Not quite in the Sacred Valley, but between Urubamba and Cusco lies a small and quaint town as the highest point. This is the town of Chinchero. It is quaint, and does have some smaller archeological ruins further back in the town. The town does also boast a textile market which happens on the weekends but in the mornings - it will be over by 2 pm, with just the few people trying to sell the last of the pile stuff - so be sure to get there early! 

CUSCO - THE ARCHEOLOGICAL CITY - I personally love the city of Cusco - I find the mix of peoples, the vibe which is buzzing, yet calm, and also spiritual is intoxicating. I loved my time living there, and will always return. This city is lively with people rushing about their daily lives, street dances, cultural events, art shows, and many tourists visiting the various historical sites within and surrounding the city.

The reason I call Cusco and archeological living city is because it was originally the main City of the Incan peoples - one of the main cultural and religious groups of the ancient world - like the Egyptians or the Mayans. And so the city retains many of the Incan stone walls, streets, and even building bases. The reason only mainly building bases instead of the entire building remains is because of Spanish and thus Catholic conquest that saw many buildings and temples destroyed - only for those same stones to be used in the building of the city’s cathedrals. The sites of Sacsayhuaman and the Qorikancha are 2 sites where it is very visible to see a lot of the Incan stone work that still exists otherwise. 

Places to stay - Once choice place to stay if you are on a budget is the Pariwana hostel which is 2 blocks of the main plaza, very safe, lively with events at their bar / restaurant almost nightly, and with a great movie room as well as courtyard to hang about in. If you are wanting something more luxurious there are your regular European hotels like Novotel, and then of course, on the high end, are the Peruvian “Casa Andina” chain which is luxury en grande, as well as the 5 star hotel within the Monastery which is top of the line. These places run fairly expensive however, as Cusco is not only just a tourist hub, but a place of research for Anthropologists, Archeologists, Botanists, Agriculturalists, Naturopaths, and so forth. So where as Pariwana hostel is about $15 American a night for a bed, or $50 American a night for a private room with bath, a Casa Andina or Novotel will run $150 - 250 per night and the Monastery hotel is about $750 a night and up.

Some great things to do in Cusco, other than walking / hiking the streets of this archeological living city, are visiting the main Cathedrals, visiting the main plazas in the day and at night, visiting the archeological area of Sacsayhuaman that overlooks the city and was the Incan sacred area for religious rituals and temples, visiting the highly sacred building in the city known as the Qorikancha, and visiting the museums of culture, chocolate, and of coffee. One can also have coffee, breakfast, or lunch on the main plaza, party away in the many night clubs, get a massage, or shop at a massive range of stores carrying everything from tourist trinkets to gorgeous alpaca sweaters to beautiful jewelry. 

For those interested in the adrenaline rush - one can book bike tours, rafting adventures, camping, trekking to glaciers, and more within the Valley. For those interested in cultural events - pick up a dance class or cooking class or join in a football / soccer match. There really is something for everyone. 

Some great times to be in Cusco include the Sun and solstice festivals of June, Easter time, and Christmas time. Because almost the whole country is Catholic - they really celebrate their events. That said, for many others their Incan traditions and culture are just as if not far more important, and there are many of the Incan festival and events that take place through the year - including as mentioned above the festivals of the sun and solstice and all the month of June. 

If you are in Cusco for longer, make sure to check out some of the markets not just for shopping, but for the amazing food - the market of San Jeronimo is quite the overwhelming market - but so incredible at the same time - teeming with loads of fruits and vegetables freshly trucked in, with women bringing cacao and coffee straight from the jungle, and animal carcasses everywhere in the meat district within the market. Oh, they also repair shoes in 10-20 minutes within this market. 

