All the Most Romantic Places In & Around Cusco

Cusco, Peru, is a magical and mystical place that makes you fall in love. You just can’t help it! When I visited Cusco, the atmosphere of this place pulled me in hard, and, to this day, I haven’t gotten bored. I’ve traveled to many places, but Cusco is the most romantic place in the world. There’s just something about it. I’m unsure how to describe it to you, so come and see yourself! Visit Peru with your partner on an idyllic trip to the Andes and see the most romantic places in Cusco to make your relationship blossom.

I revisited Cusco 6 months after that first trip and then moved here permanently 6 more months afterward. Fast-forward two and a half years: I met my now husband, and a year and a half later, we got married! I have first-hand experience in being enamored by Peru and its people, so I’ll share with you all the most romantic places to visit in Cusco.

→ You’ll find ideas for adventurous, relaxed, food lovers, creative, cultural, and nature-loving couples. 

→ You’ll also find activities in budget, mid-range, and splurge cost levels.

Most Romantic Places in Cusco Peru

In Cusco City

Nighttime at the Temple of the Moon (Templo de la Luna)

For: Relaxed, Nature-Loving, and Cultural Couples
Cost: Budget

This is a secluded Inca temple just outside of Cusco, above the city, and it’s one of the best romantic places to go in Cusco. Sit down with your partner and a thermos of coffee or a bottle of wine, and just talk about life by moonlight. Share your deepest, darkest secrets under the cover of darkness. Tell your honey how much you love them and how beautiful they are. Cuddle under the stars to keep warm on Cusco’s chilly nights. You might even want to slow dance, so bring a portable speaker and some music to really set the mood!

The entrance is free. Here’s a map to get you there. You can either walk up from the left side (leaving the San Blas neighborhood, passing Q’enqo, following the paved road uphill, and taking the fork to the right on a dirt road) or on the vast stone path leading past the Temple of Monkey. 

San Blas Neighborhood 

For: Relaxed, Creative, Foodie, and Cultural Couples
Cost: Budget to Mid-Range

San Blas is the designated hippie neighborhood of the city. It has a fun, artsy, creative, trendy, bohemian atmosphere and is home to Cusco’s most romantic bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the quaint streets to stroll along and local shops to visit. The famous 7 Borreguitos Street is here, too! Take some time to walk up to the higher parts of San Blas (deep breaths!), enjoying its stone-lined streets and quirky shops and decorations. You’ll see charming lanterns and flowers adorning its ancient walls and hear live music at every turn. Definitely make your way to the Mirador de San Blas (Viewpoint) for a look at the city from above!

To get there, start in the Plaza de Armas. Walk past the main cathedral on the right side, going through a stone-walled alley up, up, up. You’ll pass the 12-sided stone and continue past Jack’s Cafe. Take your time because it’s a steep climb. You know you’ve arrived at San Blas when you see its small church off to the right and an open plaza. 

Some good options for a romantic outing are Limbus RestoBar; La Boheme Creperia; L’Atelier Concept Cafe; Siente y Siete Cafetería; Catedral San Blas Restaurant, Bar y Terraza; ViewHouse RestoBar, Cocoliso Cafe, Piedra & Sal Restaurante and Aura RestoBar.

Private Bean to Bar Class at ChocoMuseo

For: Foodie and Cultural Couples
Cost: Mid-Range

One of the most incredible and delicious experiences you can have in Peru is making your own chocolate right from local cocoa beans. You’ll be surprised to see what cocoa looks like in its natural form and the entire process behind that yummy snack we all love. Peru is the world’s largest producer of organic cacao and has been consuming the superfood since 1900 BC, so take advantage of the years of expertise here! Making this sweet treat with your sweetheart and enjoying the chocolate bars you’ve made together will be so special. 

You can find the ChocoMuseo in Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Lima.

A Night at the Planetarium 

For: Cultural and Nature-Loving Couples
Cost: Mid-Range

The city’s sparkling lights paired with the sparkling lights of the night sky: this is one of the most romantic places in Cusco for love to blossom! Reserve a private visit to Cusco’s Planetarium to observe the galaxy and learn about the southern hemisphere’s constellations and the Inca world’s astronomy. Nothing sparks so much joy as the celestial wonders of our world, and being together, two dots in the universe will make you feel closer than ever. This is an especially great option for people in science, culture, or history. Pair that with a walk around town in the evening, a nice dinner, and a drink, and you’ve made the perfect date! If you’re in the Sacred Valley, you can visit the Sembrando Cielos observatory between Urubamba and Calca.

