Official Languages
Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: marvelousperu.com, urosexpeditions.com
Overall5/10Less English-friendly than about 80% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Cusco is one of Peru's most English-friendly cities due to heavy tourism to Machu Picchu, but English is concentrated in hotel, restaurant, and guide services within the historic center.
- The general Cusco population speaks primarily Spanish and Quechua; moving beyond the tourist zone means reduced English availability.
- All Machu Picchu tour guides and major travel agencies offer English-language services, usually without premium surcharges.
- Younger Cusco residents (18-25) are significantly more likely to speak conversational English than older generations.
- Translation apps work reliably for most daily interactions; downloading offline functionality before arrival recommended.
- Learning basic Spanish courtesies ('hola,' 'gracias,' 'por favor') is appreciated and opens doors, even in English-capable establishments.
Communication Tips
Communication Tips
- Tourist areas near Plaza de Armas have reliable English speakers
- Outside historic center, English availability drops significantly
- Translation apps (Google Translate) widely used and effective
- Learning basic Spanish phrases highly recommended for smoother interactions
- Younger staff members more likely to have English skills than older residents
Official Languages
Spanish
- Status
- Primary official
- Prevalence
- approximately 84% of the population
Quechua
- Status
- Recognized regional
- Prevalence
- approximately 13% of the population, widely spoken in Cusco and surrounding highlands
Aymara
- Status
- Recognized regional
- Prevalence
- approximately 2% of the population
English Proficiency
- Tourist Areas
- Strong English proficiency in hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and guides in central Cusco
- Overall City Level
- Tourism-dependent, high in tourist zones
- Outside Tourist Center
- Limited English spoken; Spanish dominates among general population
- Generational Note
- Younger people (18-25) more likely to speak English than older generations
English In Tourism Sector
- Proficiency Level
- Basic to fluent among guides, hotel staff, and tour operators
- Machu Picchu Guides
- English-speaking guides commonly available for Machu Picchu visits through travel agencies
- Service Availability
- English-speaking staff readily available at major hotels, restaurants with tourist menus, and tour companies
General English Outside Tourism
- Taxi Drivers
- Most do not speak English; GPS apps recommended
- Local Shops And Services
- Limited English; Spanish essential for off-the-beaten-path interactions
- Hotels And Restaurants In Center
- Many have English-speaking staff; bilingual menus common
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Cusco
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.