An Insider's Guide to Cusco, Peru

Every day thousands of people pass through Cusco, Peru on their way to Machu Picchu. Cusco is truly one of the gems of South America with wonderful dining and entertainment options.

Always bustling with tourists, you'll find the locals of Cusco to be friendly and accommodating, and the streets bustling with activity. Read on to discover the best way to get the most out of your visit.

The Antigua Casona San Blas

A great tourist experience begins and ends with a terrific hotel. There are many options in Cusco that provide superior service at an affordable cost. One of my favorites is the Antigua Casona San Blas.

Centrally located only a few blocks from the city center, the Antigua Casona San Blas, is a wonderful introduction to the spirit of the city. Cusco sits at 11,000 feet of elevation, so it's important to be cautious about walking and have a comfortable place to rest.

After a day of exploring, you can enjoy a pleasant evening relaxing by the fire in the outdoor patio. This is the perfect spot to open a bottle of wine and discuss your day with friends and family.

In the morning, you'll be treated to a breakfast that includes eggs, avocado, specialty potatoes, and gourmet coffee. Once you've experienced breakfast in Cusco, you'll never want to leave.

The Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas is the city center, and as a tourist you will be well served to begin your explorations there. The Plaza is surrounded by the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, and the Cusco Cathedral.

There are many restaurants surrounding the Plaza all of which offer a fantastic dining experience. The Plaza also frequently features parades and other cultural celebrations, so if you don't have anything to do, simply go to the Plaza de Armas and wait for a celebration to begin.

The Steps of the Cathedral

Tourists and locals alike both naturally gather at the steps of the cathedral seen in the background of the above photo. It is an ideal spot to simply sit and absorb the ambiance of Cusco.

Locals will often come and sell handcrafted souvenirs and beautiful blankets, hats, and clothing made of fine quality wool. The steps are also the perfect place to observe dances and demonstrations.

As a mountain city, Cusco changes dramatically throughout the day, and the lighting, diffused by the mountains, is often spectacular. The morning can begin with cool temperatures that require a hat and gloves, only to rise to T-shirt weather by the afternoon.

The locals are prone to wearing colorful outfits that provide agreeable highlights to an already festive and beautiful landscape.

Plaza Tour Companies

The Western side of the Plaza de Armas has several companies that offer guided tours of historical sites within the Sacred Valley. You can also find things like memory cards for your camera, camping gear, and small markets.

As you explore Cusco, remember to stay hydrated and to increase the amount of sugar in your diet. Sugar helps ward off the effects of altitude sickness, so drinks like Gatorade are a perfect choice to help keep you fit and comfortable.

Tunupa Restaurant

You'll quickly find that the dining in Cusco is extraordinary. Many of the restaurants of the Plaza de Armas offer balcony seating which allows you to observe the festivities as you sip on a Pisco Sour.

One of the best options for enjoying the sunset on the Plaza de Armas is the Tunupa Restaurant. With a varied menu and live entertainment, you will be treated to a wonderful evening.

Prices are reasonable and if you arrive early there is no need for a reservation. The food is cooked to perfection using the fusion technique that has placed Peru prominently at the top of the international gastronomic landscape.

Saqsaywaman

If you are looking for a terrific afternoon activity in Cusco, you should consider visiting the ancient Inca citadel of Saqsaywaman.

Saqsaywaman is located on a hill just above the Plaza de Armas and can be reached either via taxi, or by a moderate hike that takes about an hour. To get there from the Plaza de Armas, simply walk up the stairs and keep climbing until you reach the Calle Don Bosco.

At the entry gate to Sacsaywaman you can purchase a tourist ticket that allows you entrance to a variety of historical sites throughout the Sacred Valley. This ticket is very affordable and valid for up to a week.

Sacsaywaman is home to the Inti Raymi festival in June. You can make a leisurely hike through the area in around an hour, but there is enough there to keep you entertained on multiple visits.

The main site overlooks the city, and most tourists confine themselves to that area. However, the northern part of the site contains a few interesting features including a small cave.

