Hikes Near Cusco: Easy to Reach from the Center

Hikes Near Cusco Reading Time: 16 minutes

Everyone comes to Cusco because they plan to hike or train, to Machu Pichu, and it is the logical first stop. Cusco is, without a doubt, an over-touristed destination, meaning that it has been loved to death. There are so many tourists everywhere you look. Thankfully though, many hikes near Cusco allow you to avoid the crowds and get out into nature. They are also easily accessed from the center of Cusco.

I spent an entire month in the city of Cusco. I too had grand plans of hiking to Machu Picchu along the Salkantay Trail, as thousands had before me, and thousands will after me. So naturally, I started in Cusco. I wanted to adjust to the altitude and nature in the area so that the Salkantay Trail wouldn’t feel like such a big physical challenge. Because I had a few weeks before my scheduled trek was to begin, I explored the area. I found some fantastic hikes in the area, including the Cristo Blanco, Templo de la Luna, and the mysterious La Zona X.

One of these sites can get pretty crowded due to its proximity to the city center and its ease of arrival. However, the other two are not on the standard tourist route, allowing you to be fully alone, something uncommon in the area due to the crowds and surge of tourists arriving every day. I did all of these hikes in one day, which is entirely possible, especially if you start early in the morning.

Read More:
Trail Logistics on the Salkantay
Salkantay Trail: Day by Day
Salkantay Trail: What to Pack

NickiPostsTravelStuff.com contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read the disclaimer for more information. I only recommend products that I believe in.

Hikes Near Cusco

Below I have outlined 3 of the best hikes near Cusco. They will take you out of the hectic city center, and into nature. It is possible to do all 3 of these hikes in one day if you are feeling very eager, as I was. If you have more time in Cusco, you can also break it up and do the hikes on different days. That said, I suggest doing the Templo de la Luna and La Zona X on the same day.

Templo de la Luna and La Zona X are only 30 minutes apart from each other, and easy to reach from each spot along one path. If I were to do it all over again, I would have given myself more time to explore La Zona X because it was a really cool place. I started to feel rushed by the end due to the sunlight because I didn’t want to get stuck there in the dark. I suggest starting your day as early as possible.

1. Hikes Near Cusco: Cristo Blanco

This first stop at the Cristo Blanco is not totally tourist-free, as it is one of the more popular hikes near Cusco. But there is a nice, yet steep, hike up to it, and the view of the city is fantastic. You’ll find the typical sellers that are found all over Cusco- selling sweaters, hats, photos with alpacas, tours, etc. The White Jesus (Cristo Blanco) was a bit smaller than I had expected, but it was still interesting to see.

How to get to Cristo Blanco

Using Google Maps

Location on Google Maps, you can find it as “Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco.”

Getting here is not exactly complicated, you just have to get yourself on the right path. The easiest way to explain would be to put ‘Acueducto de Sapantiana‘ into Google Maps. Once you get there, you’ll see signs for Cristo Blanco. Keep following them up. While you’re there, it’s worth taking a few minutes to visit the aqueducts.

Analog instructions to Cristo Blanco

Face the cathedral in the Plaza de Armas. Just to the left, there is a small street. Follow that street up and you’ll hit a fork. Take the small alleyway to the right. Follow that alley until you hit a dead end at Calle Choqechaka. Turn left and walk up the street until you reach a staircase. At the top of the stairs to the right, you’ll find the aqueduct.

To the left, you’ll see a sign for the Cristo Blanco. Follow the arrow up a beautiful staircase alleyway full of plants and flowers. Once you reach the top of the stairs, turn right. Then keep walking up until you reach the highway. There will be a few shops on the right. Walk past the shops and underneath the big sign that is the entrance to the park. Walk up.

You’ll reach another fork. To the right, you’ll see a hill. Straight ahead you’ll see what looks like a small ticket booth. You also have the option to go straight ahead to purchase your ticket to see the Saqsaywaman Archeological site, which is on your left. I believe it is 130 soles.

But if you only want to see White Jesus, head right, cross the small bridge, and follow the path up the hill. It takes about 10 minutes to walk up the small trail.

2. Hikes Near Cusco: Templo de la Luna

After visiting the Cristo Blanco, I continued on my quest to do these easy hikes near Cusco.

