Andean Grill.
The verdict? Honestly, at its high points it was kind of delicious. Once you get past the guinea pig’s charred face, peeled back into a scorched, hellish grin, it actually tastes a lot like roast turkey.
6. Try Alpaca at Los Balcones Restaurant
Remember the mention of alpaca meat earlier? You get to try that one, too (sorry vegetarians).
At Los Balcones Restaurant, my curious tastebuds enjoyed a carefully cooked alpaca steak. Yes — the fuzzy creature, smiling in your mind’s eye atop a grassy mountain plateau — cooked to perfection.
Well, perfection is a strong word. It was tasty enough, but I’m gonna have to go with cow in the future.
Culinary adventures aside, this place also made a mean cocktail. It was great to sip down a true Peruvian pisco sour, while watching the sun set over the town square.
7. Enjoy a Rejuvenating Massage
You’re probably going to need one of these.
First of all, you’re on vacation! But more than that, you may find your muscles aching after a long day of hiking through traditional Incan sites.
Rest, traveler. Plaza de Armas has a few massage parlors, and I was very satisfied with my visit.
An expert masseuse kneaded all the soreness out of my muscles. The place was open late, perfect for a last-minute refresher on my final night in Cusco, and at a reasonable price as well.
Highly recommended.
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That’s about it!
Of course, the real magic of Peru is to be found in those mountains, listening to the wind for a lingering whisper of Incan culture. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a great selection of things to do in Plaza de Armas, Cusco, the bustling downtown center of day-to-day life.
I loved the Incan sights deeply, and I loved the quiet beauty of Plaza de Armas, as well.
Hopefully this list offers some inspiration for your own visit to this one-of-a-kind, ancient city.
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