Cusco continues to evolve in many ways, in no small part due to the countless backpackers and international travelers that make their way to the city. I’ve been coming to Cusco myself for several years and have spent many months in the city. Each time I come back, the city feels transformed with new restaurants, bars, and nightclubs influenced by the many travelers that pass through Cusco and expats that have decided to call this place home.
Although Lima is the undisputed party capital of Peru, Cusco has a growing nightlife scene that cannot be ignored. Peruvians love to party. Throw in a bunch of international travelers and backpackers looking to let loose during holiday and you have some of the best nightlife you will find in Peru. Here is everything to know about taking on Cusco’s nightlife scene, from the best bars for craft cocktails to the best nightclubs for any genre of music.
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Quick Things to Know About Cusco’s Nightlife
Paying cover to enter a bar usually isn’t necessary. However, for big parties, especially at the most popular clubs, you will usually have to pay around 10-20 soles.
Most bars in Cusco are open until about 1 or 2 AM, and nightclubs until 5 or 6 AM. I’d say that the party hits its peak at around 2 to 3 AM. It’s Latin America, and like most Latin American countries, the party starts late and ends late. The nightclubs don’t really pick up until around midnight, when the locals start to trickle in.
Most party hostels catering to backpackers and foreigners have their own parties going on until about 1 or 2 AM. Afterwards, they will start funneling the hostel crowd to the club of their choice. Usually, they’ll have a deal with the club allowing you free entry or a drink, but this restricts you from experiencing the other nightlife Cusco has to offer. What I’m saying is, even if Wild Rover goes to Chango every night, that doesn’t mean you have to.
Drinking on the streets is technically not allowed in Cusco but this is not strongly enforced. Most streets are secluded and narrow enough that you won’t have a problem having a road beer en route to a club or party, especially if you’re blending in with a large blob of other tourists on a hostel pub crawl.
Drinks in Cusco are inexpensive by Western standards. It’s possible to find beers and mixed drinks for 10 soles or less. However, some of the fancier spots on this list will run you a much larger tab. Overall, it’s easy to party on a budget in Cusco, but the option for higher-end nightlife is there if you want it. Let’s get into it.
Oh, and before you go to Cusco, be sure to have good travel insurance handy when you’re out hiking those high-altitude mountains. I use SafetyWing to keep me covered throughout my travels for just a few dollars a day and their coverage includes Peru among the 190+ countries that they cover.
Where To Pregame: The Best Bars in Cusco
My first time in Cusco, the options for grabbing a drink were fairly limited. There were the handful of party hostels and then a few cheap, no-frills bars serving the basics. These days, I cannot believe just how varied and exciting the bars and restaurants in Cusco are. You are truly spoiled for choice, whether you’re feeling a cheap Cusquena or an experimental cocktail made by some expert mixologist. Need a drink? Let’s get to it. These are some of the best bars in Cusco. We’ll get to the nightclubs later.
Wild Rover Hostel
Believe it or not, hostels are an essential part of Cusco’s nightlife scene. As a backpacker, I naturally end up staying at hostels anyway, but I was surprised to see just how many locals and non-hostel guests come to Wild Rover Cusco to party. After thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense. Wild Rover has an excellent setup, beautiful views overlooking the city, free entry to non-guests, nightly events, a lively atmosphere, and drink prices catering to budget backpackers. Happy hours here are very, very generous.
Do not expect anything too fancy and you will thrive at Wild Rover. It’s a great place to kick off the night if you just want to meet some people, listen to some generic pop music, and get drunk on a budget before heading out to the clubs.
Loki Hostel
Loki used to be the place to be. Back in 2016, it was a real rivalry with Wild Rover. Both were at the top of the Peru party hostel game, and many would argue that Loki had Wild Rover beat. The parties here were the stuff of legends and I got to experience a raucous Halloween party here. Nowadays, Loki has kind of fallen off the map, but I love a good comeback story. It closed for a little while. When I was in Cusco again in 2019, rumors were swirling about what prompted the closure. I was in Cusco yet again in 2022, and Loki was up and running. By then, the damage had been done, and hostels like Wild Rover and Kokopelli had claimed the crown from Loki.
However, the hostel is still pretty much the same. The layout is there, the parties are there, it just needs the people to make it fun. I have faith Loki can return to its glory days, but there is definitely a lot more competition now. I’d say you’re more guaranteed to have a better time at Wild Rover.
Viajero Hostel (formerly Kokopelli Hostel)
Kokopelli Hostel used to be my jam. It seems now they’ve been bought out by the Viajero Hostel chain, which could be a good thing. Kokopelli was an excellent property that did a lot of things right, but Viajero adds a bit of that livelier, party atmosphere to their properties that really spices up this amazing hostel in the center of town. I mean, they have the advantage over Loki and Wild Rover of not requiring a steep, high-altitude hike just to get to the bar. Kokopelli was always an excellent choice for a social atmosphere that wasn’t too party-oriented, which is why it is my choice for where to stay in Cusco. Trust me, when your Rainbow Mountain tour tells you to be up at 3 AM, you will be thankful that you can’t hear the bar from your bed.
Moving on from hostels, let’s head to some of the actual bars in Cusco. Be sure to stay connected so you can coordinate a night out with your new hostel friends. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Whether you are figuring out directions to the nearest club or ordering a taxi home, having an eSIM makes life so much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for Peru start at just $6, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.
