7 Best Viewpoints in Cusco, Peru

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Mirador de San Cristobal

If you head to one viewpoint to see the beautiful city of Cusco from above, this should probably be your first choice. Plaza de Armas looks best from this angle. It’s a large open plaza providing ample room to take in the views. It’s also very easily accessible - a 10-min walk uphill from Plaza de Armas.

If you’re looking for a slightly different angle, you can also check-out the bell tower of the San Cristobal Church, in the same square. The view is much the same, but if you’ve already visited the cathedral and went for the combined ticket, this church is included too.

The historic centre of Cusco is compact, but much of it is built onto the slope of a steep hill. Not only that, but the city is located at an altitude of around 3400m (it’s one of the highest cities in the world). Places may seem very close to one another on a map, but getting to all of these viewpoints can be more challenging than it looks, especially if you are not acclimatised to the altitude. It’s sometimes worth getting an Uber up the hill (a short and inexpensive ride), and walking down.

coordinates: -13.51348, -71.97964

Palacio Manco Capac

This is kind of a secret viewpoint offering a very similar view to that from Mirador de San Cristobal. The viewpoint is found just behind the plaza in front of the Palacio Manco Capac hotel.

Back in Inca times, there used to be a large palace built by Manco Capac (founder of the Inca civilisation in Cusco) where the San Cristobal square is today. This was destroyed by the Spanish who built the church in its place, but you can still see some of the walls of the original palace to one side of the plaza. A luxury boutique hotel was built on its foundations - Palacio Manco Capac.

To reach the viewpoint, head just a little up the road past Plaza de San Cristobal and in the direction of Saqsaywaman. On the left, there is a small road leading to Palacio Manco Capac. Head through the gates and walk through the trees on your left, for an unobstructed view across the city. I don’t think this is private property, because it’s not actually part of the hotel grounds (there is another gate at the end of the road).

Better yet, spend the night. The hotel is superb and it’s our favourite place we stayed at during our trip to Peru. It is also surprisingly good value for money. We stayed for just one night, paid £68 including breakfast (which was divine), and we even got a free room upgrade! Check prices here.

coordinates: -13.51314, -71.98000

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman is an Inca citadel to the north of Cusco, found at an elevation of 3700m, around 300m higher than the city below. This is another great viewpoint over the city, from the same angle as San Cristobal, but higher up. Personally, I prefer the view from the plaza below, but you will likely end up here anyway to visit the impressive ruins. The view is just a bonus!

Because this viewpoint is inside the citadel, which is a paid attraction, it is not free and it can only be accessed within opening hours (07:00-17:30). You have to pay the entrance fee, which may seem expensive, but it is part of a combined ticket covering multiple attractions. There are a several options available, but the most popular pass, which also covers some of the ruins outside of Cusco, including those you’d visit on a classic Sacred Valley day-tour, is 130 Soles (34$).

coordinates: -13.50933, -71.98234

Cristo Blanco

This viewpoint is easy to reach from direction of either Saqsaywaman to the west or Q'enco to the east.

Cristo Blanco is an 8 metre tall white statue of Jesus, overlooking the city - basically Cusco’s version of Cristo Redentor (Rio). The view is great from up there, and offers a slightly different angle towards Plaza de Armas (more diagonal).

This is a free alternative to Saqsaywaman, and one you can visit any time of day. The views are always better around sunset time, and since the ruins close before that, you can easily head to Cristo Blanco nearby to enjoy the view at golden hour. The only downside is that the area around the statue is quite small, so it’s easy for it to get crowded.

coordinates: -13.50960, -71.97812

Arco de Santa Ana

This is one of my favourite spots in Cusco. It’s unique and a bit hidden, definitely off the tourist trail, yet still close to Plaza de Armas. The arch isn’t really a famous landmark, and it’s unlikely you’d just come across it as you walk around the city, as the road leads out of the city centre, in the opposite direction to pretty much everything there is to see in Cusco. So you kind of have to know about it. From the main square, it’s a 10-min walk to Arco de Santa Ana, and the road is only steep towards the end.

This unusual viewpoint offers a limited view of Cusco, but the way the city buildings and mountains behind are framed by the arch creates a beautiful image with an interesting perspective. This is a great spot in Cusco for any photography enthusiasts.

You can also head a little further up to Plaza Santa Ana to see more of Cusco, including a glimpse of Plaza de Armas, but the view of the city from some of the other viewpoints is better. The arch is the interesting part here.

coordinates: -13.51498, -71.98470

Mirador de San Blas

San Blas is one of Cusco's most picturesque neighbourhoods, stretching from one side of Plaza de Armas and up the face of the hill. Expect narrow cobblestone streets, a generous selection of handicraft shops and hip eateries, and lots and lots of steps if you want to reach all the way up.

Since this area is built on a hillside, you can see the city from various places, but Mirador de San Blas probably offers the best view from this angle. You can find this viewpoint in a small plaza just behind Limbus Restobar. While it's a nice view, it's not the best view of Cusco in my opinion - but worth checking out nonetheless. This free viewpoint is not as popular as the restaurant just next to it. Everyone says Limbus Restobar is the place to be in Cusco at sunset, but honestly that's only if you manage to get a seat on the terrace, and even then, it gets cold in the evening and you can see the exact same view from the Mirador next door.

coordinates: -13.51384, -71.97400

Santo Domingo Bell Tower (Qorikancha)

Qorikancha used to be the most important temple in the Inca Empire. Unfortunately, most of the temple has been destroyed by the Spanish, but even they were able to see some of the ingenuity of the Incan architecture. The foundations were preserved, and a cathedral was built on top (Convent of Santo Domingo). Centuries later, the cathedral was completely destroyed in an earthquake, while the Incan foundations remained intact (ha!). It was later rebuilt. Today, Qorikancha / Convent of Santo Domingo (these are the same place) is a large complex displaying a fascinating mix of distinctive Inca features and Spanish colonian architecture.

Qorikancha is not included in the combined ticket, even though it may seem like it is. The ticket includes the Museum of Qorikancha, which is something else entirely and accessed through the other side of the temple complex. This museum was not even open when we visited (due to the pandemic, they say), and I am unsure whether it has reopened since. But the Convent of Santo Domingo is the interesting part, and the entrance fee is 15 Soles (4$).

For a small additional amount (5 Soles, I think), you can also climb up the bell tower. The view from up there is quite nice and offers a fresh perspective over Cusco, since it is the only viewpoint on this side of the historical centre.

coordinates: -13.51997, -71.97542