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Why visit
May through September is the dry season and the safest window for high-altitude trekking. The Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Qorikancha, the Inca walls of Calle Loreto and Calle Hatunrumiyoc (with the famous 12-angled stone), and the steep San Blas neighbourhood anchor a multi-day visit. Cusco is the launching point for Machu Picchu (via train to Aguas Calientes), the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo), the Rainbow Mountain, and the classic four-day Inca Trail trek.
When to avoid
Altitude (3,399m) causes serious soroche, ascend gradually (consider stopping at Sacred Valley first), hydrate, drink coca tea, and avoid alcohol the first 24 hours. Pickpocketing is real around the Plaza de Armas. Use a money belt. Inca Trail permits sell out months in advance, book early. Cusco gets crammed in July and August. Book accommodation ahead.
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