Cusco is Spanish Colonial Charm and a Gateway to Machu Picchu

 

 

Cusco is a gorgeous city.  It used to be the capital of the Incan Empire until the Spanish Conquest of the 16th Century.  It sits in the Andes mountains and is the gateway for many intrepid travelers en route to Machu Picchu.  If you are looking for destinations in Peru, Cusco is an absolute must see.  In fact it may be my favorite city i’ve been to in South America.  The city sits at around 3400 meters (11,200 ft.).  You feel the elevation as soon as you get off the plane, but fear not, they sell plenty of remedies for elevation sickness right there in the airport.

Accommodations in Cusco were very affordable, I paid around 18 USD per night and I was right in the middle of the city.  In an attempt to further alleviate your elevation sickness the hotel offered coca leaves to chew on or make tea with.

There are some interesting sites to see in Cusco.  The first place you should go is the Qorikancha Temple.  This was the religious and political center of the Incan people.  Qorikancha roughly translates to golden courtyard and during the time of the Incas the walls were covered in gold sheets that were eventually ransacked by the Spanish.  After the Spanish conquest the temples were destroyed and they built the Convent of Santo Domingo on top of the ruins.

 

 

If you dig history like I do, the next place you should go is Sacsaywaman.  This is an Incan citadel on the northern outskirts of Cusco.  The earliest people living there were around 900 CE.  They built some interesting walls, cutting the stones to fit tightly without mortar, creating a zig zag fortification proving useful for defense.  This place is gorgeous, I was there in July and it was around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny.

 

 

The next place you should go is Plaza de Armas.  This is Cusco’s main square, right in the middle of the city.  It’s beautiful square lined with shops and restaurants and a great place to experience the culture of the city.  This is a wonderful place to go; day or night, it’s always buzzing with activity.  I loved the vibe here, it felt very laid back, and the Spanish colonial architecture was fantastic.  If you only have time for one place in Cusco make sure to go here!  There are plenty of restaurants here, but I chose to go a Peruvian one, because I like to try the local cuisine.  The restaurant I went to served Alpaca with salad, rice, peppers and mashed potato and it was delicious.