Nites
Cusco offers every range of accommodation, from hostel to five star, which comes in handy should you encounter closures at Machu Picchu or delayed flights.
The Antigua Casona San Blas (https://www.antiguacusco.com/) is a stunning property “up the hill” in the San Blas neighborhood. An artsy, bohemian, neighborhood with gorgeous architecture, the Antigua Casona does not disappoint: the rooms are perfection, and the bathrooms spacious. Be sure to include breakfast in your rate as the offers are ample and you will be set for the day.
Bites
I was honestly surprised at the sheer number of vegetarian, vegan, and vegan friendly restaurants in Cusco which were actually great! (The same could not be said for Lima to be honest.)
If I only had one night in Cusco – and two is probably enough, now that I’ve been – I would book a table at Green Point Vegan (https://greenpointcusco.com/home.html). Located right next to my recommended Antigua Casona San Blas, the space is deceptively large and inviting, and the drinks and food are outstanding (and huge!).
If you have a second night, I would point you to Organika (https://beacons.ai/organika_cusco). I little further afield, with some steep streets along the way, the staff were outstanding and the food on par with Green Point, just not quite as design forward as I prefer.
If you’ve spent the day walking all over the city, and the thought of one more steep hill more than you can take, Chia Vegan (https://www.facebook.com/chiavegankitchen) is just down the street from the Antigua Casona San Blas. The staff were so sweet, and the happy drink specials were a welcomed reprieve after a long day. A little more simply in terms of options, but the food was really good and I would happily return.
Sites
Please, do not go to Peru and Cusco without booking a trip to Rainbow Mountain. Once you’ve acclimated to the altitude, this may be one of the most memorably adventures that you will ever do.
We booked a tour with Rainbow Mountain Travels (https://www.rainbowmountaintravels.com/) who were wonderful. Sure, we were met at 3am (that’s not a typo) and stopped for an average breakfast on the way there, and an average lunch on the way back, but that wasn’t the purpose of the tour. The Rainbow Mountain is stunningly gorgeous and the views across the valley and the other mountains truly breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. There are multiple tour companies, some departing later and arriving at the mountain later but trust me when I say that the early start is worth it: the mountain isn’t crowded, and the temperatures are oddly perfect for such a challenging hike.
But reader note: not part of the tour, but an option that YOU MUST DO, is the add on to the Red Valley hike. They only accept soles and the price is a mere 30 soles, but the views are gorgeous and, as our guide said, perhaps more beautiful than the Rainbow Mountain. For those who aren’t sure if they can do the hike to 6035 meters /16,500 ft above sea level, there is the option for a guide on horseback to the base of the mountain so that you can climb slowly.
Second only to Machu Picchu are the ruins of Pisac in the Sacred Valley. About 1.5 hours from Cusco, these ruins are best done with a guide as there are not maps and no placques explaining things. Gorgeous on their own, but understanding the history behind the place and how society was organized, with the gods at the top, was insightful and impressive.
And if you have time, I highly recommend The Church of San Francisco near Plaza de Armas in Cusco. Photos are not permitted as it is an active convent, but the architecture is truly breathtaking and the views from the bell tower and the roof top over Cusco are truly stunning. Your ticket will also include access to the crypt but that may not be for everyone’s taste.