Private Cooking Class with a Peruvian Chef

For: Foodie and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Mid-Range to Splurge

You must find a new favorite food to visit Peru. Crafted through generations and across all types of landscapes, Peru is home to one of the world’s most diverse gastronomical scenes. Several of the globe’s superfoods thrive here, such as quinoa. 

Thanks to Gaston Acurio, a world-renowned chef, Peruvian cuisine is now recognized worldwide as among the best. At the 2021 World Travel Awards, Peru was named the World’s Leading Culinary Destination for the 9th time, more than any other country ever! You should take a private cooking class with your darling while in town! You’ll win them over whenever you make those delicious dishes again and again at home, and that class will become a sweet memory to share between the two of you. There are many options of classes to take, both on TripAdvisor and Airbnb, so see which fits your taste and budget best!

Private Dance Class

For: Creative and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Mid-Range

Latin America is the champion of dance! No one does it better. It’s such a deeply ingrained and essential part of the culture. The locals are SO good and have probably been dancing from a young age, so let someone teach you a little! After taking an intimate dance class together, you and your partner will have much fun and feel super connected. There are many different types of dance to try here in Peru: salsa, merengue, cumbia, marinera, huayno, festejo, bachata, and others. Move your feet to the rhythm, and feel your heartbeat hasten as you stare deep into the eyes of your beloved! 

An Afternoon of Hammocks and Relaxation at Q’enqo

For: Relaxed, Nature-Loving, and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Budget

Q’enqo is one of the most peaceful and love romantic places in Peru. In fact, most Cusqueños get their quinceñera, wedding, maternity, and family pictures made here! Right next to the archeological site of that name, there’s a small forest of tall trees, and you can see the entire city from this viewpoint. It’s perfect for spending some quality time as a couple. Bring a few hammocks and surprise your lover with a day of natural relaxation! 

You could bring a book, games, a football to throw around, a yoga mat to stretch together or even a picnic. It’s lovely in the afternoon and at sunset. It will be one of your favorite days to remember about your time in Cusco! In fact, the day I decided I was interested in dating the man who’s my husband now was on one afternoon that we spent at Q’enqo chatting and playing American football. 

You can get there by taxi or walking uphill from San Blas. It’s near the White Christ statue and Sacsayhuaman.

Outside of Cusco City

Huaypo Lake (Laguna Huaypo)

For: Relaxed, Adventurous, and Nature-Loving Couples
Cost: Budget to Mid-Range

This picturesque lake is vast (about a square kilometer!) and offers you a chance to spend all day outside with your lover and off the tourist radar. The legend goes that the God of the Sun asked the twin children of Manco Capac (the founder of the Inca civilization) to go with him to see the sunset. When someone went to look for them, they saw that the son, who had walked further, had turned into the Laguna Huaypo and the daughter into the Laguna Piuray.

You’ll find several family businesses along the shore offering different services. You can rent a paddleboat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard to enjoy the scenery fully (careful of storms!). Go together to the middle, and enjoy panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, farms, and quaint country houses. Bring a picnic, grill out, or buy a hot meal from residents. Don’t forget to play a little foosball and some carnival games! You can also hike or rent horses, four-wheelers, or bikes to explore the green areas around the lake. 

The atmosphere is VERY calming and incredibly romantic… the wind, sun, view, sound of the water, and small animals all around make for a great place to recharge your relationship. There are bungalows and rooms for rent on the lake’s shore if you want to stay overnight! To get there, you can take public transportation from Cusco to Izcuchaca, a taxi to Huaypo, or a taxi straight from Cusco.

Luxury Hiram Bingham Train Ride to Aguas Calientes 

For: Relaxed, Nature-Loving, and Foodie Couples
Cost: Splurge

PeruRail offers the Hiram Bingham train, the most exclusive, elegant, and luxurious ride across the Peruvian cloud forest. The cars are modeled after upper-class cabs of the 1920s. You’ll be welcomed with a drink and then served a gourmet Peruvian lunch as you whistle across the valley. Live music and traditional dances will set the mood, and you’ll love spending time in an observatory car and barcar to take in the Andes. 

