What to do in Cusco January 14th, 2020 • by Matt Holmes Cusco is fun to wander on foot, but it’s easy to get turned around on the winding streets and back alleys. Check with your hotel concierge for the best way to get to the places you’re interested in visiting. The sites listed below are places that we do not include in our guided city tour on day 1 of our Peru trips. Please note: most of the links go to sites in Spanish. Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús Built by Jesuits in 1571 over the palace of Huayna Capac, the last Inca to rule before the arrival of the conquistadors. A soaring dome covers Peru’s largest altar. Guides are available. Choco Museum Offering workshops on how to make chocolate and truffles, Peruvian cooking classes, and a museum on the history, nature, and processing of chocolate. Art Museum of Andean Children A project of a local ENG dedicated to promote cultural diffusion, the paintings and drawings offer a unique vision about Andean life and culture. Mercado de San Pedro This colorful, daily market is full of food and local crafts. Experience the traditional market culture of Cusco and find an array of produce, flowers, nuts, cheeses, and textiles. San Blas Wander around and shop in this bohemian neighborhood. On Saturdays, the plaza hosts a handicraft market. Visit the 16th-century church built on an Incan temple. Cusco Planetarium From learning about Inca astronomy and their relationship with the stars to viewing the constellations, to viewing through their telescopes, this is a fascinating excursion. Museo Machu Picchu This relatively new museum showcases more than 300 artifacts excavated by Hiram Bingham that Yale University recently returned. The collection includes crafts, ceramics, and background information on Bingham’s expeditions. Museo Inka Focused on Incan history and culture, the collection here includes jewelry, pottery, textiles, mummies, and the world’s largest collection of Incan ceremonial drinking vessels.