Cusco

Cusco, often spelled Cuzco, is a city in the Peruvian Andes at 3,400 m (11,155 ft) above sea level. The site was the historic capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th through the 16^th –centuries until the Spanish conquest. In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Cusco has become a major tourist destination, hosting nearly 2 million visitors a year. It is known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old city, with arcades, carved wooden balconies, and Incan wall ruins. Nearby is the 12-angled stone which was part of the stone wall of an Incan palace (presently the Archbishop of Cuzco building wall). As a perfect jigsaw piece, the stone demonstrates Incan knowledge in stonework and construction. Another interesting site within the city is the baroque Santo Domingo Convent which was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha). It has archaeological remains of Incan stonework.

Cusco is also the convenient city from where to start your visit Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu stands at 2,430 m (8,000 ft) above sea-level and is located in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments.

It is recommended to go to Cusco by plane. Since most of the Cusco tours typically start at 2 pm, leaving in the morning is preferable. The flight is about 1.5 hours. We recommend that you use LATAM airlines as they have more options and are the most trustworthy.

Any tour will provide enough time to see all the important things and enjoy the magic of the city.

We recommend a tour operator who is the brother of one of Carla’s best friends. All of his options for Cusco can be found at: https://toursamachupicchuycusco.com/

Don’t forget, while in Cusco…

- Taste some coca tea!

- Try some cuy (guinea pig)!

- Get your picture taken with a llama!