Good street foods include - Anticuchos, Empanadas, and Cut fruits 

​For more on visiting cafes and restaurants in Cusco, check out this previous blog post 

Prices

• Taxis - 3-15 soles 
• Taxi to the airport - 12-15 soles 
• Bus rides in the city - 70 centimos - 1 sol - to Sacsaywoman is 3 soles in taxi - 15 soles 
• Average hostel 25-50 soles per night (shared bed - 6-10 to a room)
• Private room ($40 - $50 American / night)
• Good Hotel ($150-200 American / night)
• 5 star hotel ($350 - 1000 American / night) 
• Street food 1-5 soles 
• Decent cheaper meal - 5-15 soles 
• Good meal with drink - 20-40 soles 
• Excellent meal at a great restaurant with drink - 50-100 soles 
• Meal at top restaurant in Cusco - 200 - 250 soles per person with drinks. 
• Museums - 5-30 soles or better yet get the 10 day Sacred Valley pass or Cusco city pass for 120 - 150 soles - Well Worth it 
• Cinema - at the mall - 10-15 soles 

PISAQ - A town at one end of the Sacred Valley following the Vilcanota River - it has become quite the tourist hub with a more of a hippy feel - many cafe restaurants and pizza joints, spas, and nice hostels - but book early these hostels fill up fast. Pisaq boasts incredible ruins - enter for 70 soles - or Get the Sacred Valley pass for around 160 soles - good for 7 - 10 days - well worth it. The ruins found here are some of my favourites - make sure to take a tour guide so that they can explain about the Incan's system of education, their understanding of astrology, and also their burial rites. Pisaq also has one of the best artisan craft markets in Peru - best to go in the mornings - traditional market day for Pisaq is Wednesday. Also if you've got some time and are in need of a good coffee or hot chocolate, on the main market square in the lower SW corner, if facing the ruins, sits a lovely cafe with some of the best hot chocolate I've had the pleasure of enjoying, world wide. It's called The Blue Llama. 

CALCA - Further down the Valley one comes to the town of Calca - Calca is a cute town but not too known for ruins or anything. However, if you are looking to go off the beaten path and you have time - take the painful (but with amazing views) 10 sol 2 hour bumpy bus ride into the interior from Calca to Lares - and visit the hot springs there taking in the beautiful surroundings deep in the Andes. 

What is the Sacred Valley? Its a stretch of land - a valley stretching from the south Peruvian jungle to Machu Picchu. It is considered sacred because the Incan peoples built many of their cities and strongholds along this valley, and also the river Ollantaytambo runs its length. The main cities of interest that most tourists will visit in the Valley after leaving Cusco, include: Pisaq, Urubamba, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu. There are fairly large ancient ruins and sacred sites to be found in all of these locations, as well as many others dotted around. Some other notable ruins and sacred spots include Tipon, Maras and Moray. 

If you are in a rush - I still recommend at least 2 days in Cusco, and 2 in the Valley before seeing Machu Picchu. For those people with more time, you may want more time to relax and unwind in the valley, exploring more various sites, visiting spas and boutique hotels, and trying the varied and delicious cuisine. 

TRAVEL IN PERU - Northern Peru 

My experience of Northern Peru was quite different then I expect most visitors would have. While most visitors would generally visit Huaraz, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, and Trujillo to visit the beaches and many pre-Incan ruin sites - inclusive of pyramids, I have only been to the city of Piura almost at the very North of Peru, and that was a number of years ago. From what I understand, surfers do go to Piura for the waves. Piura is not quite on the coast, but it is close enough. In the north as we get closer to the equator, it becomes hotter of course, and being in Piura was oven hot and very humid. I remember going for cold showers and coming out of the shower to dry only to be soaked again with sweat in a few minutes. That said it was nice, tropical, and had some beautiful colonial neighbourhoods in the city. Unfortunately as soon as one leaves this fairly wealthy inner city, there are miles of shanty towns surrounding. There was dessert close by on the other side of the city away from the coast, there were also swampy regions, and a number of plantations. The seafood was incredible, the bars laid back, and the ice wine milkshakes were heavenly in the sweltering heat. 
A few friends, this time, did travel through the North, but only had a week, so instead of visiting ruins in Huarez and Catamarca, they enjoyed the beaches around Chiclayo and Trujillo, which they loved.