Cusco, nestled in the Peruvian Andes, is a cultural gem that offers a unique blend of history, adventure, and modern conveniences for digital nomads. We visited in February, and here’s our comprehensive review for staying in Cusco as a digital nomad, based on our month-long stay.
Our goal is to assemble a curated guide for fellow digital nomads seeking not just places to stay but a slice of what slow travel life entails in each destination. We plan on making these guides for each place we stay for a month or longer, so we’ll eventually have a ranking of our favourite places to share with you.
From the food and navigating the intricate transport network to how easy it is to communicate as English speakers. The aim here isn’t just to share anecdotes—it’s to equip you with firsthand experiences, insights, and honest appraisals that transcend the glossy travel brochures.
So, how do the ratings work? Essentially, it’s very simple. Both myself and my partner Manu have given each criteria a score out of 10, which I’ve taken the average of and used here to make this guide.
Useful Posts for Planning Your Trip to Cusco
- Where to eat in Cusco
- Complete Cusco travel guide
- How to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco
- Day trip to Pisac from Cusco
Travel Insurance as Digital Nomads
A quick starting point before we get into staying in Cusco as a digital nomad – travel insurance!
It’s your safety net, covering everything from medical emergencies to travel mishaps and lost devices. Opting for a provider like SafetyWing, which caters specifically to digital nomads, means you’re covered worldwide on a continuous monthly basis without a fixed contract. This peace of mind is invaluable as you navigate Cusco’s beautiful landscapes and remote working lifestyle. I’ve got both the “normal” insurance and the nomad health plan, which covers routine GP appointments anywhere in the world.
Overall Score: 7.25
It’s always interesting to see how personal preferences shape one’s travel experience. Our review reflects our own tastes and might differ from others – and that’s the beauty of travel, isn’t it? Here’s a little context about our adventure in Cusco to give you a fuller picture of our review:
Time of Year
We visited Cusco in February, during the rainy season. Expect frequent downpours and cooler temperatures, particularly at night (but way quieter yippee!).
Accommodation
Airbnbs and hostels are plentiful. We stayed in a charming apartment in the historic centre, costing around £600-700 for the month. Popular neighbourhoods include Plaza de Armas for its central location and vibrant atmosphere, San Blas for its bohemian vibe and artistic spirit, and San Pedro for a more local experience.
Our Likes/Dislikes
We love exploring historical sites and natural landscapes and are by no means party people or super sociable, probably stemming from the fact we’re both neurodivergent! Cusco’s rich history and proximity to Machu Picchu were highlights for us, though the altitude can be challenging. It’s essential to take it slow for the first few days to acclimate.
Food: 8.5
Cusco offers a variety of local and international cuisine, and honestly, it’s a foodie hotspot with so many great options for dining out! I’ve written a complete guide to where to eat in Cusco which covers all my favourites, but the food was such an unexpected highlight of our time in Peru. Vegetarian and vegan options are readily available, and the local markets offer fresh produce. Don’t miss out on trying traditional dishes like cuy (guinea pig) and lomo saltado.
Prices: 8
Cusco is affordable, especially compared to Western countries. Dining out and groceries are reasonably priced, although tourist activities can be costly depending on what you’re looking to do.
Our accommodation was very reasonable, at around £650 for the month, for a one-bedroom apartment on Airbnb (bear in mind that this apartment was also very close to the centre and pretty neighbourhood of San Blas).
Fun Activities: 7.5
Cusco is a hub for historical and outdoor activities:
- Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
- Hiking Rainbow Mountain
- Exploring Sacsayhuamán and Qorikancha
- And soooo many more things
You can also enjoy local festivals, visit museums, and participate in chocolate-making workshops and traditional cooking classes. I’ve written a complete guide on things to do in Cusco which will give you plenty to keep you going for a long stay.
So you might be wondering well, if there are so many things to do then why the lower score? It really comes down to independence as, while we’re happy to go on tours we much prefer doing things by ourselves where possible. We found in Cusco really the only way to explore is via a guided tour (with a few exceptions such as Pisac), this can quickly get costly and means you have to priotise more what you absolutely want to do.
Beauty: 8
Cusco’s blend of Incan and Spanish colonial architecture, coupled with its stunning mountain backdrop, makes it incredibly picturesque. Additionally, you’re surrounded by the sacred valley, which is absolutely gorgeous!
