Peru. Cusco
Cusco is the former capital of the Inca Empire and the first city in Peru that we visited. It serves as the starting point for visiting the main landmarks of the Inca civilization, which Peru is most famously associated with. Cusco is situated in the Andes at an altitude of 3,400 meters above sea level and boasts numerous interesting places. Its narrow, colorful streets, hills with fantastic panoramic views of the city, the main square, churches, and the remains of the Inca's principal temple—the Temple of the Sun—make this city the best in Peru...
After a long thirteen-hour flight from Paris to Lima, followed by a two-hour flight from Lima to Cusco, we finally arrived at the Cuscopackers Hostel at 10 PM local time. There, coca leaves were waiting for us, which we immediately brewed in a thermos before heading to our room. Symptoms of altitude sickness, such as a severe headache, were noticeable since we had suddenly found ourselves at an altitude of over 3,400 meters. After drinking some coca tea, we went to sleep...
In the morning, we enjoyed breakfast with a fantastic view of the city. One of the highlights of this hostel is its beautiful location on a hill...
Heading into the city, we made our way through its narrow streets to the central part...
The central square...
Here, we saw alpacas for the first time—cute little creatures from the camelid family, raised for their wool. Women from the village walked around the central square of Cusco with them, offering tourists the chance to take photos...
From the square, we had a clear view of the Church of Santa Ana, near which our hostel was located...
We could also see the Church of San Cristobal, situated on a hill, and decided to climb up to it...
In a small square next to the Church of San Cristobal, a colorful woman was selling knitted items and souvenirs, and we bought Peruvian hats with colorful pompoms from her...
From this square, there are some of the best views of the city...
Views from the San Blas viewpoint...
Climbing the streets along the hills of the city, we gradually acclimatized to the altitude...
Many buildings in the central part of the old town are partially built on the foundations of Inca stone structures...
In some places, entire stone walls from the Inca era remain intact, making Cusco a very unique city...
While the most beautiful part of most cities is usually limited to the central square, in Cusco, the entire city is very beautiful...
The most common place where Peruvians gathered to eat was the market...
Here, you could see a large variety of potatoes for sale, as Peru is the homeland of this crop...
We also tried one of the main drinks of the Incas—Chicha, which is somewhat similar to kvass...
The main historical site in Cusco is Qorikancha or the Temple of the Sun. The Temple of the Sun was the most important temple of the Inca Empire, built in 1438 and destroyed after the conquistadors' invasion. The ruins of the temple are preserved in the center of Cusco. After a strong earthquake in 1650, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo was built over the ruins. Four former rooms of the temple were used as a monastery...
So, in fact, you enter a Catholic church and find yourself inside the Inca sanctuary—the Temple of the Sun...
Inside, there is a beautiful courtyard...
Here, you can also find representations of our galaxy as envisioned by the Incas, who depicted it using familiar imagery...
The park area of Qorikancha offers a beautiful view of the city since the temple is located in its heart...
We spent five nights in Cusco as it is a hub for many key places in the region. From here, we took a one-day tour of the Sacred Valley, arranged a transfer to Hidroelectrica, from where we hiked to Machu Picchu and the Salkantay trek. I also processed my Bolivian visa in Cusco, and from here, we traveled to the village of Tinki to embark on the fantastic Ausangate trek around the highest peak in the region...
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