The next installment in the Word On The Street travel series continues with tips on things to do in cusco Peru. A city in the Peruvian Andes. Peru is the home to a portion of the Amazon rain forest and the famous landmark of Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley of Peru in the Incan city, set high in the Andes mountains.
Cusco was once the capital of the Inca empire. It’s also well known for its archaeological remains and the Spanish colonial architecture. Heather Cole, blogger of The Conversant Traveller takes us on a guided of Cusco for the second installment of the four-part travel series. You can search for the rest of the posts on social media via #WordOnTheStreetWithBee as well as the first post a guided tour of Perth In Australia.
Quick Guide To Peru – Things To Do In Cusco Peru
Below is a quick guide to places perfect and fit on any Cusco itinerary and for additional inspiration, if you are visiting Lima check out this Lima itinerary.
What area of town is best for a cocktail( things to do in Cusco at night)…
There are plenty of amazing things to do in Peru. We love Chez Maggy just off the Plaza de Armas (main square) for it’s cosy and rustic atmosphere, superb pizza (when you’re fed up of eating llama or guinea pig!) and an incredibly friendly owner who plied us with free pisco sours on our honeymoon. There are often local musicians who pop in to serenade the diners, and yes, the panpipe music is cheesy, but you are in Peru so it’s allowed!
Where can the best view be found in Cusco…
Just out of town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sacsayhuaman (try and say ‘sexy woman’ when drunk and you’ll be halfway to pronouncing it!). This walled citadel dates back to the Inca civilisation (and even a bit before!) and has superb views of Cusco and the surrounding Andes. Also a great spot for that all important tourist photo with the obligatory llama.
What activities would you highly recommend in the in Cusco…
Spend the first day acclimatising to the altitude and take it easy by just strolling the streets, visiting the cathedral (one of the most beautiful in all of the Americas!), the Koricancha (Sun Temple) and numerous museums and churches if you have the energy! For more on activities surrounding this beautiful city check out this list of the best tours in Cusco.
Best local escapes in Cusco…
Then get out of town and explore the outlying archaeological sites of Qenko, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, before visiting the traditional Indian market near Pisac Ruins to buy one of those iconic woollen hats or a soft alpaca scarf.
For the more adventurous a day trip from Cusco can take you into the Sacred Valley to visit the Salineras de Maras Salt Mines, and the amazing concentric terraces at Moray, once ingeniously used by the Incas for a complex cultivation system.
Give me one secret only a local would know…
The nearby small district of Ccorca is the only remaining Quechua community in the Cusco region, and the way of life here is still traditional, with many hamlets consisting of simple adobe mud brick buildings and no electricity.
Ask your guide to stop here on the way to Moray and visit a local house…we spent an afternoon with this delightful 90 year old blind lady who showed us around her single room home. There were several squeaking guinea pigs scurrying around the mud floors, one of which was destined for dinner that evening.
Easiest ways to get around Cusco…
Cusco is a fairly small city, at least the parts you’d want to visit as a tourist, so it is best to stay on foot. Much of it is steep and cobbled, so leave the heels at home and instead opt for something comfy. To get out of town take a tourist bus or collectivo (like a grand taxi), or if you’re heading towards Machu Picchu (which of course you are!) there is no better way than by the Vistadome train.
What To Pack For Cusco Make sure you pack…
Warm clothing! Andean nights can be very cold, those alpaca blankets on the beds are there for a reason! Pack some Thermals
to keep you warm.
to keep you warm.Things To Do In Cusco At A Glance
- Visit The Sacred Valley
- Hike To The Ollantaytambo Stores And Ruins
- Visit Women’s Co-Op Weaving Community And Traditional Life
- Explore The Local Pottery Making Shop
- Check Out Local Food and Bar Scene
- Explore Cobblestone Streets of Cusco
- Take To The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu From Cusco
Our Guide In Cusco, Heather Cole check out her blog below.
Blog: www.conversanttraveller.com
Facebook: Theconversanttraveller
Twitter: @conv_traveller
Instagram: @conversant_traveller
There you have it, a quick guide to Cusco in Peru. The next installment of the Word On The Street series we will be going to Scottsdale in Arizona, USA! Out next week to feed your Wednesday Wanderlust.
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