How to: Be Creative in Cuzco

Chelsey’s Backpacking Edition

TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELING IN PERU:

1. Tap water is not drinkable
2. Carry black activated charcoal pills in case your stool gets loose.
3. Use Hostelworld or booking.com for accommodations
4. CHARLES SCHWAB DEBIT CARD (NO ATM FEES OR FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES)
5. Use MultiRed ATM for cash pullouts (no extra fees)
6. T-MOBILE INCLUDES UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL DATA USE (No need to change numbers when traveling to different countries!)
7. Must try: Cuy (guinea pig), inka kola, lomo saltado, lucuma ice cream, pisco sours, chaufa (peruivan x Chinese food)

ONE OF THE BEST CITIES I'VE EVER VISITED! There is soooo much culture, history, sightseeing, cuisine, and energy to be explored. Cuzco is the Inca capital and their famous architectural stones can still be seen throughout the city.

TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELING IN PERU:

1. Tap water is not drinkable
2. Carry black activated charcoal pills on you in case your stool gets loose.
3. Use Hostelworld or booking.com for accommodations
4. CHARLES SCHWAB DEBIT CARD (NO ATM FEES OR FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES)
5. Use MultiRed ATM for cash pullouts (no extra fees)
6. T-MOBILE INCLUDES UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL DATA USE (No need to change numbers when traveling to different countries!)
7. Must try: Cuy (guinea pig), inka kola, lomo saltado, lucuma ice cream, pisco sours, chaufa (Peruvian x Chinese food)
8. Chewing on coca leaves or drinking coca tea for altitude sickness!

Place of stay:

• AIRBNB: This was an incredible AIRBNB and the host was even more amazing! Paty, the host, is also a travel agent, where you can book tours through her. She sent me an 11-page document of where to go and what to see! Located right in San Blas, I was able to escape the main city noise with a 10-minute walk and seek out non-touristy spots nearby.
• Recommended amount of time: One week (excluding time on the Inca/Salkantay trail)

Activities:

• Sacred Valley Tour: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Through this tour, you see all of the Sacred Valley which is very key to Cusco and its history. It is a lot for one day but you get to see all the incredible highlights of the region. Even though it’s very touristy, it’s definitely worth it!

• Humantay Lake Tour: Nice (not super demanding) hike to visit a gorgeous blue lagoon!

• Rainbow Valley Tour: An ocean of colors! This hike is very well-known and a must when you go to Cusco! Only takes around an hour to get to the top but is a very long ride from Cusco!

• Machu Picchu (Inca trail, Salkantay trail, or a FULL DAY tour): AN OBVIOUS MUST-DO IF YOU ARE IN CUSCO. IF YOU DO ANYTHING, THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THEM! You can do one of the hikes or just take a day trip to the village. I booked a day tour and was extremely satisfied as everything was pre-planned for me, making it very easy for me not to put the small pieces together to get myself there.

• Free Walking Tour: Very important in a city like Cusco! Learning the history with a local guide is the best way to discover the secrets of Cusco!
• Choco Museo: Okay seriously, the Choco Museo wins the prize for the best chocolate I have ever tasted in my life! There are two museums in the city and I visited both for the free chocolate tour. You try chocolates, liquors, and tea…IT’S FANTASTIC! If you love chocolate as I do, I would recommend the Bean-to-bar Chocolate class which was a 10/10 experience!

• Qorikancha: A popular historic museum in the heart of the city center!
• Piedras de los 12 ángulos: One of the most famous representations of the Inca arcitecture. Located right by the Cathedral, you can’t miss it!

• Cristo Blanco (Saqsaywaman): A short hike from the city center to view Christ with a stellar view of the city! In the village of Saqsaywaman, you can explore other Inca heritage, architecture, and sights.

• Cusco Cathedral: If you visit any church in Cusco, it has to be this one! Inside there are multiple exhibitions. Make sure to get the pass that allows you entrance into four other churches in the area! Although my eyes got tired towards the end, I did this all in one day and it was spectacular!

• Church of the Society of Jesus: A church right in the main square next to the Cathedral! If you are a sucker for churches like me, I would visit here as well!

• Namaste Masajes Spa: At this location, I got a great chocolate massage. Yes, I was completely naked covered in chocolate. It was a great exfoliator! But, as you walk the city center streets of Cusco, you can get an hour-long massage for 20 PEN (4–5 USD)
• Paramatma Healing: If you want to visit a spiritual healer who gives all different types of healing and massages, this is your guy! Speaks perfect English and served as a monk before he came to Cusco.

Food/Cafes:

• Mr. Cuy: Expensive (because it is located in the main square) but a fire spot in the city center. We went here more than a few times…AMAZING cocktail deal: 2 for 20 PEN and you get a welcome drink when you sit down! Happy hour is happening every hour of the day. FOR SURE TRY CUY!!!! It is plenty of food for two as it includes sides.

• ImaginaTe: The best cocoa latte I’ve ever had in my life! Beyond rich and is such a heart opener like they say! The golden latte, chai latte, and any of the homemade sweet treats are fantastic!

• Eco Bunnu Inn Cafe: The best breakfast deal you will come across during your time in Cusco. There are NO tourists here as it is just outside of the city center. For only 21 SOL (5 USD), you get coffee of choice, juice of choice, scrambled eggs, freshly made bread, jam, butter, AND french toast! We went here every morning.

• San Blas Market: Great spot to hit for lunch and INSANELY cheap! This market was one of the cleaner markets that I felt I could trust to eat at. Must try the Machupicchu sandwich from the stands against the wall and anything from Green Falafel!

Machupicchu sandwich

Green Falafel Cusco falafel sandwich

• San Pedro Market: Great market to shop and explore but I wouldn't eat here… That’s just my opinion.
• Nuna Raymi: Went here for Valentine's Day and they made it super special! Food is crafted with only organic native products as they aspire to keep culture and community alive! The ambiance is fantastic and the food is rich in flavor! Order anything and you can’t go wrong

• Garhwal Indian Comida: Fireeeee Indian spot near San Pedro Market. Went here twice!

• El Bocca Pizza: For some reason, pizza is pretty expensive especially if you're in the city center. We found this great pizza spot that's not filled with tourists, therefore you won't get tourist prices. It's near San Blas/the AIRBNB.

• Van Gogh Cafe: Great little cafe near the main square with good wifi and coffee.
• Jack’s Cafe: This place really felt like I was back in the States. 10/10 because it gives fun diner vibes and you get HUGE plate portions! You will not leave here hungry!!!

Night clubs/bars:

• Wild Rover: You already know the vibes…this place BUMPS! Great terrace with a view of the city…Sometimes there's a tattoo artist hanging here while you party…hahahahaha

• Changa Club Cusco: THE CLUB OF CUSCO…Later in the night, the better…
• Inka Team: Multi-leveled discoteca with different music on each floor

• Carvecería Del Valle Sagrado: In the Choco Museo! We went on a bar crawl and got taken here. Would recommend this bar and doing a bar crawl in Cusco!

PEACE AND LOVE TO MY CITY CUSCO! Amazing memories, new friends, and a ton of chocolate later……Enjoy the city with an open heart and grateful goggles.

From here, I took a night bus to Arequipa!

Xoxoxo, Chelsey the traveler❤

BTW, you can always reach out to me via this platform or Instagram: @chelseyjacobs with any questions or assistance!