It is an unlit through-cave about fifty yards long which delights children because of a middle section that forces you to navigate in complete darkness.

The stone work of Sacsaywaman is some of the best on display in all of Peru.

Incanto

After visiting Sacsaywaman, you will have developed a considerable appetite. Another terrific dining suggestion is Incanto, located on the South corner of the Plaza de Armas.

Incanto is one of the few places in Cusco to offer draft beer from the Sacred Valley Brewing Company.

The service is exemplary, and the menu features a variety of high quality meals including this meat dish with quinoa salad.

Presentation is often just as important as flavor in Cusco's fine restaurants, and during your stay it's likely that you'll experience a sequence of the best dining experiences of your life.

Mercado San Pedro

No trip is complete without a little shopping, and the Mercado San Pedro is like stepping into a time machine and experiencing a market from another age.

You can buy everything from jewelry, to clothing, to handcrafted items, to fruit, and it's expected that you engage in a bit of friendly bartering. To get to the Mercado San Pedro, head West from the Plaza de Armas, and be sure to note the Plaza San Francisco on the way.

The Mercado San Pedro is a sprawling, sometimes chaotic gathering point. Take note that you should keep your wits about you because pickpockets have been known to prey on tourists there.

Peru is home to delicious, exotic fruits, and the Mercado San Pedro is a wonderful place to sample new and delicious flavors.

The market itself is lined with little stalls where you can sort through items and purchase gifts for all your friends and family back home.

This is the perfect place to use up the last of your local currency rather than lose out on a poor exchange rate at the airport.

Goods from Cusco are in high demand worldwide, and if you are clever with your purchasing, you might be able to resell them for a profit when you get back home.

Walking Through the City

Cusco features beautiful stonework, and meandering roads that come together to create scenes of striking beauty. As you stroll through the city, it's comical to watch vehicles attempt to get down pathways that were clearly designed for a horse and cart.

Sidewalks often disappear, and you have to be aware and make room for passing traffic.

There is beauty everywhere you look in Cusco, and as the sun passes through the sky, every street changes as the shadows lengthen and the light becomes softer and more agreeable.

The roads take you to surprising places, and around each corner you'll find something special that will make you pause and reflect.

Plaza San Blas

Uphill and to the East of the Plaza de Armas is the Plaza San Blas. This is a beautiful common area with a smaller, more relaxed crowd than what you'll find at the Plaza de Armas.

In the corner there is a lovely fountain that provides a tranquil resting spot perfect for self-discovery and reflection.

Amaru Inca Hotel

The Amaru Inca Hotel is a delightful, rustic hotel between the Plaza San Blas and Cusco's famous twelve-point stone. It is a wonderful lodging for families as they offer comfortable rooms with up to four beds.

The Amaru Inca Hotel has a delicious breakfast, and also features an open air sitting area where you can watch the sun set over the Plaza de Armas.

Cusco At Night

During your time in Cusco, you're likely to be exhausted from your travels and the effects of the altitude. However, you need to make sure you spend at least one evening enjoying the sights of the city at night.

There is a regular laser show at Sacsaywaman to captivate your attention, but it's impossible not to witness something beautiful whenever you explore Cusco at night.

The slick stones of the streets make light dance like it's reflected off water, and Cusco is home to some of the most beautiful urban city views you'll find anywhere in the world.

Cherish The Time You Spend Exploring Cusco

Cusco, Peru is a city that demands an extended stay. The hotels are comfortable and affordable, and the food is beyond compare. Above all, the inhabitants adopt you like family.

The best way to see Cusco, is to allow yourself the time to absorb the spirit of the place. It is a magical city filled with delights which transform in appearance as the sun passes through the sky.

If you're planning a trip to Machu Picchu, be sure to allow yourself the time to take in all the wonders that Cusco has to offer. It's the type of place that creates a memory you'll never forget, and which exhibits a magnetic pull that compels you to return again and again.