Working Remotely in Cusco, Peru
View from my office/sunroom on the top floor of the MOAF Hotel in Cusco, Peru
This is part of my remote work travel series where I review places I visit as a digital nomad.
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Light streams into my sunroom/office at one of the highest points of Cusco, Peru. From here, I can see Viva el Perú etched into the mountain. A cat skitters across the hot red rooftops, and I watch from the floor-to-ceiling sunroom windows in between writing sessions.
My days spent working remotely in Cusco, Peru were like a dream: in the mornings I strolled down cobblestone streets to a hip breakfast of shakshuka and spiced coffee before settling down in the sunroom off of the room I shared with my partner to work.
Afternoons were spent exploring, making our way to Vegana Parada for the $4 menu del dia — a 2-course vegan meal that rivaled some of the U.S.’s best restaurants. And then back to the sunroom for some more work before 6pm yoga and dinner at Greenpoint under the string lights and next to the fire pits flickering as a backdrop to great conversation.
And then, these soft, sweet days were interrupted by —
— the rugged terrain of the 26-mile Inca Trail, where I trekked across the Andes and Dead Woman’s Pass at nearly 14,000 feet elevation on my way to Machu Picchu. Mountainous landscapes bled into jungles and cloud forests, and the magical Inca sites cut through the fog around every bend.
If you’re subscribed my newsletter/publication ✍️ Diary of an Author on Substack, you’ve already heard about some of these adventures, and in this blog I’ll break down all of my favorite things about Peru along with recommendations of where to eat, where to stay, and what to do for digital nomads and remote workers.
Where to Stay in Cusco, Peru for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
My partner Kyle and I stayed at the top floor of the MOAF Hotel in the heart of Cusco, and I can’t recommend this hotel enough. We were here as part of a WiFi Tribe trip, so our travel group rented out the whole hotel. I can’t speak to what it’s like if you’re just one guest at the hotel, but the staff were super nice and the hotel is gorgeous. It’s run by a family of architects who converted a house into a hotel, and it’s nestled in a perfect little neighborhood right off the main plaza.
I highly recommend staying as close to the main plaza as possible as there’s so much to do here, and the further away you get the less dense the restaurants and shops will be. You don’t have to worry about “touristy” areas because, well, everything is touristy — but tastefully so. The vegan restaurants aren’t for the locals, but they’re some of the best food you’ve ever had in your life.
If you stay too far from the main square, you’ll also be walking up and down lots more hills, which will take a toll on you as the altitude is no joke here.
What to Do In and Around Cusco, Peru for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
There is so much to do in Cusco. From chocolate tastings to ATV tours, you can book yourself a month straight with hikes, tours, and gastronomy experiences.
Here are my top recommendations of what you should do in and around Cusco, Peru:
ATV Tour of the Sacred Valley with SAM Travel. The only thing better than sightseeing is sightseeing from ATVs! I loved this Sacred Valley tour, and while only a portion of it is on ATVs, it’s a blast and the rest of the tour is great, too.
4-Day, 3-Night Trek Down the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with SAM Travel. This legendary trek is one of the classic experiences most travelers seek out in Peru. The Inca Trail weaves around the Andes, from Dead Woman’s Pass to three separate peaks and several Inca sites before finally opening up to the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is more than just a camping and hiking experience: it’s a 26-mile rite of passage and testament to your mental strength and physical fortitude. I’ll be posting more about my experience on the Inca Trail on my newsletter ✍️ Diary of an Author.
Cusco Cooking Class and Market Tour. I try to take a cooking class in every country I visit when it’s offered, and in Cusco Taste Kitchen offers a combo market tour and cooking class that gives you a great overview of Peruvian produce, culture, and tradition. From making your own Pisco Sours (or a mocktail version like I had!) to sampling a crazy vanilla-flavored fruit in a delicious dessert, this cooking class was fun and dynamic.
Free Walking Tour of Cusco, Peru by the Bloody Bueno Peru. Another “new city” tradition I have as a digital nomad is to take a walking tour, and this tour by the Bloody Bueno Peru was one of the most special walking tours I’ve been on. It wasn’t just a tour: it was a sampling of everything Cusco had to offer, and ended at a rooftop bar. Make sure to bring some cash to tip your guide at the end of the tour!
Take a Yoga Class at Exhala Yoga. I loved this little yoga studio at the top of a hotel in the heart of Cusco. It was a perfect oasis in the middle of a bustling city, and is a great place to unwind after a busy day spent exploring. Take a drop-in class or buy a multi-class pass and limber up before or after your hiking excursions!
If I had spent another week or two in Cusco, I might have seen the Seven Lakes or Rainbow Mountain, but honestly I’ve heard these are second-tier attractions compared to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley as a whole. If you have time to make it down to Lima, I’ve heard great things about the fine-dining restaurant Central, which is apparently a culinary tour of Peru’s history.
Basically? There’s so much to do in Peru. Keep your work schedule light while you’re here so you can enjoy everything there is to do!
