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Cuzco is a beautiful city in the heart of the Andes that will appear on every itinerary to Peru and rightly so. You cannot fail to be captivated by the charm of this Spanish colonial city built upon Inca foundations and criss-crossed by narrow cobbled streets and pretty squares. The capital of the Inca empire is a cultural delight, with local markets, museums and impressive collections of colonial art that can be found in La Catedral and the Museo de Arqueologia. There are also a number of Inca ruins to explore nearby, such as Sacsayhuaman with its giant interlocking stonework.
Cuzco is the starting point for visits into the Sacred Valley and to Machu Picchu. You can explore colourful local markets and ruins here, or visit the fascinating salt terraces at Maras which have been mined for their salt in the same way for centuries. Trains depart either from here or the Sacred Valley towards Machu Picchu and there are varying levels of service depending on your requirements - do ask us for details of the Hiram Bingham and Vistadome services. If you are trekking on one of the Trails to the citadel, then Cuzco is at the perfect height above sea level to allow you to acclimatise to high altitude before starting your trek.
There are many beautiful hotels to choose from, all set in original colonial buildings with lots of charm and character and often built on the original Inca foundations. We would be happy to advise you on our favourites to suit you and your budget. You should book early for such important festivals as Corpus Christi (June 19), Inti Raymi (June 22) and Christmas and New Year.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas that follows the Urubamba River valley between Cuzco and Machu Picchu has a mild climate, beautiful scenery and picturesque quiet traditional villages. The Valle Sagrado is also home to some very impressive and sizeable Inca sites such as Ollantaytambo. The surrounding markets are packed with colourful art and crafts and local produce with the markets at Pisac and Chinchero being the most popular. The salt terraces at Maras also make a fascinating tour, where salt has been harvested from these natural rock pools in the same way for centuries. Being lower in altitude than Cuzco, it is also the perfect place for some laid-back trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking or river rafting on the Urubamba River.
Due to its temperate climate and lower altitude, you may prefer to head straight to the Sacred Valley first on arrival in Cuzco to gradually acclimatise. Spend a few days relaxing in one of the delightful hotels here before heading off to Machu Picchu on the train from Ollantaytambo station halfway along the train route to the famous ruins and giving you a more leisurely start that morning. Then on your return, head back to Cuzco for a few days in this pretty colonial city.
To plan your holiday to Cuzco, call our Latin America specialists today for more information.