Your ticket includes a bus ride from the station to Machu Picchu, your entrance ticket, and a guided citadel tour. Afterward, you’ll have afternoon tea at a fancy hotel before beginning the equally amazing return journey (with dinner). Travel in style with your favorite person by your side!

Spa Weekend in the Country 

For: Relaxed Couples 
Cost: Splurge

The Sacred Valley near Cusco is FULL of luxury hotels and spas, and the surroundings really inspire relaxation and romance. This could be the romantic spot in Cusco, Peru, to stimulate a more profound attachment to your honey! Rent a private jacuzzi for two, get couples massages with herb-infused oils, meditate and do yoga in a garden, exfoliate and moisturize, and get acupuncture and a facial. The possibilities are endless, but any one of them will impact your body, health, and relationship. The word is ambiance!  

Some of the most highly recommended are UNNO Spa by Aranwa, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Tambo del Inka, Life Hotel, Mayu Willka Spa by Belmond, Las Qolqas Eco-Resort  and Sol & Luna.

Horseback Riding in the Sacred Valley

For: Adventurous and Nature-Loving Couples 
Cost: Budget to Mid-Range

Would you be interested in a delightful horseback riding excursion across the Andean valleys of Cusco? It’s so gratifying to experience the Sacred Valley in this way! It was, of course, the only mode of transportation besides walking in the time of our ancestors. Feel the clop-clop of your new friend’s hooves as you observe some of the world’s best landscapes stretched out before you. You’ll go down quaint dirt paths through the countryside and see fields of potatoes, quinoa, corn, and other local crops. You and your partner will love this adventurous day! Several horseback tours include visits to Maras and Moray, among other destinations. You can also book rides and tours directly with local ranches like Salineras Ranch and Hacienda del Chalan.

Picnic Lunch in the Valley

For: Relaxed, Nature-Loving, and Foodie Couples 
Cost: Budget to Mid-Range to Splurge

What could be more picturesque than an idyllic picnic in the countryside of the Andes?! It’s like something straight out of a movie. You could pack your picnic and head to the hills, finding a beautiful place with fantastic views in Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Calca. Ask a moto-taxi driver to take you up the dirt roads to a secluded place with a view! You could also hire someone to serve you a luxurious meal with fancy plates, glasses, and forks on a decorated table! This would be a perfect, intimate opportunity to pop the question…if that’s in the plan for your trip! 

One of the best restaurants in Cusco, Cicciolina, offers the service of sending staff to the Valley with you to serve you a gourmet picnic. You can also pick up the picnic food and set it up yourself in the location of your choice. BOHO Picnics is another company that can create this romantic ambiance for you, though they mainly work in Cusco. You could ask for a picnic in the Sacred Valley! 

Glamping

For: Creative, Nature-Loving, and Adventurous Couples
Cost: Splurge

This is a great way to get the best of both worlds! You can be out in the middle of nowhere, connected to the earth, its nature, and your loved one, yet still have the privilege of resting comfortably in a warm bed. You’ll have sheets and blankets, walls, a door, a natural floor, decorations, or a bedside table! Hopefully, a toilet, sink, and hot shower, too. Glamping in Cusco is the opportunity of a lifetime to truly savor the moment and create unforgettable memories in luxury with your other half. 

Without worrying about intense temperatures, subpar sleeping arrangements, and physical discomfort, you’ll have more time for emotional, mental, and spiritual renewal in this romantic place. It would be a shame to be distracted from that journey by lack of essential commodities. Glamping is also a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional hotels. 

Fantastic opportunities are abundant for couples’ glamping across the Sacred Valley of the Incas and along the Salkantay Trek. These types of experiences are truly one of a kind!

Traditional Art Classes (Painting, Ceramics, Weaving, etc.)

For: Creative and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Mid-Range

The scenery of Cusco’s Sacred Valley really lends itself to artwork! You’ll be inspired by the snow-capped peaks and colorful farmlands sprinkling the landscape. A fun activity to do as a couple is to try your hands at any type of local creative skill. Practice painting with the absolute best surroundings possible topped off with wine and a picnic! Work with clay at Seminario Ceramics in Urubamba, forming, firing, and decorating your pottery. Traditional weaving in Chinchero would also be beautiful, and here’s an interactive workshop you can do.

