Cusco Layover Guide (CUZ)
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Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ) is located in South East Peru. The airport is named in honor of the Peruvian pilot Alejandro Velasco Astete. It is located 6 km (3 mi) from the center of Cusco and it was first opened in 1964. This city is an attraction for tourists because of its adventure and culture. And it was the capital of the extensive Inca empire and also retains much highly crafted early stone architecture.
Can you leave Cusco Airport (CUZ) airport during a layover? Do you need a visa?
It's possible to visit Cusco during a layover. But certain travelers may require visa beforehand. (more info).
Tours, Things to do, Sightseeing
Cusco Organized Tours
Rainbow Mountain Tour with Meals and Entrance Fees
Your experienced tour guide will meet you at your Cusco lodging. You will arrive in Cusipata after a 2-hour drive, where you will have breakfast and purchase water and snacks for the trek. After breakfast, you’ll drive for another hour to the hike’s starting point, which is at 4,850 meters. You’ll begin your 3.5-kilometer hike to Rainbow Mountain from there, which will take you over both flat and hilly terrain. Amazing views and interactions with wild alpacas, llamas, and vicuas await you on your journey. You can take a rest once you reach the peak at 5,010 meters, and if the weather is nice, you can enjoy views of Rainbow Mountain. » book this tour
Moray and Salt Mines Quad Bike Tour
Return to nature amid the Andes Mountains’ spectacular vistas and ride a quad bike through the Sacred Valley’s breathtaking surroundings. Pick up from your hotel in Cusco, and then travel via typical countryside to the historic town of Maras. Admire the charming church and rustic buildings that make up the charming town center, and observe the residents going about their daily life cultivating the area. See the remarkable terraced holes that form an amphitheater-like depression on the earth’s surface at the archaeological site of Moray. Learn how the Incas used the tunnels to acclimate seeds from the Andes Mountains in the past. » book this tour
One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel
This pick-up from city centre hotels in Cusco City and transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport is the ideal approach to assure you catch your international or domestic flight; or vice versa. Ride in a comfortable vehicle with air conditioning and GPS monitoring, controlled by a switchboard that operates 24 hours a day. You will be chauffeured by a professional who will ensure that your transfer is secure and comfortable. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Enjoy a private and hassle-free transfer from your Cusco hotel to the airport. Make a reservation for this easy service and sit back and relax. Refresh yourself and get ready to board. » book this tour
Cusco Things to do / Sightseeing
Machu Picchu
It’s hard to imagine the “hidden metropolis of the Incas” escaped the Spanish invasion unscathed. The Incas skillfully hidden these 12 acres of temples, aqueducts, and gardens from the Spaniards for hundreds of years, preserving their sacred city. It’s hard to know where to begin. First and foremost: Because there isn’t much signage at the site, pick up a pamphlet and a map. Then, a 20-minute walk from Machu Picchu’s gate, begin your tour at the House of the Terrace Caretaker and Funeral Rock.
Time required: Half Day to Full Day.
Airport to here: 18 minutes via private transport.
Qorikancha
Look no further than Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), also known as “Court of Gold,” for a glimpse of the Inca’s previous splendour. The Inca aristocracy used to watch as light reflected from the temple’s 700 gold-plated walls and danced across the altars and statues. Its opulence extended from the gleaming external walls to the regal boundaries, which housed about 4,000 of the most illustrious priests and their attendants. It’s easy to see why the Spanish were enamored with Qorikancha’s riches, with gold glittering from practically every estate surface. Only the Inca’s exquisite masonry survived after the conquistadors attacked Cusco in 1533 and took all of the city’s riches.
Time required: Half Day to Full Day.
Airport to here: 15 minutes via private transport.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
This famed four-day journey across Peru’s lush countryside to Machu Picchu is not for the faint of heart. Recent visitors, however, say the difficult journey is rewarded with beautiful landscape, fascinating fauna, and, for many, a life-changing experience. Start your trek near KM 82 on the Cusco-Aguas Calientes railway, then follow the trail’s zigzagging path to the “lost city.” The vistas from the Sun Gate at daybreak make the three-night travel worthwhile.
Time required: More than 1 Day.
Airport to here: 22 minutes via private transport.
Museo Inka
The Museo Inka (Inca Museum) is housed in a splendid 16th-century colonial estate that was originally home to Spanish Admiral Francisco Alderete Maldonado. It houses a diverse collection of Incan artifacts. Visitors who want to introduce Incan culture and history will enjoy the museum’s textiles, pottery, gold, and metal artifacts. After appreciating the museum’s traditional objects, take a stroll into the courtyard, where Andean women are frequently seen selling things and weaving natural fabrics.
