Cusco, Peru travel guide: High in the Andes, Cusco is a spectacular cobblestone fortress where ancient mortarless Inca walls, colonial cathedrals, and Sacred…
High in the Andes, Cusco is a spectacular cobblestone fortress where ancient mortarless Inca walls, colonial cathedrals, and Sacred Valley trails meet cozy laptop-friendly fire stoves.
Crowd: moderate · Noise: peaceful · Best time: Late afternoon walk around San Blas followed by a soothing coca tea (3:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
Plaza de Armas, San Blas Alleys, Saqsaywaman Walls, San Pedro Market, Andean Peaks
Standing on the steep stone stairs of the San Blas quarter, the thin, crisp mountain air smells of burning eucalyptus wood and toasted cacao. The sky fades into a deep violet, silhouetting the massive colonial arches of the cathedral. Below, the glowing street lanterns illuminate the perfect, mortarless joints of the ancient Inca foundations, where local residents walk silently with their alpacas. Stepping into a tiny cafe, you wrap your hands around a steaming cup of tea, listening to the soft, nostalgic melodies of an Andean flute.
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