Exploring Cusco, Peru

We arrived in Cusco, Peru a few days ago after a long overnight bus from Arequipa. While it was plush and comfortable, it still doesn't replace an actual bed. This is why we were thankful for the woman who owned the B&B we stayed at. She picked us up, quite early, from the bus station and even had our room ready. We immediately crawled into bed and napped until the afternoon. It was wonderful. Being well rested we were ready to see the city. We have been here before, and like before I was struck by how lovely it is. The cobblestone streets narrowly wind up various steep hills, and the enormous churches in the plazas tower above everyone. Tiny shops full of crafts and trekking gear line the alleys, and numerous restaurants and pubs are scattered among them. It's no wonder why there are so many tourists in this city. We spent a good few hours wandering the streets, visiting the local market, and seeing the sights.

While many people come here to see Cusco itself, many more are here for the infamous Machu Picchu. While it is a wonder to see, we saw them last time, and it is more money than I'm willing to spend to see a second time. Hence, we found ourselves exploring the many other ruins within a short cab ride or walking distance from city center. For 130 soles each, we bought a tourist ticket providing entry into all of them including many we plan to see in Ollantaytambo. The closest and perhaps largest of these is a short 20 minute walk. It is called Saqsayhuaman, which we have decided is pronounced "sexy woman". There are two Hills at the top of a ridge. One is composed of rolling rock that looks like it was formed by slow moving lava flow. The other is comprised of enormous carved stones, some as tall as two people. From the top of the latter hill you have one of the most phenomenal views of the city.

Some of the others we visited were not far away: Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, and Q'enqo. My favorite was Puka Pukara because it overlooked a wide valley with green farms spreading throughout. It was a beautiful sight. The other two were much smaller, but equally as old and interesting. They were so close that we managed to see all of them in a span of a couple of days.

The reason for coming to Cusco, and by far the best thing we've seen here is Rainbow Mountain. The trek was definitely a challenge not because of the distance, approximately 9 miles, but because of the altitude. At one point it felt like walking through jello while being out of breath. We started at roughly 14,500 feet and ended at a whopping 16,500 feet. However, the view the entire way was surreal and entirely worth it. We hiked through a valley with nothing but herds of alpacas and multicolored ridges. The final stretch was the most difficult, but at the top the sense of accomplishment was incredible as you see bright colors striping the next Valley. It was breathtaking, literally and figuratively. The bright blue sky seemed to highlight the colors even more. This trek was definitely one of the top things we've done yet on our trip.

Cusco, Peru
Hotels:
Tawa B&B: 400 soles/night

Restaurants:
Jack’s Café
Paddy’s Irish Pub
La Bodega

Transportation:
Bus to Cusco: $40/ea
On foot

Activities:
Tourist ticket 130 soles/ea: Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Q’enqo, Museo Historico Regional, Puka Pukara, Statue of Christ, Salinas de Maras, Ollantaytambo, Moray
Plaza de Armas: free
Mercado Central de San Pedro: free
Rainbow Mountain trek: 150 soles/ea