Cusco is the ancient capital of the Incas high in the Andes and about 600 km southeast of Lima. As the most-visited city in Peru, Cusco serves as the centre of the tourist trade, with more than a million visitors annually.

Some of the most important sights in Cusco include ancient Inca ruins, such as the Tambomachay ritual bath, the Q’enqo (amphitheatre of sacrifices) and the fortresses of Pucara and Sacsayhuaman (its three ancient central towers—a symbol of the empire—were destroyed by the Spaniards). The sun-worshipping ceremony of Inti Raymi takes place at Sacsayhuaman on 24 June each year.

Cusco is also a popular base for trekking, especially along the famous Inca Trail. This two- to four-day route takes you through dense cloud forest, ancient Inca outposts and the great Urubamba gorge, ending with a dramatic descent into Machu Picchu. The number of hikers on the trail is now limited.

Note: It is imperative that visitors take it easy the first day or two in Cusco. The city’s high altitude (3,350 m) can cause altitude sickness, in people who have just arrived from Lima, which is at sea level.

When to travel to Cusco

The dry season is from May to September. This is good if going to on jungle treks. The rainy season is from the middle of November to March and can make activities such as jungle treks difficult. Some of these activities can be suspended if the weather gets to bad. This however is extremely rare.