Cusco, said to be the navel of the world according to Inca legend, the city itself is at an altitude of over 11000 feet (3400 meters), which some say make you closer to god, but in reality is the highest place most people will travel in their lives. Most days you will discover clear blue skies and the night’s cold, but what interests most people about Cusco is its wonderful history. Cusco Peru travel should be on your lists of must see destinations.
Cusco is surrounded by beautiful green mountains in the high Andes mountain range. Travel to Cusco and see the center of the city a beautiful Spanish colonial town built mostly on Inca Temples and passageways. The city has a main square called the Plaza de Armes and has beautiful cobblestone streets leading away from the square.
The square features two churches, which is very unusual for South America, one of which is the Cathedral, which the inside you must see for the artwork. There are many other squares in the center of Cusco each with their own special features. Around a five-minute walk from the main square up a steep hill is an area of Cusco called San Blas, this pretty little barrio, as town is called in Spanish, features a nice plaza filled with restaurants and a church, which is well worth a visit to see the amazing gold alter. Over recent years, San Blas has become home to a large young expat community selling their handicrafts and jewelry.
Just a few blocks from the Plaza is the amazing Spanish church; Santa Domingo, built on top of the Inca Temple Coriconcha. This is well worth a look for the art and architecture.
Just outside Cusco on your Cusco City tour, there are Inca temples of Sacsaywayman, Kenko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Mochay a tour to these sites will give you a good history of Cusco City, not to mention the great views you will get of the city.
Not far from Cusco is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a naturally beautiful valley set among the high Andes Mountains. This stunning valley also features many magnificent ruins and you can take a Sacred Valley tour. Another feature of the valley is the fabulous Pisac Market featuring all the souvenirs you will ever want to buy, this market is open every day but the biggest market days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Of course, what everyone comes to Cusco is to see the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. Around four hours from Cusco by train you can get there few different ways, by train from Cusco to Machu Picchu which if you are short on time is the perfect way for you. In addition, you can walk and one of the most famous treks is the Inca Trail. This is the most popular trek but there are many others that you can enjoy to arrive into Machu Picchu. However, whatever way you choose to go the result is worth the journey. There are many companies offering Machu Picchu vacations so shop around and get the best deal for you.
There are two main seasons in Cusco, there is the high season, which is April to September when the prices are higher and the hotels are booked and Machu Picchu is extremely crowded. Then there is the low season, which is October to March. In the low season, there are many advantages for the luxury and budget traveler.
Firstly, let us confirm that the low season is also the rainy season and yes it does rain, but having said that it does not rain all day, it may rain for an hour or so and be a little inconvenient but some feel the benefits far out weight the inconvenience.
Some of the benefits include hotel availability; you will be able to book your favorite hotel in the best location without all the best hotels being booked.
Prices of the hotels are lower as the hotels are trying to fill the rooms, so you will get a great deal. Try the five star properties as they offer amazing discounts in the low season.
Another great advantage of low season is that in the Sacred Valley and any of the tours you will do in Cusco and surrounds there will be way less people giving you more time to explore and take photos.
However, without a doubt the major advantage of the low season is Machu Picchu, you may get a little wet but you will not have to wait for a bus, as the queues get long in high season. There is not a line to get into Machu Picchu and thank god in the low season you can stay at Machu Picchu all day. In the high season, there are two turns to enter the ruins; this does not apply in the low season.
Therefore, travelling to Cusco in the low season does have its disadvantages but the advantages are many so consider this when planning your vacation to Peru. Cusco Peru tourism is a wonderful place to visit, which all travelers should put on their list.
