Cusco

High in a fertile mountain valley at 11,000 feet and surrounded by the peaks of the Andes, Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu. Be sure, though, to spend time enjoying Cusco’s own unique attractions.

Cusco was the former capital of the Inca Empire, and the meticulously constructed Inca temples still remain intact. A fitting tribute to the Inca’s masonry skills that they still stand after many earthquakes, whilst many more modern Spanish churches and palaces have been rebuilt and refurbished during their lifetime.

Cusco was also a major Spanish colonial city with many colonial buildings, churches and palaces still remaining. As a result, Cusco can now claim to be the archaeological capital of Latin America.

With lively markets, art galleries, and gourmet restaurants, Cusco is an important part of Peru’s rich cultural mix that is not to be missed.