Getting Your Bearings
Cusco sits high in the Peruvian Andes, near the Sacred Valley, and its historic center is compact and largely walkable. For anything beyond the center — the bus terminals, the airport, or the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán above the city — you'll want a bus or a taxi. As with any city, take normal precautions: robberies have been reported, particularly when walking alone or intoxicated at night.
Rail
Cusco has no metro or tram network. Rail here exists for one main purpose: reaching Machu Picchu. Service is operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail, with trains running to Aguas Calientes (the gateway to Machu Picchu) and to Puno. Rail service to Arequipa has been discontinued.
Trains to Machu Picchu generally depart from Poroy railway station, northwest of the city and roughly a 20-minute taxi ride from downtown. San Pedro railway station is the other rail station in the city.
Buses and Combis
Public transport in Cusco is built around buses and combis — small vans and minibuses, often with names like Imperial, Batman, or Zorro. They're a cheap and reliable way to get around if you're staying for a while. Fares are very low, and you pay on board. If you're unsure whether a combi goes where you want, just ask; drivers call out stops as they go, and to get off you simply shout "¡Bajo!" They generally run until around 22:00. Be aware that they tend to be crowded — carry your backpack in front of you rather than on your back.
For travel out into the Sacred Valley, several smaller bus terminals around the city serve different destinations:
- Av. Grau 525 — for Chinchero and Urubamba
- Calle Puputi 208 — for Pisac, Yucay, and Urubamba
- Av. Tullumayo 207 — for Pisac and Calca
- Av. De La Cultura 1320 — for Urcos, with stops at Tipón, Piquillacta, and Andahuaylillas
For larger groups, a tourist bus arranged through one of the many local travel agencies can be a convenient way to reach places like Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
Long-distance buses arrive and depart from the Terminal Terrestre on Avenida Vía de Evitamiento. It's a walkable but long trek from the historic center along Avenida El Sol and San Martín, or a short taxi ride. Buses connect Cusco with other Peruvian and Bolivian cities, but journeys are long and slow. Standards vary: cheaper services in particular may have poor maintenance and overworked drivers, and accidents are not uncommon, so stick with more upmarket companies if you're a nervous traveler. Before buying a ticket, confirm that your bus has a bathroom or makes regular bathroom stops.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are very common in Cusco and are the easiest way to cover short hops around town. Officially, fares run a few soles depending on distance, but in practice you should agree on the price before you get in — otherwise you may be quoted an inflated sum for a short ride. Drivers are often not locals.
Safety matters here. Do not get into a taxi that already has a passenger, and do not hail a street taxi at night — order one by telephone instead. Robberies have been reported in collusion with taxi drivers, and at certain times radio taxis may be the safest option.
Uber is also available, with easy and cheap access through the global app. Prices are comparable to taxis, often slightly higher.
Driving Yourself
Renting a car gives you flexibility to explore the region without depending on public transit or fixed train schedules, but driving in and around Cusco is genuinely daunting — many find it harder than driving in Lima. Road quality is uneven, even downtown, and there's significant road construction in areas such as around the airport. In the historic center, streets are often narrow and cobblestoned, and become slippery in wet weather. Roads can be winding and steep, with high gradients common in elevated areas and toward sites like Sacsayhuamán. Highways are often just two lanes, and drivers commonly speed up to overtake slow trucks. Landslides are a risk during the rainy season.
Parking is available at major shopping areas like PlazaVea and big supermarkets, and at many sites outside the city, but it's rare in the historic center. Limited paid street parking (the Zona Azul) is available in the center during the day, except on Sundays when it's free. A parking attendant will approach you with a ticket, and payment must be made in advance — tell the attendant how long you'll be parked.
Note that there are no car rental facilities inside the airport itself; rental companies are found around the airport perimeter, and meet-and-greet pickups can be arranged. Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty have offices in Cusco, along with a number of local companies.
Walkability
The center of Cusco is small enough to explore on foot, and walking is the best way to experience the historic core. For the bus station, Sacsayhuamán, or the airport, though, you'll probably want a bus or taxi. Keep your wits about you after dark.
Getting From the Airport Into the City
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) sits east of the Centro Histórico, reached via 28 de Julio and Avenida Velasco Astete. It's a small airport serving mainly domestic flights and some limited international connections; most travelers connect through Lima. Restaurants, shops, massage facilities, and communication services are available, and there are a few ATMs in the check-in area. The airport opens at 03:00, so if you have an early flight, don't arrive before then — you'll be waiting outside in the dark.
Your options into town:
- Taxi: The market rate to the Centro Histórico is around S/15. The "official" airport taxi desks, located by the exit doors with their drivers waiting outside, may try to charge S/30 or more. Unofficial cabs are the better bet at around S/10–15. To find them, exit through the main gate, head to the street in front of the airport, and walk right along the right-hand side for about 50 m until you reach the taxi stand.
- Bus: Plenty of buses pass outside the airport's main gate. During daylight hours it's easy to catch one to the old town for about S/1, taking roughly 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
One tip for the flight in: Cusco is ringed by mountain peaks, and most flights from Lima approach from the south, overshoot, and double back through a gap in the peaks. If you're coming from Lima and seated on the left side of the plane, you should get great views of the city and surroundings on final approach.
Looking ahead, construction is underway on a larger airport at Chinchero, northwest of Cusco. The new airport is expected to add international flights from outside Peru and accommodate more travelers entering the region.