If you fancy yourself a latter-day Pizarro, off to unlock the Inca Empire’s secrets in Peru, as the conquistador first did 500 years ago (15 November 1524), Cusco may well be your gateway to that ambition. But if heading there, you will need more than your compass. These Europesure Travel Insurance travel tips for Peru may come in handy.
The number one strategy should be to buy your travel insurance the minute you book your Andean adventure. If you do, you can instantly put cancellation cover in place. That means that unexpected illnesses, family deaths or even jury service will not lead to a financial loss, should you have to delay saying ‘hello’ to the Andes’ alpacas.
Cusco: gateway to Machu Picchu
‘Location, location, location’ … that’s what Cusco is all about. It has the infrastructure and facilities to support tourists wanting to make their way to Peru’s tourism mecca – the Wonder of the World that is Machu Picchu. The city is also conveniently placed for other Inca ruins and the multi-coloured highlight of the Rainbow Mountain.
In itself, Cusco (or Cuzco) can divide opinion. At first glance, it can seem personality-less and dull. If you delve deeper, you will find it to be a vibrant city, brimming with things to see, do and enjoy and far more than just a transit hub for Machu Picchu.
The city was a complex urban centre under the rulership of Pachacutec. That was before Pizarro and the Spaniards arrived and decided to build their Baroque churches and palaces on top of the ruins of the Inca city. As a result, Cusco today is a blend of cultures and architectural features, narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed dumpy houses, ancient and modern traditions and a kaleidoscope of colour.
What to see in Cusco
At the centre of what is dubbed the ‘bellybutton of the world’, lies Plaza de Armas, dominated by the cathedral and with bars on three sides. The Plaza brims with life and the cafes are a fantastic place from which to people watch, whether you are observing locals, shoe shiners at work, or newly arrived and slightly discombobulated tourists trying to get their bearings at 3400 metres above sea level.
Cusco Cathedral, shaped like a Latin cross, is home to nearly 400 colonial works of art, including Marcos Zapata’s ‘Last Supper’. The city itself is shaped like a puma but to appreciate that you need to visit the puma’s head, by either hopping in a taxi (as fake taxis can circulate, make it an Uber) and driving to the site of Sacsayhuamán, or tackling the 30-minute uphill walk to get there. This can be challenging, thanks to the altitude. But if you arrive there, you will appreciate why the Inca site’s name of ‘satisfied falcon’ suits the bird’s eye view of the city available from here.
Sacsayhuaman, with its thick walls and ready-made natural theatre ‘plaza’, is not the only Inca site accessible from Cusco, even before heading to Machu Picchu. It is also not the only place from which to gain a vantage point over the city. There is another viewpoint next to the church of St Cristobel, around twenty minutes from Plaza de Armas. If you pay a small amount, you can improve that by heading up the bell tower. If you are able to make the 1.5km walk to Cristo Blanco, which again entails a steep hill challenge, or are willing to take it easy and travel by four-wheeled transport, you can not only see the 10-metre tall statue of Christ (admittedly not on a par with Rio’s) but also gaze down over the city.
Exploring San Blas in Cusco
Walking up hill to where the best things can be found is a bit of a thing in Cusco and that includes the trek to the Limbus Resto Bar with its floor-to-ceiling glass walls that make it easy to drink in the view. It’s hugely popular, so you could have to wait, even after your endeavours to reach it, so be prepared, or try to book online.
The San Blas quarter, which entails heading up hill, is definitely the place to be if you like things arty and full of vibrant culture. Cobbled streets, a pretty church and square, great coffee shops, artisan jewellery and tempting clothing purchases make it well worthwhile. Market lovers can either head to Cusco’s main San Pedro market, for a warts and all, powerful aroma-filled attack on the senses, or visit the quieter San Blas market. San Pedro market has its attractions, with a definite ‘locals’ vibe, whether that’s picked up from the smoothie-selling ladies or those offering coca leaves and tea, to quell the impacts of altitude sickness.