I had hoped to find a more direct route from the Cristo Blanco to El Templo de la Luna, though I didn’t succeed. I walked back down the small hill I had gone up, and asked a couple of local girls how to reach the Templo de la Luna. They said it was on the other side of the hill (that I had just come down from). That meant I would have to go back up and over the Hill of the Cristo Blanco again and continue walking along the highway. That didn’t sound ideal, so I decided to head back down to the aqueduct, through the San Blas neighborhood, and then up to where there were more clearly marked paths to get there.

What Templo de la Luna is Like

The Templo de la Luna is technically an Incan archaeological site, with carvings on the side of the rock. It isn’t that big, and to be honest, doesn’t give a ‘wow this is an important place,’ kind of vibe. Though the surrounding area is beautiful. Standing on top of the rock, you have a 360-degree view of the entire area. On one side you can see green hills and mountains, and on the other, you can see an open green space with the city and more mountains in the distance.

How to get to Templo de la Luna

Location on Google Maps: Templo de la Luna

While you can easily find the location on Google Maps, getting there is not as easy as it might seem. I followed the recommended path by Google, but that is not the path I want to suggest knowing what I know now. Google instructs you to walk up some small roads in Cusco until you reach the highway, shown in yellow on the map. Then you cross the highway and continue to walk straight up the road along the pavement, walking through a small neighborhood with a few shops, and old men sitting outside of them. Continue up until you reach the opening of the green space that holds the temple. Don’t go this way. It’s very steep, with very few shadows, as you can see in the photo below.

My Suggestion to Reach Templo de la Luna

Follow Google’s steps up to the highway. Cross the highway. Then about 1 minute later, you’ll see a structure to your right. It is a square structure with chainlink fence walls, and green painted poles, most likely protecting something electrical inside. Next to that green chainlink square, you’ll see a path. Get on that path and keep following it up. It will eventually lead you to a part of the Incan trail leading to the Templo de la Luna. You’ll walk on a grass path with stone walls on either side, with more shadows from trees. This trail is much more pleasant than the road.

3. Hike Near Cusco: La Zona X

Zona X is not promoted anywhere I have seen, but it is the best hike near Cusco. I only knew about it because a friend of mine used to live in Cusco for a year, and he told me to go. It’s only a 30-minute walk from Templo de la Luna, along a mainly flat dirt road, with incredible views of green hills to the right, the eucalyptus forest to the left, and the occasional alpaca having lunch.

The Legend of La Zona X

Zona X was explained to me as having magical energies. It expands much further than I went, but the area is covered with tunnels that go down into the Earth. Just before I crossed the highway to enter Zona X, I stopped to chat with one of the horse guides who told me a few tales about the area, which I did not fully believe. The man said the area is called Zona X because the tunnels here make one giant X (this part I trust), with several smaller tunnels jutting out from the main X. He recommended that I not enter the tunnels because it can be difficult to get out again.

This horse guide then told me how the tunnels lead to several parts of Peru; one tunnel leads down to the Plaza de Armas in the center of Cusco, and another leads to Machu Picchu. He told me a story about how three university students entered the tunnel in their early 20s and got lost. Two never made it out and died in the tunnels, but one finally emerged 40 years later, a skinny, old man with malnutrition (this is a story I don’t believe).

What La Zona X is Like

I explored this area for about 45 minutes. There are several rock formations, which reminded me somewhat of hiking in Cappadocia, Turkey. I saw entrances to several tunnels, though they didn’t seem to go very far or very deep. Several tunnels had such small openings that I wouldn’t expect a human to fit through. However, I think there are likely several more tunnels that I missed as the area expands much wider than what I saw. However, it was beautiful, and I was completely alone. Not a single other tourist. Just me, the breeze, and a couple dozen sheep in the distance.

How to get to La Zona X

Location on Google Maps: Zona X

From Templo de la Luna, walk in the opposite direction of how you arrived. You’ll see a path going down the rock. There is a eucalyptus forest to the left, and green hills to the right. There is a small fence all along the path. Follow that path, and within 30 minutes you’ll come to the highway. There is an area full of horses just before the highway. As soon as you cross the road, you’re in Zona X. There are small paths you can take around the area.

If you are not planning to see the Templo de La Luna, and prefer to drive to La Zona X, just follow the highway up until you come to the spot marked on Google Maps, Zona X. There is a small gravel shoulder where you can park, next to the horses.

Where to Stay in Cusco

Magar Hostel Bar

This hostel is near the trendy San Blas neighborhood. The hostel is very social and has a garden, a shared lounge, a terrace, a bar, and a restaurant. Breakfast is also included in the price. They have private rooms as well as female, male, and mixed dorm rooms.