Time required: 1 to 2 hours.
Airport to here: 20 minutes via private transport.
Planetarium Cusco
The Cusco Planetarium, located near Sacsayhuamán, provides visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience in the city’s surrounding hills. While the little planetarium may not be particularly attractive (it is located in a plain adobe structure), recent visitors have overwhelmingly praised the educated guides and gorgeous environment. The facility allows guests to stare at the stars in a small observatory. Still, it also aspires to be a cultural interpretation center for Incan astronomy, providing a personalized experience that is hard to come by at other planetariums worldwide. Because the operation is restricted incapacity, you must reserve a spot for the 2-mile shuttle ride from Plaza de Armas in advance.
Time required: 1 to 2 hours.
Airport to here: 27 minutes via private transport.
Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas has a long history dating back to the Inca Empire, when it was known as Huacaypata or Aucaypata. In ancient times, the vast plaza (originally double its current size) was established as a site for festivals and festivities. Legend has it that this plaza was originally the exact center of the Inca Empire, earning Cusco the moniker “the navel of the world.”
Time required: 1 to 2 hours.
Airport to here: 21 minutes via private transport.
La Catedral
The sky-high spires of the Plaza de Armas stand out among the plaza’s various splendours. One of Cusco’s most beautiful architectural displays is La Catedral. The baroque cathedral, built in the 1550s using stones plundered from Sacsayhuamán, has sumptuous ceilings and gold and silver altars. It also houses a significant collection of colonial art that blends Catholic traditions with indigenous mythology. La Catedral is home to a world-famous painting that depicts the 1650 earthquake that struck Cusco. A famous crucifix known as Seor de Los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes) is located across the building and is claimed to have prevented the city from being destroyed by a 17th-century earthquake.
Time required: 1 to 2 hours.
Airport to here: 17 minutes via private transport.
Museo Chileno de Arte PrecolombinoE
While Qorikancha and Machu Picchu attract more people, the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Art Museum) has an unrivalled Peruvian collection. The Casa Cabrera, a mansion-turned-convent that dates back to 1580, houses this 12-room exhibition space. 450 objects (including Peruvian ceramics, jewellery, and carvings) dating from 1250 B.C. to A.D. 1532 are housed within the little space. While some recent visitors have expressed dissatisfaction with the exorbitant entrance cost for such a small museum, others have stated that the exhibitions are well-designed, the objects are one-of-a-kind, and the in-depth descriptions help put each piece into context.
Time required: 1 to 2 hours.
Airport to here: 19 minutes via private transport.
Things to Do in Cusco Airport (CUZ)
Relaxing and Sleeping
Airport Lounges and Relaxing
"Hanaq Cusco" is located at 1st floor, "Kuntur VIP Lounge" is located at the Airside, 1st Floor., "VIP Lounge Cusco SAC " located at the Landside, 1st Floor. » view all lounges or buy a lounge pass or membership online
Hotel and Sleeping
While there are no hotels directly at Cusco Airport, it is a short drive to the city where you will find more of the hotels. » view all or book an airport hotel online
Rest Area and Sleeping in Airport
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones at the Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ)
WIFI/Internet and SIM Card
WIFI/Internet: WiFi is available at Cusco Airport (CUZ) for a fee of $5 per 2 hours.
SIM/eSIM Card: You can buy SIM card by reaching the various shops at the Cusco Airport (CUZ) at very cheap rates. » Find out where and how to buy SIM card/eSIM in our Cusco Airport (CUZ) sim/eSim page.
Transportation to/from airport
Taxi: Taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area. For your safety, use only the services of a clearly marked official taxi. There are no meters, so negotiate a fare with the driver before starting your journey.
Train: There is no train service at the Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport.
Bus: If your load is light, you can travel at a fraction of the price of a taxi by taking a “combi” (shared-ride minibus), which stops at the bus stop to the right of the airport terminal exit. (more info).
Shuttle: There are no shuttle services at the Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ).
Car rentals: Many companies such as Atix, MANU, Hertz, Europcar, and MASTER provide car rental services at the Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ). » view available cars or rent a car now online
Parking: A parking area is available at the Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ). The charges depend on the type of transport.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
At Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ), there is no facility of Luggage storage. » book a luggage storage or locker at online (subject to availability).