Black Cat Bar
Located just off of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, you will find one of Cusco’s newest entries to the bar scene. Black Cat Bar is trendy, modern, and elegant. They offer a wide variety of craft cocktails. Seriously, the menu is extensive so you are bound to find something you like. Cocktails, on average, will run you between 30-40 soles, so it is not the place to go for the budget-conscious backpacker, but the atmosphere is undeniably one of the best in Cusco. It’s perfect for a quieter night, sipping drinks slowly and catching up with a fellow traveler you had met weeks prior.
Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado
I’m not a craft beer snob by any means, but Cusco is just such a perfect place for a craft brewery. For me, craft beer and mountain towns just go hand-in-hand, if that makes sense. It’s hard to go anywhere in Cusco and not feel like sipping on a beer. Cusquenas and Sols get bland after a while, so trying out a variety of craft beers at Cerveceria del Valle Sagrado is a must. This microbrewery sits just outside the main Plaza de Armas, boasting a wide range of artisanal beers, from IPAs to lagers and more. I’d recommend coming here for dinner of typical bar food and a few beers before a night out, or just throwing back lagers all night during one of their live music performances.
Limbus Restobar
I’m a fan of this place just because of the incredible view that it offers. Limbus is one of the best in town when it comes to a sunset beer with an epic view. It doesn’t do anything too fancy or try too hard to go beyond that, but hey, it gets the job done.
Casa Palacio
I am a sucker for a good jazz bar so when I heard about Casa Palacio, I moved it to the top of my to-do list. It is a small establishment, but very cozy and always has a rotation of incredible artists. I love Andean music, so watching them fuse it with the traditional sounds of blues and soul was a blessing to the ears. The drinks are good, not the best you’ll find in Cusco, but for its atmosphere and music, Casa Palacio is excellent nonetheless.
Los Perros
One of the tried-and-true establishments in Cusco is Los Perros. It is in the heart of Cusco’s nightlife streets so you are bound to pass by it on one of your stumbles to and from the clubs. Los Perros is great for pre-gaming, the atmosphere is truly unique and influenced by a variety of aesthetics. Come here for a variety of international beers or a tasty craft cocktail.
Ukuku’s Music Club
Another staple of Cusco is Ukuku’s, an excellent establishment for live music and great drink deals. It’s just a short walk from the Plaza de Armas so come by for happy hour and see what the live performance of the evening is.
Those suggestions should get the night off on the right foot. Hopefully, you are acclimatized to the altitude. Otherwise, you might be feeling it after just one or two cocktails. Hey, it’s good for the budget! Stumbling onwards, we move to the best nightclubs in Cusco.
Where To Party: Best Nightclubs in Cusco
As a backpacker, you will likely be staying in the historic city center of Cusco. There are bars and nightclubs in other parts of the city, but for the most part, we will be sticking within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas. Trust me, you’ll be better off for it when you are drunkenly navigating the steep labyrinthine roads of Cusco.
Mama Africa
I had heard a lot of things about Mama Africa, but unfortunately, it was closed on my first couple of visits to Cusco. Finally, on my third go around in Cusco, I found out it was open. Third time’s the charm? Maybe not. We took the club by storm and it fought back. Hard. Mama Africa won that night. It lived up to all my expectations, and the various dance floors make it a great option for people with different tastes in music. I love both reggaeton and electronic music, so I’m easy to please, but if you’re with a German guy or British gal with no boogie in their step, Mama Africa is a great compromise.
Chango Club
Chango might be my biggest love/hate relationship of Cusco. I wasn’t personally the biggest fan of Chango’s, but it is consistently one of the most bumpin’ clubs in the city. It is a hot and sweaty time, aggravated by the packed dance floor grooving to whatever music the DJ decides to throw on. Seriously, there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to what music gets played at Chango. They can be playing some 90’s bop and then suddenly stop it and throw on some salsa with no transition whatsoever. It has always been hit-or-miss for me, but if you want a guaranteed good crowd with lots of people, it is your best bet. Honestly, experiencing Chango at least once belongs on every backpacker’s Cusco bucket list.
Mythology
Before Mama Africa re-opened, Mythology was my go-to nightclub in Cusco. I would always try to convert my friends from Chango to Mythology, usually to no avail. It has an excellent view overlooking the Plaza de Armas, which is nice to take in as you catch some air in between stints on the dance floor. I enjoyed the music here and the crowd is usually a good mix of locals and foreigners. The one thing I don’t love about Chango and similar backpacker-oriented clubs is that most people are looking for hookups and very few are actually having fun. Mythology hits a sweet spot where most people are dancing and having fun, but it’s still possible to meet someone and chat.
Inka Team
Next door to Mythology is Inka Team. They usually start the night off with dance classes so it’s easy to meet people, both locals and travelers. Once dance classes conclude, it turns into a bumping nightclub. It’s a good place to meet people and get your salsa or bachata on, but the actual club experience isn’t among my favorites in the city.
Caos
This is a more local spot located on Avenida del Sol. The clientele are mostly Peruvian and the music is usually a variety of Latin sounds, from salsa to reggaeton. I came here a few times with some local Peruvians I’d met and it is always a good time with a big crowd.
Casa Tisoc
Don’t be fooled by its Google Maps summary. This old colonial-style hotel also happens to be the most sizzling electronic nightclub in Cusco. Check them out on Instagram to see their schedule of DJs and events. For techno-lovers and ravers, Casa Tisoc is the place to be in Cusco.
If you had told me back in 2016 that Cusco’s nightlife scene would be what it is today, I would have asked if you were high on huachuma. It has truly evolved into such a lively late-night scene with a variety that caters to so many different types of party-goers. Cusco has range, y’all. With its vibrant and electric nightlife scene, Cusco has become one of the best all-around travel destinations in the world.
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If this post helped you out, please show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. It allows me to keep writing travel guides to help you all travel the world on a budget.