Cuzco: The archaeological capital of the Americas

I absolutely adore Cuzco and spent some of the best times of my trip in this city. I also spent longer here than anywhere else…more than a month in fact.

Cuzco is definitely the archaeological capital of the Americas. As the heart of the once grand Inca empire, the magnificent city of Cuzco is at the top of most traveller’s list. The city is a beautiful colonial place built on hefty stone foundations of the Incas. Massive Inca-built walls line steep, narrow cobblestone streets and the plazas are many and beautiful.

The city is an absolute tourist mecca with hundreds of hotels in all price ranges, restaurants, bars, clubs, yoga places, health shops, regular shops,massage parlours, markets. It is an absolutely fantastic place to be a tourist and spend a long time.

The city is also an excursion point for many amazing sites: Machu Picchu, Qorikancha, Saqsaywaman, Q’enqo, Tambomachay & Pukapukara, the Sacred Valley, Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero…just to give you a few recommendations 🙂

So as you can see you need to reserve a good deal of time for Cuzco and the surrounding areas. They are AMAZING!

Video: Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes

This video shows Machu Picchu, sacred centre of the Inca Empire in Peru and one of the new natural wonders of the world. It begins on the train between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, arriving at the main street in Aguas Calientes, procedes to Machu Picchu, and shows some of the views from high above Machu Picchu perched on top of Huayna Picchu. Finally, the video finishes with a mysterious creature I spotted whilst lost amongst some ruins. It hopped like a rabbit, but looked more like a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel.

Links

Photos of Machu Picchu

Podcast of Southern Peru including Machu Picchu

Podcast: South Peru – Colcan Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco & Machu Picchu

[Download MP3 | Add to iTunes | Subscribe to Podcasts]

This podcast is second in a series of two podcasts I’ve made in Southern Peru. (Listen to part one here)

Podcast: South Peru - Lake Titicaca, Cusco & Machu Picchu

It begins in Colca Canyon, where I go Condor spotting before heading up to Puno (3,800m) on Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world. At Lake Titicaca I visit the floating islands and Taquile island. Following this I get the bus to Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca empire, where I visit some of the Inca ruins around Cusco and within the Sacred Valley of the Incas – including Pisac and Ollantaytambo. I finish the podcast at Machu Picchu, perched precariously on top of Huayna Picchu and feeling highly emotional whilst looking down on the most famous of all ancient Incan ruins.

Links

Podcast: South Peru – Lima, Nazca & Arequipa
Photos of Colca Canyon
Video of Colca Canyon and Condors
Photos of Lake Titicaca
Photos of Cusco
Photos of Ollantaytambo Inca Ruins
Photos of Machu Picchu

Video: Cuzco: Inca empire and traveler’s magnet

As the heart of the Inca empire, the magnetic city of Cuzco heads the list of many a traveler’s itinerary and with a very good reason. The city’s unique combination of colonial and religious splendours combined with hundreds of activities offered to travellers makes it a fantastic place to hang around for quite a while. I spent 1.5 months there myself.

The city’s biggest drawcard of all is being the set-off point to the ‘lost’ city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel perched high on an isolated mountaintop.

In Cuzco you can spend your days in colourful markets, doing yoga, meditation, massage, trying out all kinds of amazing restaurants, water rafting trips, museums, excursions to Inca sites, bars, parties, and many other things.

I love the city and had an amazing time there.