Check availability and BOOK NOW for this great hostel in San Blas

Unaytambo Boutique Hotel Cusco

This boutique hotel is a short walk from the Plaza de Armas in the center of Cusco. Despite being in the center, it is still very quiet. The hotel reception is available 24 hours a day and can help you arrange tours or airport transfers. Breakfast is included. The building itself is beautiful, with traditional architecture, and a center courtyard with a beautiful view.

Fall in love with this boutique hotel in Cusco, BOOK NOW

Casa San Blas Cusco Exquisite By Xima

This beautiful hotel is located in the stylish neighborhood of San Blas. There is a terrace, bar, and restaurant on site, and breakfast is included in the price. The rooms are clean and modern with a local style. You can get an amazing view of the city from several rooms. Some rooms even have a small kitchen if you would like to cook there.

BOOK NOW to stay in the incredible Casa San Blas in Cusco

Group Day Trips from Cusco

If you are not comfortable hiking around the outskirts of Cusco on your own, or if you’re looking for even more adventures from Cusco, here are a few great group trips.

Cusco: Humantay Lake Day Trip with Breakfast and Lunch

Humantay Lake is one of the most awe-inspiring places I have ever seen in nature. It is incredibly beautiful, with the bluest of blues and greenest of greens. If you plan to hike the Salkantay Trail, you will most likely see this lake. However, if you’re not planning on hiking to Machu Picchu, taking a side trip to Humantay Lake is well worth it. This 12-hour tour includes hotel pickup in the historical center, drop-off in Plaza San Francisco or Kusipata, transportation by air-conditioned van, buffet breakfast and lunch buffet (vegetarian option available), official guide, first aid kit, entrance ticket (if the option is selected, and 1 walking stick.

From Cusco: Moray and Salt Mines Quad Bike Tour

If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, then this quad tour might be just what you’re looking for. It is a 6-hour tour through the Sacred Valley that includes hotel pickup, shared transportation from Cusco to Cruzpata, a quad bike for 1-2 people, an English and Spanish-speaking guide, and drop-off in the city center, not at your hotel.

From Cusco: Sacred Valley Tour with Pisac and Ollantaytambo

This is a fantastic price for a 10-hour tour that takes you all around the Sacred Valley, including Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. You will have the opportunity to see how the locals live and learn about the Mayan culture. The tour includes hotel pickup from hotels in the historic center of Cusco, a bilingual guide, a buffet lunch, and transportation by private vehicle.

From Cusco: Machu Picchu Tour by Vistadome Panoramic Train

If you want to go to Machu Picchu in style, riding the Vistadome Panoramic train is the way to do it. It is a beautiful train full of giant windows, allowing you to have incredible views of the scenery. This is a full-day 12-hour tour that includes hotel pickup and drop-off, roundtrip transportation to Ollantaytambo Train Station, roundtrip Vistadome panoramic train ticket, roundtrip bus tickets to Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu entry, a guide, lunch, and 1 Bottle of Water.

Final Thoughts on Hikes Near Cusco

Most people come to Cusco as a starting point to do one of the many hikes to Machu Picchu, though this town deserves more than just one or two days. Initially, the mass tourism bubble of Cusco turned me off, but when I realized there were other places I could go nearby, and be surrounded by nothing but nature, I started to fall in love with the area. I hope this guide for Hikes Near Cusco has been helpful to you, and you’re able to do some exploring of your own.

TRAVELING SOON?

INSURANCE: Cover yourself with travel medical insurance by SafetyWing.

FLIGHTS: Get the best flight deals with Skyscanner and set flight alerts with Hopper.

STAYS: Check out hotels and apartments with Booking.com and Vrbo.

RENTAL CARS: Get the best deal on rental cars with Discover Cars or RentalCars.

GOING HIKING? Get a 30% discount off your yearly AllTrails+ Account (code: nickiposts30)

eSIM: Get an international eSim with Airalo.

CITY GUIDES: Save time and purchase pre-made city guides with Thatch.

CITY TOURS: Book your tour with GetYourGuide and Viator

LUGGAGE: Get the best carry-on suitcase here.

CREDIT CARD: Start earning travel points with the best travel credit card.

BUENOS AIRES GUIDE: Purchase my Buenos Aires travel companion here.

CONSULTATION: Book a 1:1 travel consultation with Nicki here.

SUBSCRIBE: Get the Nicki Posts Travel Stuff newsletter every month.

TRAVEL BETTER: Check out my Travel Tips and best Travel Resources pages.

MORE? Check out more on my LINKS page to find me in more places!