What to Eat in Cusco, Peru
When I say you can’t really go wrong with any food in Cusco, Peru — I mean it. I’m not sure how Cusco has become such a culinary capital, but the way the produce grows in this altitude just makes the food taste different.
With that said, here are a handful of my favorite places to grab a bite in Cusco:
Qura. My go-to breakfast spot, their traditional and green shakshuka are to die for. Their spiced coffee and Masala chai are also quite good.
Vegana Parada. Go for the $4 menu del dia, a 2-course seasonal menu with a drink that rotates every day. Some of the best vegan lunches I’ve ever had!
Green Point Vegan. This dinner spot has an amazing pad thai, ravioli, and tofu cheesecake. Get the kombucha, enjoy conversation late into the night as the string lights twinkle around you in this indoor-outdoor dream of a restaurant.
La Pizza Carlo. Craving a traditional, wood-fired pizza? You’re in luck. Try the funghi pizza or margarita here.
Organika. While pricey by Cusco standards, the goat cheese and elderberry pizza was to die for. Same with the pumpkin gnocchi! Highly recommend this place.
Avocado. This is a runner-up brunch place with some solid avocado smoothies. Around Cusco, a specific type of avocados are grown that can’t be exported because they go bad too quickly, so they’re served in all of Peru exclusively and they’re delicious and so creamy.
Qucharitas. After spending my summer in Valencia and Athens, I had grown accustomed to the after-dinner gelato. While you can’t find that in Cusco, you can find this eclectic dessert place complete with coloring pages and chemist-approved dessert concoctions. The Key Lime ice cream is the best, but there are some wild desserts on the menu if you’re wanting something a bit crazier.
If you’re staying in Cusco for a whole month, don’t bother cooking. Groceries are weirdly expensive and staples are hard to find, so just eat out and you’ll be shocked how cheap everything ends up being — for such high quality.
One of the best perks of being a nomad? Not having to do dishes :)
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in Cusco, Peru for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
If you’re working remotely in Cusco, Peru for an extended amount of time, just be prepared for the altitude to hit you in waves.
The first few days were on-and-off rough for me. I had a little coca tea to help me adjust, but I definitely didn’t do myself any favors by drinking too much coffee when I arrived.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Peruvian coffee is naturally watered down because caffeine hits you harder in the altitude, but I could be wrong.
Here are some things to remember:
Take it easy the first 3-5 days. Avoid intense exercise and don’t push yourself too hard while you adjust. You might not feel the altitude right away, but if you overexert yourself it might hit you harder than you expect. I went to Exhala Yoga several times per week and walked quite a bit instead of going to the gym to help ease into the altitude before our trek.
Drink lots of water and don’t overeat. Your digestion might be slower, so make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overeat.
You can try coca tea, just don’t overdo it. Coca leaves are basically unrefined cocaine, so don’t overdo it :) When I was hiking on the Inca Trail on day two, I had a few too many leaves and had trouble sleeping. I brought prescription altitude meds with me but ended up not taking them.
Don’t overdo caffeine or alcohol. I don’t drink, but I can attest to avoiding overdoing caffeine. I had some pretty bad anxiety a few days where I overdid the caffeine, and my body was not happy with me. Even on week 3 of my time in Cusco I felt baaad when I had too much coffee, and I usually have a high tolerance.
The altitude affects everyone differently, so listen to your body and be kind to yourself.
Last Thoughts On Cusco, Peru
I didn’t expect to love Cusco and Peru as much as I did. The quaint cobblestone streets, the baby alpacas (!!!), the stunning views of the mountains in the Sacred Valley and on the Inca Trail — I feel both rejuvenated and pushed to my limits by what I experienced in Peru.
If you’re someone who loves adventures, outdoorsy things, vegan food, and stunning vistas — you’ll love Cusco.
Spend at least 2-3 weeks here to truly experience everything Peru has to offer: you won’t be disappointed.
What’s Next for Me as a Digital Nomad This Year
After a quick detour in the states (in LA and SF briefly), I’ll be headed to Costa Rica, NYC, and then Bariloche to wrap up the year before the holidays.
I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect to keep on traveling at this pace this year. I was sure I would have been ready to settle down and call a place home for a bit longer at this point — but as of right now, I’m happily hopping on planes and saying yes to the next destination.
I’m also enjoying sharing more of my daily travel stories with you at my Substack publication, Diary of an Author, so make sure you’re following along over there!
My Ratings of Cusco, Peru as a Digital Nomad
Affordability Rating for Cusco, Peru: ⭐️ (1/5 — SUPER affordable)
Food Quality Rating for Cusco, Peru: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 — GREAT quality food)
Adventures/Day Trips Near Cusco, Peru: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 — an overwhelming amount of amazing day trips)
Cafes/Co-Working Space Availability in Cusco, Peru for Digital Nomads: ⭐️ (1/5 — not many cafes/co-working spaces that are remote-work friendly)
Digital Nomad-Friendly City Rating for Cusco, Peru: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 — friendly city for digital nomads)
Value of Accommodations for Remote Workers in Cusco, Peru: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 — good accommodations for the value)
Overall Rating for Cusco, Peru: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
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