Cusco, sacred city and capital of the Tahuantinsuyo, was the government center of the four big administrative regions of the Inca empire. This fabulous empire extended to comprise a great part of what today is Ecuador, Colombia, Perú, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. The Inca empire was a very well structured society. It stands out for having a great knowledge in architecture, hydraulic engineering, medicine and agriculture.
On March 23, 1534, Francisco Pizarro founded, over the Inca city of Cusco, a Spanish city. It then turned out to be an example of cultural blending, which has left us priceless architectural monuments and pieces of art.
During Colonial times, several big insurrections against the Spanish power took place. The most important was lead by José Gabriel Condorcanqui (Túpac Amaru II) in 1871, others were headed by the Angulo brothers and by Mateo Pumacahua in 1814.
Since 1825, with the Republic, Cusco starts to show the wonders of its culture. With the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham in 1910, Perú is mentioned all over the world.
International flights fly in and out of Lima (international airport tax on leaving the country is $25) and there are several airlines that offer many daily flights to Cusco from Lima costing approximately $80 one way (one hour). Also, a variety of bus companies provide services to Cusco, costing approximately $30 one way. This takes about 22 hours!!! From other major cities there are also flights (domestic airport tax is 14 s/. – approximately $ 4) and bus services are available from most urban areas.
Facilities
Banks – Many banks on the main street (Avenida del Sol) have ATMs from which you can withdraw cash with Visa or Mastercard. A lot of hotels, agencies and restaurants also accept payment with Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
You can also change Euros or English pounds although the rates are not very good. Therefore it is worth changing your money into dollars before you come to Peru.
Accommodation – There is accommodation in Cusco to suit every purse; from budget hostals to five-star hotels. In peak season, we recommend booking ahead (we can suggest hotels according to your requirements and make the necessary reservations). For longer-stay travellers, there are also unfurnished and furnished rooms and apartments that can be rented per day, week or month for good rates.
Food and Drink – There are plenty of local and tourist restaurants that offer a wide-variety of food; from the delicious grilled-guinea pig (local delicacy), ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon), pollos a la brasa (chicken grilled in a fire-wood oven, served with chips – Peruvian fast food!) to pizza and pasta restaurants.
Popular drinks here are coca tea (tea made from the coca leaf), Inca Kola (soft drink made with lemon grass – only found in Peru!), Pisco Sour (a mix of Pisco, egg whites, lemon, sugar, cinnamon and ice) and chicha (alcoholic drink made from corn).
Shopping – A great variety of hand-made textiles can be found here; popular buys are alpaca, llama or the high-quality vicuña wool fabrics. There are also beautiful ceramic works and gold and silver jewellery on sale. Most of the best shops are located around the main square (Plaza de Armas) in Cusco.
In the highlands in general, there are only two seasons:
Dry – May to October. During these months, the days are usually hot and sunny (20-25°c) and the nights are cold, particularly in June and July (0°c or below).
Wet – November to April. (The wettest months are January to March.) Although this is known as the wet season, it does not usually rain all day! The mornings are generally clear and dry and it is in the afternoons that there are heavy outbursts. In the day, the temperatures are normally around 18°c and in the night, around 15°c.