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Walkability & Transport in Cusco

Getting around

Moderate

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: nomapsorfoottracks.com, internationalliving.com

Overall4.7/10Harder to get around than about 60% of cities

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Calle Loreto is a narrow, pedestrian-only street that instantly transports you back to the city's Incan roots.
  • Most of Cusco's historic district is pedestrian-friendly, but expect steep cobblestone streets and high altitude affecting walking pace.
  • Public buses and combis are extremely cheap but crowded and not recommended for first-time visitors with luggage; use taxis or Uber instead.
  • Agree on taxi fares before boarding; street taxis are unmetered.
  • Uber works for short city trips but may have longer wait times early morning or during peak tourist seasons; Cabify sometimes has better coverage.
  • Motorcycle/scooter rentals are affordable and widely available in the historic center; helmet and gloves usually included.
  • Allow time to acclimatize to 3,400 m altitude before strenuous walking or activities.

Rideshare

Status
Available with caveats
General Note
Uber now operates in the city, though it can sometimes take 5+ minutes for a driver to arrive; the app is useful when coming back from day trips tired and on the wrong side of town.

Platforms

  • Uber
    Safety
    Uber is generally considered a safe transportation option in Peru when used normally through the app; riders can see the driver's name, vehicle type, license plate, and rating before entering the car, and additional safety features often include trip sharing, GPS route tracking, and emergency assistance tools.
    Reliability
    At early morning hours (4–5 am), Uber driver availability drops significantly as Cusco does not have a dense 24/7 driver network; for very early departures or tight train connections, many prepared visitors prefer scheduling private transportation in advance.
    Availability
    Uber operates in Cusco, although the number of available drivers may be smaller than in Lima; during busy travel periods or late at night, wait times can sometimes be longer.
    Airport Notes
    You cannot take Uber directly from the airport arrival terminals.
  • Cabify
    Availability
    Uber availability can be inconsistent in Cusco, especially early mornings; Cabify often has better coverage here.

Local Transit

  • City Buses & Combis (Minibuses)
    Fare
    PEN 1.00
    Notes
    City buses and combis are cheap but crowded and confusing; they are extremely cheap but not built for luggage or newcomers, with stops and routes shouted or signed on the windshield, not via an app. Within a certain distance, Cusco bus prices are about 1 sol or less – roughly 30 cents.
  • Taxis (Street Hail)
    Fare
    PEN 10
    Notes
    A short taxi ride within the central area of Cusco typically costs between 5 and 10 soles (approximately $1.35 – $2.70 USD). On the street, taxis are unmetered—agree the fare before boarding. In general, Cusco does not have the same issues as some other cities in South America for fake taxis or taxi safety concerns providing common sense is used during the day.

Motorcycle Scooter Rental

  • Motor Scooter
    Daily Rate
    PEN 100
    Notes
    You can rent a motor scooter for as little as $30 per day. In Peruvian currency, this is approximately 100 soles.
  • Off-road Motorcycle (E.g., Honda CRF 250L)
    Daily Rate
    PEN 220
    Notes
    You can find off-road motorbikes, such as a Honda CRF 250L, for rent starting at around $65 per day.
  • Mid-range Motorcycle (E.g., Yamaha 250)
    Daily Rate
    PEN 160
    Notes
    Typical mid-range rental based on market data.

Car Rental

Status
Available
Notes
There are many companies offering different types of vehicles to tourists, from motorcycles to vans, with some also offering chauffeur services; most of the companies that rent vehicles to tourists are located on El Sol Avenue.

Walkability

Details
The city is immensely walkable with most attractions within 15–20 minutes walk from anywhere in the city center, though streets are cobbled, narrow, and often steep. Cusco is very pedestrian-friendly with sidewalks and crosswalks, but being very careful when crossing is a must as most drivers do not automatically stop for pedestrian crossers. It is recommended that you wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes when exploring Cusco. The city sits at 3,399 m (11,152 ft) elevation, so altitude and steep inclines impact walking ease for visitors.
Summary
Highly walkable historic center with caveats
Neighborhoods
Historic center (Plaza de Armas, San Blas) are most walkable; outlying areas require buses or taxis.
Getting Around Tier
moderate
Getting Around Tier Rationale
The historic center is highly walkable for most attractions, but steep cobbled streets, high altitude, and reliance on taxis/buses for outlying areas keep it from being rated higher.

Altitude Consideration

Cusco sits near 3,399 m (11,152 ft); many feel a mild headache or shortness of breath on day one; the CDC Yellow Book advises building in around 2,450–2,750 m before proceeding higher and limiting sleeping-altitude gains once above 3,000 m.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this walkability & transport research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.nomapsorfoottracks.com
  2. 2.internationalliving.com
  3. 3.alongdustyroads.com
  4. 4.howtoperu.com
  5. 5.ticketmachupicchu.com
  6. 6.curiousexpeditions.org
  7. 7.howtoperu.com
  8. 8.thertwguys.com
  9. 9.econaturalist.com
  10. 10.bushop.com
  11. 11.safetransportincusco.com
  12. 12.uber.com
  13. 13.ride.guru
  14. 14.katiecaftravel.com
  15. 15.riderly.com
  16. 16.cusco-activities.com
  17. 17.bikesbooking.com
  18. 18.riderly.com
  19. 19.wise.com
  20. 20.xe.com
  21. 21.tradingeconomics.com
  22. 22.alongdustyroads.com
  23. 23.riderly.com

More About Cusco

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.