San Blas is Cusco’s bohemian neighborhood, a five-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas up Hatun Rumiyoc Street. Its steep cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses with blue balconies and artisan workshops make it the most photogenic corner of the city.
What to see
- Hatun Rumiyoc Street and the Twelve-Angled Stone, on the way up to the neighborhood.
- The Church of San Blas, famous for its carved cedar pulpit, a gem of Cusco Baroque.
- The little plaza and fountain of San Blas, the neighborhood’s meeting point.
- The artisan workshops: religious statues, altarpieces, ceramics and silverwork.
- The viewpoints at the top of the neighborhood, looking out over the city’s rooftops.
Church admission
The Church of San Blas is part of the Archdiocese of Cusco’s religious circuit, which has its own ticket. It isn’t included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico del Cusco).
Tips
- The streets are very steep: if you’ve just arrived in Cusco, take it slow on the way up.
- In the afternoon and evening, the neighborhood’s cafés and bars are some of the liveliest in the city: read Cusco at night.
- It’s a good area to stay in if you want peace and quiet close to downtown, though you’ll have to climb some hills.