I found the landscapes around Cusco quite special, as you don’t see those lush green mountains in many other parts of the world. I was also very pleasantly surprised by entirely how lovely Cusco is, especially around the historic centre and San Blas neighbourhood.
Safety: 8.5
Cusco feels super safe for tourists, though standard precautions should be taken as always. We felt comfortable exploring both day and night and I went out alone quite a few times and never felt unsafe or uncomfortable.
Public Transport: 6
Linking to my earlier comments about fun activities, public transport is limited.
There are colevtivos that can take you to certain places around Cusco, but navigating these can be very difficult. Colectivos don’t really have set schedules. Instead, drivers solicit passengers by yelling out the destination to people and urging them to hop on board, with the colectivo leaving as soon as it’s completely full. You can get to nearby places such as Pisac, Chincero and Ollantaytambo using the colectivos.
Cusco itself however is very walkable, albeit a bit hilly, but what better way to start your altitude training!
English Spoken: 5.5
While Spanish is the primary language, some English is spoken in tourist areas. Learning basic Spanish phrases is beneficial. In areas like San Blas and Plaza de Armas, you’ll find more English-speaking locals.
Of course on guided tours you’ll have absolutely no problem using English, but expect less and less the more you get out of tourist areas. If you really want to make friends with the locals, try learning some Quechua!
Weather: 6
This point comes with the disclaimer that we visited during rainy season, so of course there was rain!
Honestly all in all we still managed to see absolutely everything we wanted to, and with pretty good weather too. There were quite a few days that were complete write-offs due to the levels of the downpours, but these days we could stay at home and work/relax.
The perk of visiting in rainy season is that it’s much quieter (more on that below) and the landscapes are an even more lush green than usual!
Quietness: 7
Cusco can be bustling, especially in the tourist areas. However, there are plenty of quiet spots in the outskirts and surrounding countryside.
Linked to the above comment,t we also visited during rainy season which is the “off season”, meaning the town and any tours we did were way quieter than you might expect visiting during the dry season. If you’re looking for that quieter life with cheaper prices and less people around, I’d 100% recommend visiting during rainy season!
Supermarkets: 7.5
There are quite a few smaller markets, and we managed to find one or two larger supermarkets too, albeit quite a walk from our accommodation. The smaller markets we found were typically more for snacks and for buying water so it did make buying weekly groceries a bit of a trek to the nearest large supermarket.
If you want to get more into the local swing of things, there are a few markets with stalls across Cusco where locals shop for things like meat and veg (and tourists shop for souvenirs!). Our abolsute favourite was San Pedro market where you can also find a lot of delicious local food for lunch, you absolutely need to try a mixto from one of the vendors!
Reviews from the Community
Read on for reviews from fellow travellers about staying in Cusco for an extended period of time. Want to contribute? Drop me an email at alicia@thechaosdiaries.com
Lev – The Nomad Almanac
If you can handle the extreme altitude sickness, Cusco is an awesome place to visit as a digital nomad! I am a huge nature junkie and a history buff, so being in such close proximity to the mountains and ancient ruins was a huge plus. There are also tons of amazing cafes, restaurants, and bars (though be careful with your alcohol consumption at this altitude!). I spent a month here and could honestly have even stayed longer. There are so many things to do in the region, and the local “Cusqueños” are so friendly!
Score: 8.7/10
Martin & Amy – El Truckito
Cusco possesses a captivating blend of old Inca and Spanish colonial heritage, and modern Latin American urbanism, where visitors can meet both historic and modern Peru. While the beautiful cobblestone streets and the Inca and Spanish colonial district have become severely overrun by the tourism industry and its endless associated vendors, it is very easy for travelers to escape that by walking or taking a taxi to the real Cusco outside of the old town. While many visitors will shell out $70 or more to indulge in local traditional Andean delicacies such as cuy (roasted guinea pig), travelers can also opt for a more budget-friendly option of a hearty ‘menu del día’, priced between $3-5 and consisting of a soup, main dish, drink, and often a dessert. The richness of Peruvian gastronomy can be experienced without needing to sell your firstborn child. We rate Cusco: 6/10 due to severe overtourism.
Score: 6/10
