Epic Travel → Central and South America → Peru → Cusco

Location: Cusco

Time Required: 3 hours – half a day

Red Tape/Notes: None

What’s Nearby?: Mountain Biking, Saqsaywaman, Oropesa Bread Making, Pikillacta, Tipon, Cruzmoqo

Virtually everyone who comes through this area of Peru will spend at least some time in Cusco, and it’s worth allotting some time to explore around the town. Walking around town, you’ll experience the classic cobblestone streets that are virtually unchanged after hundreds of years (although people are now cramming cars down streets that were designed to accommodate llamas, but that’s another issue), and inviting alleyways that lead to cool districts like the neighborhood of San Blas, where generations of Cusco artisans live and sell their work – stop in for some history and culture at the San Blas church where you can climb up to the bell tower or walk up to the plaza at San Cristobal provides great views of the city below. There’s also the Santo Domingo monastery and the Qoricancha Temple of the Sun, and of course the Plaza de Armas and its surrounding buildings, including the Cathedral. The plaza is also a great spot to just hang out and people watch if there’s festival happening (there are loads throughout the year), and if all else fails, it’s always fun to visit the market.

Epic Travel → Central and South America → Peru → Cusco