Cusco Vacations, Cusco Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Cusco Vacation Guide

The ancient capital of the Incan Empire and a World Heritage Site since 1983, Cusco—or Cuzco as it is commonly known—is a Peruvian city in the Urubamba region of the Andes Mountains nestled up around 11,000 feet. While it might have been the headquarters for a major empire in the past, the city is almost completely dominated by the tourist industry these days, and it could be described as the classic tourist trap in every since of the word. There’s plenty to see and do in terms of history and beauty, but it’s tainted by the overwhelming feeling that you are in the middle of a very touristy version of what it could have been at one point in time.

Still, despite the obvious tourist nature of the place, there is no better headquarters for beginning your exploration of Machu Picchu or any of the other various Incan sites throughout the region. In addition, the Spanish occupation over the centuries has also left its mark in many of the colonial buildings left behind, preserved in all their architectural splendor. And when combined with the indigenous population’s culture makes for a heady blend of ancient, colonial, and modern.

The majority of visitors to Cusco come here for one thing: the Incan ruins. And that’s definitely the main selling point of this region of South America. There city has close access to Machu Picchu, which is considered one of the most—if not the most—spectacular ruins on the planet. But there are also plenty of galleries and museums throughout the city itself, and the food and atmosphere cannot be matched. Plus, as a major city, transportation is easy to arrange, and you can quickly head out into the surrounding countryside for some more cultural activities away from the main tourist attractions. Just remember to plan ahead, because you can’t really see and experience all there is to do around Cusco in just a few days; you need at least a week or two.