 |
dancing lessons from god |
Home
|
unusual travel arrangements for independent travellers
|
|
CuzcoCuzcoImage:Cusco_from_Sacsayhuamán_-_July_2003.jpg|thumb|right|Cusco from Sacsayhuamán '''Cuzco''' (also "Cusco", or "Qosqo" in Quechua style), located in the Southern Sierra (Peru)|Southern Sierras, is one of Peru's most touristed cities. ==Understand== The '''Tourist Office''' is at the Plaza de Armas. ==Get in== ===By Plane=== The airport is at the edge of the city (taxi ride). There are daily internal flights to and from Lima, Arequipa and small jungle airstrips in the Amazon basin. The closest main international airport is Lima. The cheapest one way flights to Lima cost around USD 70. Frequently, bad weather conditions can cause flights to be cancelled, often up to two days on end. If you are flying straight into Cuzco, beware of altitude sickness for the first couple of days. ===By Bus=== '''Buses''' are plentiful from other Peruvian cities like Lima, Puno, Arequipa etc, but are quite long and slow, although the views can compensate. The main roads are quite good, but some can be bad, making trips take longer than expected. ===By Rail=== There are some, limited rail connections from Cuzco, though they're mostly just for more upmarket tourists who want a bit of comfort and class. ====Cuzco - Lake Titicaca==== PeruRail [http://www.perurail.com/] connects Cuzco to Juliaca and Puno ($16.66 Tourist/Backpacker class, $119 Andean Explorer class, both one-way), and the journey is one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world, passing both through amazing scenery and the middle of small towns. Having said that, there are two distinct disadvantages to taking the train: *The price (it's significantly cheaper by bus) *The journey time (it's also significantly shorter by bus) The journey should take 10 hours, but there are often delays. The 'scenic stop' included at La Raya is a bit of a waste of time, though it's included anyway. ====Cuzco - Machu Picchu==== It's certainly worth walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and there are numerous tour companies through which you can do this. However on the way back instead of taking the bus, you could also take the train (though, as stated above, it's more expensive and a longer journey time). A one-way trip on PeruRail [http://www.perurail.com/] will set you back $59.50 Vistadome class, $41.65 Backpacker class. This journey takes about 4 hours if you go the whole way, but most people coming back from Machu Picchu get off at Poroy from where they take a connecting bus. This will save you a considerable amount of time (around 45 minutes) as shortly after this station the train does some strange backwards/forwards manouvers to cross up/down a steep slope. ==Get Around== The centre of Cuzco is small enough to walk around, although you will probably need to catch a bus or taxi to the bus station, Sacasyhuaman or airport. Beware about walking around at night alone and/or drunk, robberies have often been reported. '''Taxis''' are very common in Cuzco. Officially they cost 2-4 soles depending on distance. Often many drivers are not locals. Beware when using taxis at night; robberies have been reported in collusion with taxi cab drivers, at certain times radio taxis may be the safest option. ==Eat== The Cuzco area has some extremely good international food with tasty options for all budgets. Best pizza ever at the end of the Av. Cultura. There's no need going to the expensive restaurants (which often only serve foreign food anyway), go to the restaurants that serve local food. Be sure to try an '''alpaca steak''' (don't forget a llama/alpaca is normally kept and used for it's wool - so only old animals will be slaughtered. But '''cuy''' (guinea pig) is the absolute traditional holiday food of the region. A must when visiting a market is to enjoy, in the cold season, "once frozen" / cooked potatoes. Food quality on the whole is good in Cuzco; hygiene can however be rather lacking in places. Be wary of food like burgers - although cheap, this is not a local speciality. * There are huge and cheap breakfasts at '''Yaku Mama''' at the end of the ''Gringo Alley''. * The sister restaurant '''Yaku Mama Grill''' on Plaza de Armas has some really good dinners, and a cheerful English-speaking waitress called Yolanda, but is a bit short on the alpacas. * The absolute place though is '''MAMA Amerika '''(former Mama Africa) which actually is everything on 3 levels: snack, cafe (rooftop), restaurant (with a good cheap menu), 2 discos, the latest movies on DVD. Some of the decorations and paintings are by the owner/artist. * The '''Crossed Keys Pub''' looking onto the central square is a pub serving European food to tourists. ==Sleep== *'''Orquidea Real''', Calle Alabado 520, [http://www.orquidea.net/ www.orquidea.net].The colonial building has original Inca walls and exposed wood beams, and the rustic accommodations are simply decorated in a cozy mountain lodge aesthetic. All rooms are oriented toward Cusco below, offering panoramic views. *'''Hospedaje Estrellita''', Av. Tullumayo 445, good and save, ca. US$ 3.50 including breakfast, free use of the kitchen, many ''gringos''. *'''Hotel El Balcon''', a short distance from Plaza de Armas, awesome interior design, delicious breakfast and moderate prices. *'''San Blas''' - 4 blocks from Plaza de Armas - where very many new hospedajes/hostales have opened. *'''Gran Hostal Machu Picchu''' ==Drink== There are many pubs in cuzco, and there are always people handing out flyers around the Plaza de Armas. These usually include free drinks. *'''Mama America''', this is THE place in Cuzco, a lot of people, good music, good atmosphere and free slasa lessons ==Do== * See Machu Picchu - an atmospheric ruin perched below the Andes and above the jungle. Even better, walk there on the Inca Trail. * Visit nearby ruins. The largest of these ruins is the amazing Inca '''Sacsayhuaman''' Image:Inca_walls_-_july_2003.jpg|right|thumb|'''Amazing Inca walls at Sacsayhuamán''' (sometimes called Saqsaywaman and Sexy Woman) ruins high above Cuzco. Be careful, as robberies have been reported in mornings and evenings. Other ruins up the road from Sacsayhuaman include '''Qenko''', '''Puca Pucara''' and '''Tambo Machay'''. * Visit the local markets; great bargains are available to tourists willing to haggle with friendly locals. * Walk around the Plaza de Armas; the square has churches, shops, restaurants and bars backing on to it and is a great place to spend an afternoon. * Go to the colorful market in Pisac. * Visit the '''Sacred Valley of the Incas''', including Ollantaytambo * Galleries; the stunning sceneries of the Cuzco area are often very well depicted by local artists. You can find cheap prints that are of surprisingly good quality if you shop about. * Go out to the many clubs; in the summer clubs are falling over themselves to get tourists in and often hand out free drinks vouchers to entice. ==Stay Safe== *'''Drugs''' - Drugs are very cheap in Peru, but you must consider that the law is very severe in Peru - that is, years in prison and no pleasure. Consider that many "long resident tourists" are part of the scene. It is already a felony that you "consider to maybe accept" an offer to buy. *'''Water Rafting''' - Although the water is of dubious health value, the trips offered are very tame and certainly don't offer tourists good value for money. Cuzco, full of Incan history, has much more to offer than this and one would be well advised not to bother with it. First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
if you like cool drinks you may be interested in:
Hope you enjoyed reading about Cuzco |
|