There’s a great organization called Art Trail Community taking the initiative to promote all kinds of local art and the conventional creative processes behind them. They connect local artists with tourists to create unique experiences for all, mixing culture and art! 

Humantay Lake + Sky Camp

For: Adventurous and Nature-Loving Couples
Cost: Mid-Range

Humantay Lake is, without a doubt, one of the top destinations in the Cusco area! Nestled between the sacred mountains of Apu Salkantay and Apu Humantay, it’s a spiritually-charged must-see. Its incredible light blues, greens, and turquoise gradient will shock you. If you’re left breathless by natural scenes of extraordinary beauty, this place has to be a part of your time in Peru. It looks like something that could only exist on a postcard. It will excite you to be alive and renew your motivation to live life fully (with your partner by your side). Humantay Lake has a ridge that you can climb up to get a panoramic view of the water and its surroundings. If you’re going without a guide, try to arrive early in the morning for a romantic moment before tour groups arrive!

You’ll reach the lake after a 3.5-hour drive and a 1.5-hour hike, so the most romantic way to take advantage of the situation is to stay overnight in Sky Camp, a nearby campground with glass-topped glamping igloos! The surroundings are stunning, and the incredible view of the mountains and stars from a comfy bed is truly unique. You can book a 2-day tour including all of this, plus a hike to the Salkantay Pass. 

Andean Wedding on the Salkantay Trek

For: Adventurous, Nature-Loving, Foodie, and Cultural Couples
Cost: Splurge

What would your dream wedding look like? How about this: head out into the Andean wilderness, surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains and the vast open sky, and have a traditional shaman in his colorful, woven attire perform the ceremony. You’ll be wearing it, too! Visit the most brilliant turquoise lake in Cusco, enjoy an elegant Peruvian dinner in nature, and then sleep in a glass igloo between the peaks. Sound romantic? 

Whether you’re on your honeymoon or renewing your vows after years of life and love, you can’t beat this experience. It will be the “wow” moment of a lifetime. The sacred Apus will bless you and smile down on your marriage on Salkantay Trek Honeymoon. The details of this place will leave you speechless. You’ll be more in love than ever with your husband or wife, and it will be a day you’ll both remember forever. You’ll tell this story to your kids and grandkids! After your iconic wedding ceremony, you’ll continue to complete the classic Salkantay Trek, staying in luxury lodges every night. Then you’ll finish it all off at the one and only Machu Picchu.

Private Ayahuasca or Temazcal Ceremony

For: Relaxed, Creative, and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Splurge

A big part of Peru’s draw for travelers worldwide is its reputation as a place for spiritual breakthroughs and renewals. Two good words to describe what the Andes feel like are mystic and sacred. This place respects nature and higher powers, which are the same in local culture. Some type of personal transformation is almost inevitable for anyone who visits these ethereal lands. Retreats to experience both of these ceremonies can be found across the mountains and valleys of Cusco. 

Ayahuasca is a native flower with hallucinogenic and psychotropic properties. The plant is made into tea, and a trained shaman conducts a special ceremony to help the mix take root in the mind and soul of its drinker. Some claim it cleanses, brings new revelations to the forefront, and can even show the future. Ayahuasca induces a transformative journey to the unconscious mind. Specifically for couples, many feel more closely bonded afterward and find clarity and motivation in their relationship. Some couples suggest that it saved their marriage! Do your research beforehand…it’s not a relaxing or feel-good experience during ingestion. It can make you vomit or pass out. Proceed with caution. 

Temazcal is another traditional spiritual cleansing ceremony performed around Cusco, but it originated in Mexico. It’s meant to work on mind, body, and spirit. A trained shaman will, again, direct the ceremony, this time in an enclosed, rustic sweat lodge (sauna) in the form of a brick oven, warmed by hot stones piled in the middle of the circular space. Medicinal plants aromatize the air to help in the healing process. People say the experience removes toxins from the physical body and can alleviate mental burdens. Of course, the experience also connects you more deeply with those who experience it with you. 

