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Cusco is the heart of Latin American travel. Culture, late nights and some delicious food fuse effortlessly in this tourist hotspot.
Images of Cusco
Expect: All the food, drink and music you've missed, tourists, llama carrying locals posing for photos and the best English pub in South America.
Pack: A bag to put all the 'wow check this out' things you'll inevitably end up buying.
Cusco
I nearly broke down into tears when I first entered the 'Cross Keys', South America's greatest English pup. Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale and Guinness on tap; I was in heaven. The owner, Barry Walker, is a renowned bird watcher and the British Consul in Cusco. A good man to know; he also cooks up the best Full English on the continent. Well regardless to say the rest of Cusco was a bit of a letdown (in fact I never left the pub to find out) - but how could it not be, I thought, ordering another.
When I did manage to leave I discovered that Cusco is in fact a stunning labyrinth of cobbled streets lined with creaking balconies, framed by colonial arches, and opening into spacious plazas. As I took in the sights I could not help but feel that the Spanish conquistadors had been trying to impress the indigenous people. The sheer number and splendour of the churches throughout Cusco is breathtaking today, and must have been pretty impressive sight in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many of the most grandiose buildings even stand on old Inca temples and palaces, with the old walls and foundations frequently being reused. What you see today is a solid display of colonial showing-off. Shame most people are here to see Machu Picchu.
The half million tourists that head to Machu Picchu every year has turned Cusco into a traveller's mecca. Here you can find whatever food, drink or music it is that you have been craving during your months backpacking through the South American wilderness (I certainly found mine; thank you Barrry Walker). There are also great hostels and a huge host of tours you can organise.
Obviously most people are here for Machu Picchu, but there are some other pretty awesome sights to be seen and trekking to be done. The intrepid should not think twice about shedding the SLR carrying, grey-haired, rolley bag pulling 'travellers' and trekking out to the still untouched Inca ruin of Choquequirao. You can only reach this lost city, thought to have been the last bastion of Inca resistance against the Spanish, by foot or by mule. It's a hard three-day trek from Cachora, but well worth the effort for the sensational views and blissful solitude. Most people tend to organise the trip from Cusco, allowing you to rent any gear you need and have another quick pint at the 'Cross Keys'.
Districts of Cusco
recommended books
- destinations
- Argentina
- Chile
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Iguazu Falls
- San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Santiago, Chile
- El Calafate, Patagonia
