Everyone knows the must-have photo of a trip to Peru is Machu Picchu. But Cusco is full of quiet corners and natural landscapes that deserve the kind of photo that goes viral.
If you want to add a colorful, different touch to your Instagram feed, this guide is for you. These are the 7 most Instagrammable places in Cusco and how to get to each one.
1. Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
This is the classic that took over from Machu Picchu as Cusco’s cover photo. The colors come from the geology, and they’re completely real.
- Photo tip. Get there very early (tours leave before dawn) to beat the crowds and catch the mountain in soft morning light.
- Suggested tour. Rainbow Mountain trek (full day).
2. Maras salt mines (Salineras de Maras)
Thousands of terraced salt pools form a hypnotic, geometric landscape. It’s a place where nature and human work come together to create a view you won’t see anywhere else.
- Photo tip. The best shot is from the upper viewpoint, which shows the full scale of the patterns the pools form.
- Suggested tour. Maras and Moray half-day tour.
3. Abode of the Gods (Sacsayhuamán)
This is Cusco’s modern, lesser-known spot. Unlike the Inca sites, here you’ll find monumental sculptures carved into the rock, such as giant heads and faces.
- Photo tip. Play with perspective so it looks like you’re touching the nose or the hand of one of the Andean gods.
- Suggested tour. Abode of the Gods by ATV (the ride there is an adventure in itself).
4. Waqrapukara, the hidden fortress
If you like real adventure, this is your place. This horn-shaped Inca fortress sits on top of a cliff and takes a tough hike to reach. It’s spectacular, and there’s almost never anyone there.
- Photo tip. The view from the top of the cliff, with the canyon behind you, is out of this world.
- Suggested tour. Waqrapukara trek (2 days/1 night).
5. The circular terraces of Moray
These mysterious Inca circles look like a natural amphitheater or a science fiction set. Their perfect geometry and farming purpose (they were microclimate laboratories) make the site fascinating.
- Photo tip. Climb to the top of one of the circles and use a wide-angle lens to capture the perfect symmetry of the terraces.
6. Siete Culebras Street (Seven Snakes)
It’s not all nature. In the heart of Cusco, this narrow street lined with Inca walls is famous for its layout. It’s perfect for a photo with a historic, urban feel.
- Photo tip. Go very early. Ask your friends to walk single file down the middle of the street to add depth to the shot.
7. Santa Clara Arch and the little San Blas square
The San Blas neighborhood is known for its steep streets and its art. The most vintage photo is taken at the base of the Santa Clara Arch or from any balcony overlooking the little San Blas square, especially in the late afternoon.
- Photo tip. Use the stone arch as a frame to capture local life.
Want to photograph these places with a guide?
We’re a local agency in Cusco, registered with MINCETUR since 2003, with English-speaking guides. We take you to each of these places safely and comfortably, and we build an itinerary around the ones you most want to photograph.