Quillabamba: the city of eternal summer near Cusco

If Cusco's cold starts to wear you down, Quillabamba is the perfect escape. Known as the "city of eternal summer", it's the capital of La Convención province, in the high jungle at around 1,000 metres. The change is dramatic: from dry, cold Andean air to a warm, humid climate, coffee, cacao and tropical-fruit plantations and rivers to cool off in. It's very popular with people from Cusco and still little known to foreign travellers.

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Getting there from Cusco

The road crosses the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo and climbs to Abra Málaga pass, above 4,000 m, before winding down into the jungle. The trip takes roughly five to seven hours depending on transport, traffic and road conditions.

• By bus or van: companies and colectivos leave Cusco daily. Ask your lodging for current departure points.
• By private car: more flexible, but the mountain road needs an experienced driver.

• Cusco to the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo: colectivo, taxi, tour and train

Climate

It's warm almost all year, with hot days and mild nights. The rainy season, roughly November to March, brings heavy downpours and can affect the road. The dry season is most comfortable for travel.

• Rainy season in Cusco and Machu Picchu: what to expect and how to make the most of it

Coffee, cacao and fruit

La Convención is one of Peru's main coffee and cacao regions. Around Quillabamba there are farms and cooperatives, and some let you see the process from plant to cup or bar; ask locally about visits. Markets overflow with tropical fruit: mangoes, avocados, pineapples, bananas, papayas and citrus, far cheaper than in Cusco.

• Coffee in Cusco: where it comes from, specialty cafés and farm visits
• Chocolate and cacao in Cusco: workshops, chuncho cacao and what to buy

Things to do

• Swim at nearby river beaches, busy with families at weekends.
• Visit local waterfalls and natural pools, usually with local transport or a guide.
• Tour coffee and cacao farms.
• Stroll the plaza and market and try tropical-fruit juices and ice creams.
• Watch birds and butterflies in forested areas.

Always ask about river conditions before swimming: currents are dangerous in the rainy season.

What to eat

The food blends Andean and Amazonian flavours. Try river-fish dishes, fried plantain, yuca, fresh fruit juices and, of course, local coffee. Markets and popular restaurants offer very cheap set meals.

• What and where to eat in Cusco: typical dishes, markets and tips

Health

This is high jungle, so there are mosquitoes. Use repellent, light long sleeves at dusk and ask a travel clinic whether you should get the yellow fever vaccine. Drink only bottled or treated water and protect yourself from the sun.

• Health in Cusco: vaccines, yellow fever, water, sun and first-aid kit

How to combine it

Quillabamba pairs with Santa Teresa, the Cocalmayo hot springs and the Hidroeléctrica route to Machu Picchu, as they share the road from Abra Málaga. It's also a great place to thaw out after several days of high-altitude trekking.

• Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica and Santa Teresa: the budget route step by step
• Hot springs near Cusco: Cocalmayo, Lares, Aguas Calientes and Pacchanta
• Inca Jungle Trek: biking, rafting, ziplining and hiking to Machu Picchu

Practical tips

• Carry cash: there are ATMs in town, but not in the surroundings.
• Light clothes, swimwear, a hat and sunscreen.
• A jacket for Abra Málaga pass, which is very cold.
• Book accommodation ahead on long weekends and holidays, when many visitors come from Cusco.
• Get a local SIM: coverage is good in town but patchy on the road.

• Money in Cusco: soles, ATMs, exchange offices and cards

Suggested two- or three-day itinerary

1. Day 1: early departure from Cusco, stop in Ollantaytambo and cross Abra Málaga; arrive in Quillabamba in the afternoon and stroll the plaza and market.
2. Day 2: morning at a coffee or cacao farm, afternoon at a river beach or nearby waterfall.
3. Day 3 (optional): continue to Santa Teresa and Cocalmayo hot springs, or return to Cusco.

With only two days the road hours feel heavy; three days let you enjoy the climate calmly.

Accommodation

Town has simple hostels and hotels, most with fans and some with pools. Check recent reviews and ask whether rooms have mosquito nets or screened windows.

Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).