Wandering Cusco: Capital of the Incan Empire

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Located in the heart of the Peruvian Andes, Cusco has incredible history, unique architecture, seriously cool vibes, and is the jumping-off point for your Machu Picchu adventures. It is designated the cultural capital of Peru and was the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th century until the 16th-century when Spanish conquistadors took over. Some city structures date back to the 10th century.

Let’s Talk Altitude

Cusco is high up, about 11,200 feet high up, which causes altitude sickness for some people. Take it easy until you see how your body reacts and drink some coca tea to alleviate any altitude sickness. Read more about it in my post Coca Tea: Be Cool Man, It’s Not Cocaine.

Getting to Cusco

Flying into the Cusco airport is the only real option since the geography of the Andes makes it nearly impossible, and definitely not preferable, to drive in. The airport is an easy taxi or bus ride to the city center. Flying into Cusco is an adventure in and of itself with the narrow runways and huge mountain ranges on either side.

In the City

Plaza de Armas

When in Cusco, visiting the Plaza de Armas, the main square in Cusco, is a must. From the architecture and history to the people watching, cafes, shops and restaurants, the Plaza de Armas is the cultural center of Cusco. It was built on the remains of The Great Inca Square, but sadly, most of what you’ll see today is from the Spanish colonists. If you have some time to spare and nothing on the agenda, head to the Plaza and something will come your way.

The square has 2 main churches: the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption, also known as Cusco Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus. While I’m not usually into churches, these are worth taking a peek while you’re there. Otherwise, just wander the square and surrounding area, find a spot on a bench or the grass and be sure to catch a sunset there.

San Pedro Market

Wherever I go, I always find a local market, and the San Pedro Market is a favorite in Cusco. They have fruits, veggies, cheese, fish, souvenirs, and so much more. You can buy your lunch at one of the stands and shop among both locals and visitors. The 10-minute walk from the city center gives a different perspective of the city.

San Blas District

San Blas is the trendy, creative district of Cusco away from the main tourist area. Wander around Plaza San Blas and discover the streets filled with cafes, clothing shops, and some of the city’s best restaurants.

Just Wander the Streets

Like most of my advice for anywhere around the globe – just wander. Wandering the streets of Cusco is a great way to find new experiences and get a real sense of the city. Go down streets that catch your fancy, grab a bite or a drink at a place that looks appealing, look at everything, enjoy.

Out-of-Town Sights (tour recommended)

Getting around the city is doable by walking for the most part, but many sights are outside of Cusco and require a car. I recommend booking tours to see some of the out-of-town sights and leave the driving to someone else. Many tours hit the highlights and include a history lesson and often times a meal or a stop at a local alpaca farm. Your hotel or hostel can arrange tours or find a tourist agency in town to book.

Going on adventures outside of the city gives you a glimpse of how most people live in the Andes. There are some incredible views!

Maras Salt Ponds

These interesting, picturesque tiny salt ponds are a top recommendation for an outside-of-the-city tour. Located in Maras, a scenic drive from Cusco, the salt ponds sit in a valley and are owned individually by local families, who you can see tending to their salt when you’re there. The salt ponds were built in 200-900 AD, pre-dating the Incas and today provide a source of income for locals. The scenery is magical.

Make sure to grab some of the pink salt to take home from the locals at the ponds because once it’s packed and sold in supermarkets prices tend to triple. People say that Maras pink salt is beneficial for those who suffer from hypertension because it has low levels of sodium chloride. Though make sure to use it after you’re done cooking since it loses its medicinal properties in high temperatures. It also contains calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium, making it a good option for skin conditions and to treat swelling.

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuamán is the remains of an impressive fortress first built in the 10th century and expanded by the Inca Empire in the 13th century. They carefully cut boulders to fit together perfectly without having to use mortar. Some stones weigh 300 tons! Its impressive to see what they did while thinking about the lack of tools available at the time.

Today, there are annual festivals held there for New Years, the winter solstice, and Warachikuy, held annually on the third Sunday of September. Sacsayhuamán is a 30-minute walk uphill from Cusco, and is usually included in the aforementioned tours.

Moray

No, it’s not aliens (well probably not), but the exact purpose of these circle-like formations in the mountains is not exactly known. Moray sits on a high plateau just outside of Cusco, near Maras, and has mind-boggling Inca ruins, mostly consisting of terraced, circular patterns with what looks like an irrigation system.

Historians believe these were used to study the effects that different temperatures have on crops, a sort of ancient crop laboratory. The effects of the wind and sun create temperature differences of as much as 27 degrees between the different “steps.” I was transfixed looking at these ancient designs.

Machu Pichu

A trip to Cusco, or even Peru in general, is not complete without heading to Machu Pichu. You can take a day trip from Cusco, or better yet, head to Aqua Caliente by train and see one of the 7 Wonders of the World without the rush. My post about my journey to Machu Pichu is COMING SOON!