The short answer is no. But at the same time, we have to extend this to all of South America since tap water is not safe or recommended to drink, and this is due to various factors such as the chemicals that are added to the water to “purify” it, the places where it is collects the water and the low-quality levels in the storage plants that make this water not ideal for direct consumption.
I will not deny that as a child, on more than one occasion, we drank water from hoses in the street after a game or after playing for a long time. However, I assume our bodies were already used to this, and we had already lost sensitivity in our stomachs. But leaving that aside, I don’t recommend drinking water straight from the tap unless you want to risk contracting some bacteria or getting sick and ruining part of the trip (or the entire trip, depending on how severe the case is); this is why I always recommend travelling with medical insurance to be protected in case something like this happens.
The water consumed in Cusco is collected and distributed by SEDACUSCO S.A. They are in charge of the entire process, from collecting water from the Vilcanota River and the Piuray lagoon to the transportation to the “Santa Ana Potable Water Treatment Plant”, to be later processed and distributed to the homes of Cusco.
This water goes through various processes, starting with flocculation, where aluminium chloride is added, then it goes to filtering, where after about 18-48 hours, it goes on to disinfection, adding liquid chlorine to the water at correct levels to then be stored and distributed to the various homes in Cusco.
For this, we have various alternatives not only in Cusco but throughout South America; we can always get bottled water, fruit and vegetable drinks, water filters for travellers and finally, my favourite option, beer!
Bottled water
You can find various types of bottled water, mineral water (which is underground and contains natural minerals), spring water (also underground, but with practically no minerals) and drinking water, which becomes suitable for consumption after treatment.
It is essential to mention that 96% of Peru’s bottled water is mineral. Among the best-known brands in the Peruvian market are: San Mateo (my favourite by far), San Luis, Cielo (I don’t particularly like the taste), Vida, Socosani, San Carlos and Benedictino, to name a few. Prices range from 0.25 USD for a 500ml bottle, 0.90 USD for a 2.5L bottle, and 2 USD for a 7L bottle. The prices are affordable enough to consider risking drinking water from the tap, but ultimately, it is your decision.
An additional note and recommendation from a close friend are that you can buy the large bottles and then fill your personal bottles; this way, in case you have extra water before your trip, you can share it with other travellers.
Fruit and vegetable-based drinks
It is common to find places to enjoy delicious fruit juice in Cusco; among my favourite places are the San Pedro Market and the San Blas Market, where they have sections specializing in fruit juices that you have never seen. and prices start at 1USD (4PEN). You can read more about these places and others in my article “What to do in Cusco?”. This is an excellent option, considering the variety of products, flavours, and how nutritious this can be for us.
Portable water filters
Today, technology allows us to have new alternatives in our daily lives and also when we travel. Now we have alternatives such as water bottles with integrated filters (the most recommended option) or the famous portable water purifiers.
Although these are effective at removing bacteria and protozoa, not all are effective at removing viruses, so we must be careful about which filters we buy and where we will use them. In any case, they are good alternatives in case of doing a long trek (which has water sources) and do not want to carry abundant amounts of water since it would help us reduce weight significantly.
Another alternative while we are doing treks is the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables or even ice if you do not trust the filters much.
Beer!
We have one last option for all those looking for an alternative to the options provided above, and yes, it also contains water! It is about beer, which as in all parts of the world, is consumed in various proportions. Still, on many occasions, it is an excellent alternative to water, especially on vacation, on a sunny day, with friends or after a long week of work. The point is that Cusco has traditional Lager-type beers, among which Cusqueña beer stands out, but lately, along with the craft beer boom, Cusco is also present with various craft breweries that offer excellent quality beers.
Among the most prominent are: Cervecería del Valle (with a local half a block from the square), Zenith, Cusco Beer Company and Cervecería Paqcha, to name a few, but I will definitely dedicate a complete article to breweries in Cusco for all those who are looking for enjoy a good beer in the heights.
Just Cruising Around 