Lying in the heart of the Andes, Cusco was once the capital of the immense Inca empire. Five hundred years on, it is a bustling city, experiencing rapid growth as a result of migration from the countryside. But in the old historic center, the Incas and Spanish conquistadors live on.
Your expert guide will bring the city to life and give you unrivaled insight into the colorful history and architectural beauty that led Unesco to declare Cusco worthy of protection as a World Heritage Site.
This would fit perfectly with one of our excellent extensions to the Amazon basin to complete the ecosystems of Peru if you have the extra time.
Did you know: We plant two trees per person, per day that you travel with us- making us the sustainable choice.
We tailor this trip to you and your interests. You will have an expert guide at your disposal to show you some of the highlights of this beautiful city. Tell him what you like and he can advise as to the best route for your tour.
You may choose to start with the Plaza de Armas and a visit to its impressive Cathedral. This contains some historic pieces from the Cusqueña school of Art. Look out for the Macaw-winged cherubs and the guinea pig served at The Last Supper.
Qoricancha temple, once home to the center of the Inca Sun worship with its life-sized statues in solid gold, is another very popular option.
If time permits you could visit one of the bustling markets, full of tropical fruits fresh from the Amazon. Or stroll past the impressive Inca-walled streets and head up through the San Blas artisan district to San Cristobal church for a spectacular view over the red-tiled rooftops of Cusco.

Cultural day trips kitlist
All the excursions that Amazonas organized were very good. We enjoyed the Kayaking despite the weather not being great that day. It was incredibly well organized and the guide who did that with us was fantastic. they cooked an excellent lunch cooked by the lake which was great. The salt mine was well worth a visit and was fascinating. All the hikes were a great success particularly the one ending up in Ollantaytambo at an amazing organic farm/distillery/restaurant called El Albergue where we had a traditionally cooked meal, a Pachamanca. It was a spectacular day, possibly our best.
The hike to the Sun Gate was a great success though we found it quite tough despite the fact that we are reasonably fit and had done several hikes at altitude in the preceding days. It was a great way to see the ruins but we were absolutely shattered at the end. Our guide was excellent both at explaining the local flora and fauna but also pacing us and coaching us when we were getting tired. It took us 5 hours. There were very few people on it until we got very close to Machu Picchu and we were really glad we had done it. It was a good recommendation.
Ashley’s adventure was created by a travel expert according to their interests and passions. If you want to do the same, get in touch with one of our experts today.

