The bohemian quarter climbing the hill above the plaza — steep cobbled lanes of artisan workshops, boutique cafés, galleries and a pretty little square, with the best views over the city. Quieter, prettier and more characterful than the centre, though a lung-busting climb at altitude; a lovely, arty base.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€60–130
typical per night in Peru
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Cusco — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is San Blas and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Plaza de Armas & the Cathedral5 min walk396 m
- Qorikancha (Sun Temple)8 min walk668 m
- San Pedro Market11 min walk923 m
- Sacsayhuamán11 min walk946 m
- Pisac ruins & market52 min taxi17.2 km
- Ollantaytambo126 min taxi42.1 km
- Machu Picchu219 min taxi72.9 km
- Rainbow Mountain248 min taxi82.8 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 10.San Blas & the viewpoint — The bohemian hillside barrio — steep cobbled alleys of artisan studios, cafés and a pretty little plaza with a jewel of a carved wooden pulpit in its church, and lookouts with the best views over the city. A lovely place to wander, shop for crafts and pause for a coffee with a panorama; go slow, it's all uphill.
- 13.Cristo Blanco viewpoint — A large white statue of Christ on the hill above San Blas, beside Sacsayhuamán, with his arms spread over the city — and a superb, easy-to-reach viewpoint over the whole red-roofed bowl of Cusco, especially at sunset and when the city lights come on. A short walk up from San Blas or a quick taxi; a lovely evening spot.
- 15.Andean textiles & crafts — The Cusco region is one of the world's great weaving cultures — dazzling alpaca textiles, dyed with natural pigments and woven on backstrap looms in patterns handed down for centuries. Watch weavers at work at a San Blas workshop or a valley cooperative, and buy the real thing (not the acrylic tourist stuff) at the source.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to San Blas; flights via Google Flights.