Inca sites
Visiting Quirkancha (Coricancha) Temple, once covered in gold until the Spanish conquistadors stripped that away, demolished it to its ruins and built a cathedral instead, is also beautiful from the point of view of walking in the footsteps of the Incas and now discovering the tranquil gardens. The temple was where the Incas paid homage to the Sun God and was a hugely important location for Inca worship.
Arm yourself with a Boleto Turistico 10-day tourist pass, from the Costituc Office in Cusco or here, and you can gain entry to 16 Inca ruins and museums. Great news is that the pass gives you 10 days in which to do that. You can also purchase passes for shorter durations.
Tours from – and in – Cusco
There are plenty of tours departing from Cusco, whether you want to visit Sacred Valley locations such as the weaving town of Chinchero, Maras with its salt mines, and Moray with it famous circular Inca terraces, or head to the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake. There, you will rub shoulders with shaman and note visitors leaving offerings to the deity, Pachamama – the Inca culture’s Mother Earth.
But you can also take some tours within Cusco, such as a night tour that includes entrance into the Planetarium for a spot of star-gazing, and a food tour with Marcelo Bateta that will tempt the taste buds with everything from Peruvian doughnuts to meat skewers carrying lesser-known meat delicacies. Similarly, Bateta offers cooking classes.
You could also head to the Choco Museo and learn the art of chocolate-making, or simply spend time buying Peruvian alpaca or llama wool sweaters (to perhaps wear on chilly Cusco evenings), or downing a few pisco sour cocktails. Looking out for the almuerzo set-meal deal of the day makes sense for the budget, whilst those who love to understand how things are put together, simply must seek out the 12-angled Stone, highlighting how the Inca masons were able to build without mortar.
Tips for visiting Machu Picchu
Doing all of this for a few days will help acclimatize you for the ‘main event’ – the trip to Machu Picchu – but for that to be successful, you need to have done some careful planning. In an attempt to control numbers at the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is now necessary to pre-book and have a definite time-slot for a visit. Furthermore, there are different circuits, making it tricky to see all the facets of Machu Picchu you may have heard about, as a ticket will only apply to a particular route around the site. It may be that, to see it all, you need more than one ticket and time-slot in a day, or else make a return visit. You can’t just turn up.
It is all very complicated but tickets can be booked online. You must, however, carefully note reference numbers and ideally take screenshots. Spanish parts of the website, particularly in the ticket-buying section, may require some knowledge of Spanish.
Getting your tickets as far ahead of your visit as possible is the key thing, if you want to guarantee a visit. You can potentially buy tickets on arrival in Cusco, from the Ministerio de Cultura (but check opening days/times) but you will have to gamble that there are tickets left. Tickets can be bought, on the same basis, in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes, in the Machu Picchu Cultural Centre. All of this may require some conversation in Spanish.
Another way to visit is to book a tour that includes Machu Picchu, which may be an easier option for some.
Health and fitness considerations for Peruvian holidays
Do be aware that, on such tours and also those to places like Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake, the tour operator will require you to have a decent level of fitness, no heart issues and potentially be aged under 65 years. The fact some tours mention oxygen masks should act as a reminder that it is not just the demanding terrain and inclines you need to tackle but the altitude too. This can play havoc with the health and lead to serious medical complications, so do not take it lightly. Putting the body under too much strain could be a disaster.
This is one reason why travel insurance is extra-essential for a trip to Peru and many other South American countries. Nobody can really foresee how altitude might affect them, until they arrive. Read our blog about altitude sickness and lay off the alcohol – even if a pisco sour is truly tempting. Alcohol will make the effects of altitude worse.
Travel insurance tips for Peru
Do also make sure that any activities you intend to do, whether that is trekking, hiking, horse riding or something else, would be covered by your travel insurance policy. You should not have any issues if you choose to take a chocolate-making class!
Beware pickpocketing around San Pedro market and Plaza de Armas in Cusco, as well as in the streets around the bus station. Try to keep money hidden away in a money belt, bra wallet or travel scarf. Be careful what you eat and drink and opt for only bottled water.
Follow the rules, respect the altitude, buy the security of travel insurance and take your time to get used to your new environment. Things should then hopefully work out OK for you in this very different climate. Get your planning for Machu Picchu right too and you should conquer it all, like a modern-day Pizarro.
