"This city is the greatest and the finest ever seen in this country or anywhere in the Indies... We can assure your Majesty that it is so beautiful and has such fine buildings that it would be remarkable even in Spain."

Cuzco, the Urubamba or Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu constitute Peru's main tourist destination for a reason. They are the highlights of any visit to Peru.
Cuzco (3,400m) is without a doubt the most beautiful town in Peru and possibly South America. It was considered the navel of the earth, the capital of Tahuantinsuyo or the Inca Empire, an empire that at its peak stretched north to the south of Colombia, South to northern Chile and Argentina, and West across the Andes to the Amazon basin.

The Incas were outstanding stonemasons and town planners. In Cuzco you will be able to observe the skill and exquisiteness of this work on the many walls that serve as foundations to colonial buildings. The colonial buildings themselves are among the finest in the Americas. The crisp air, the surrounding mountains and the clear Andean sky provide the perfect backdrop to Cuzco's cobbled narrow streets, its lovely buildings and plazas, its many hidden treasures and churches. It is not only culturally fascinating and beautiful to look at, but also extremely pleasant to wander around and be in the city itself.

Coricancha

La Compañia

Practical Information for Cuzco

As the gateway to the world-famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, Cuzco is Peru's cultural and tourist hub. But even on a stand-alone basis, it deserves be one of the main attractions in Peru and South America. With some of the finest colonial architecture in the Continent, and the remains of the Inca's expert building techniques, coupled with a most attractive location, Cuzco deserves a top ranking as one of South America's foremost cultural attractions.

Cuzco offers the visitor a myriad of sightseeing, eating and shopping possibilities. It is a magnet for backpackers, new age tourists, and increasingly well-heeled travellers from all over the world, thus enjoying a very cosmopolitan atmosphere. Its provincial and distinctly Andean atmosphere prevails and enhances the city's charm. Cuisine is getting increasingly better in Cuzco: tow of our favourite restaurants are "La Cicciolina" for fabulous tapas and lively atmosphere and " MAP Café" the restaurant of the Preculumbian Art Museum, for first-clas Andean Nouvelle Cuisine. These are only two, though and there are several more that are worth trying.

There are many hotels of different budgets, although quality varies and the "official" ratings are not in our view very reliable. Our recommendations are: the Monasterio for deluxe accommodation, Novotel for 4-star standard, Casa Andina for 3 - Star level. For budget accommodation our favourite is the lovely Ninos Hostal, which has the incentive that it is a non-profit organisation that looks after street children.

We recommend you allocate at least two days for a visit of Cuzco. A few more days can be spent if you head to the Urubamba Valley or southeast towards Puno, where there are many attractions a stone's- throw away from Cuzco. Our recommendation is to devote a full day to a guided visit of the town and its nearby ruins, in one single day or, preferably split it in two. You can walk to most of the sights in town and take cabs or hire a car for the day if you decide to go further afield. A good guide is imperative, and Aracari will provide this and other alternatives to get under the skin of the buildings and the city itself.