Cconoc Hot Springs 

For: Relaxed and Nature-Loving Couples 
Cost: Budget 

There are several natural hot springs to visit in Peru, but the closest to Cusco is called Los Baños Termales de Cconoc! This is a place that almost no tourists make it to, but it makes for a romantic and relaxing day or night next to the Apurimac River. There are a few different pools to choose from, music, an onsite restaurant, a campground, and rooms for rent. You’ll find Cconoc between Cusco and Curahuasi. You can hire a round-trip taxi or public transportation along the Panamerican Highway (from Arcopata in the center of Cusco). There’s a steep descent down to the springs from the main road, so be prepared to walk if you don’t have private transport.

Skylodge Adventure Suites

For: Adventurous and Nature-Loving Couples
Budget: Splurge

There are many unique things to do in Peru, but this is their most bizarre adventure! You’ll be sleeping in a transparent glamping capsule that’s literally hanging off the side of a mountain 1312 feet above the valley. This will be excellent exposure therapy if you’re trying to overcome a fear of heights. Ha! You’ll get there by rappelling as you climb up metal steps (via Ferrata) and then return to solid ground the following day by ziplining from high up in the air. Wave to the condors as they pass by! You don’t have to have any climbing experience, as you’ll be kept safe by experienced guides and top-notch equipment. You just have to be eager to discover one of the best places for romantic getaway in Peru.

If you book a night in one of Natura Vive’s modules, you’ll receive round-trip transportation from Cusco, dinner, and breakfast in the sky. You can’t beat that view! The hanging pods are eco-friendly, using solar power and off-grid toilets. You’ll be happy to find coffee, tea, and wine in your room as a welcome gift! This expedition is about as epic as it gets for a couples’ activity. Just imagine what that’ll be like, spending a moment like none another way up high in your see-through pod room, looking out at the stars and incredible Sacred Valley scenery together. Truly breathtaking. 

Spend the Night in Ollantaytambo or Pisac

For: Relaxed and Cultural Couples
Cost: Budget to Mid-Range

I think the two most romantic places in the Sacred Valley are Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Both are charming and rustic, with cobblestone streets and little alleyways to meander. Dial it down a notch, and spend a relaxing morning or evening hanging out together! Sit in the plaza, have a beer, and play a game. Play pool and listen to live music. Take a nature walk. Grab a coffee. Buy souvenirs. Just enjoy some quality time!

Sarapampa Hacienda

For: Nature-Loving, Foodie, and Cultural Couples 
Cost: Splurge

Outside of Pisac, you’ll find the lovely Sarapampa Hacienda, belonging to a family who’ve made themselves experts on Peru’s giant white corn, or Inca corn, over 3 generations! But this place is so much more than cornfields. It’s a chic boho ranch where you can go with your dearest to enjoy the romantic atmosphere of a luxury farm-to-table meal accompanied by a show of the traditional Marinera dance and the endearing prance of Peruvian Paso horses. All the small details its owners put into the experience they provide really make it sensational! Their great taste and passion for sustainable farming practices shine through in everything they do.

Sunrise at Tres Cruces in Paucartambo

For: Relaxed and Nature-Loving Couples
Cost: Budget

Famed as one of the best sunrises in the world, Tres Cruces is the place to be in the early morning hours next to your sweetie. It’s known as “The Balcony of the East ” as the mountain lookout on which you stand has an unobstructed view of Manu National Park to the east, a part of the Peruvian jungle. Look in the other direction, and you’ll see the giant, snow-covered mountains of the Andes. The humid clouds of the wilderness through which the sunrays pierce every morning create a colorful optical illusion of light unlike anywhere else. On the morning of the winter solstice, that illusion appears in the form of THREE suns all rising next to each other. Crazy, right? And who better to see it with than your best friend?

Paucartambo, the gateway city to Manu, is 2.5 hours from Cusco. The lookout is an hour away by car. If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus from Diagonal Angamos in Cusco (about 4-6 hours) to arrive. You can also book an overnight tour from Cusco.

Get to Smoochin’!

Now that you have the recipe for the most enchanting trip to Peru, plan your itinerary and visit the best romantic places in Cusco, Peru! Love is certainly in the air in Cusco, just waiting for you to breathe it in. I hope that you, like me, are immediately enamored by the charming atmosphere here, firm evidence that love at first sight really does exist!