3 Best Sights in Cusco, Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Set seven blocks northeast of Plaza de Armas, this charming spot perched high within the cobblestoned pedestrian streets of hip San Blas is one of the best spots to observe Cusco from above—and try to make out its original puma shape. A great time to visit is at sunset, when the city starts turning on its lights and locals start packing the district's little bars and bistros.

Thanks to an urban rejuvenation projected initiated by locals in 2020, this narrow San Cristóbal’s stairway strewn with hanging potted plants, murals, and flowers has become Cusco’s most celebrated Instagram spot. Come for a stroll and to partake of the famed photo op. You can also enjoy artisanal ice cream from El Descanso del Borrego, a shop tucked in the middle of the stairway, or stop by Taller Leon, where artisans carve beautiful and intricate wooden furniture and frames. 

Built in 1945 by cusqueño sculptor Ernesto Olazo Allende, the large white statue of Cristo Blanco towers above Cusco atop Cerro Pukamoqo (elevation 11,811 feet). The statue, which was donated by the local Palestinian colony, stands in proximity to Sacsayhuamán and can be reached either on foot from the upper reaches of the San Blas and San Cristóbal districts, or by hailing a cab (S/10–S/15) or Uber. The views from here span all over Cusco and the valley and are beautiful throughout the day. Sunsets are especially dramatic, after which the Christ sparkles with radiant lighting.