Cusco was the Capital of the Inca Empire and is built in the Spanish colonial style upon Inca foundations.

Today Cusco is full of historic buildings, character and history which saw it crowned as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Cusco is friendly, vibrant, and exciting and there is always plenty to do here with a good choice of restaurants, cafes, bars, art galleries, boutiques and fantastic handcraft shops.

Cusco is the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inca Trail and, of course, for visiting Machu Picchu.

Most travelers will go to Cusco to either start the Inca Trail or take the train to the famous Machu Picchu, however we would recommend stopping in Cusco to admire its fascinating attractions, beautiful natural setting, and colorful festivals.

If you’re arriving by plane, we suggest leaving the 11,152 feet (3,399m) above sea level heights of Cusco until later and explore the lower elevations of Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu first. This will help you acclimatize and avoid uncomfortable altitude sickness.