Cusco, located in the Southern Sierras, is a fascinating city that was the capital of the Incan Empire. It is one of Peru's most visited cities. Few places in Peru have an aura as magical as Cusco, which was the centre of the cult of the Sun. Here you can visit churches, museums, archaeological sites and many other sites.

Tourist Offices
Directur, Portal Blankets 117 (close to the Plaza de Armas), 222032.

Dangers and Annoyances
Drug law enforcement is very severe in Peru - that is, years in prison. Consider that many "long resident tourists" are part of the scene. It is already a felony that you "consider to maybe accept" an offer to buy. Keep this in mind, but know that locals have been seen smoking pot in the streets of Huanchacho, Ayacucho and other places. Don't wander alone away from the Plaza de Armas late at night. Don't flaunt your valuables around. Be conscious of what is going on around you.

Around and closeby
Visit nearby ruins. The largest of these ruins is the amazing Inca Sacsayhuaman (sometimes called Saqsaywaman and Sexy Woman) ruins high above Cusco. Machu Picchu - the atmospheric ruin perched below the Andes and above the jungle. For the best experience, walk there on the Inca Trail, which is certainly worth the effort!

Sightseeing
Walk around the Plaza de Armas; the square has churches, shops, restaurants and bars backing on to it and is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Visit the galleries; the stunning scenery of the Cusco area are often very well depicted by local artists. It is possible to find cheap prints that are of surprisingly good quality if you're prepared to shop about.

Museo del Sitio del Qoricancha, Av Sol. houses information about the different pre-Columbian cultures and fragments of ceramics and textiles of the Inca culture.

Getting there
The airport is at the edge of the city. There are daily internal flights to and from Lima, Arequipa and small jungle airstrips in the Amazon basin. Frequently, bad weather conditions can cause flights to be cancelled, often up to two days on end. If you are flying straight into Cusco, beware of altitude sickness for the first couple of days. Drink mate de coca (coca tea), the local remedy for this. Many hotels and hostels provide it to guests upon arrival. Also be sure to rest, most guidebooks and locals suggest minimal activity during your first day in the city. Altitude sickness tends to sneak up on you and its symptoms may not be apparent at first.
The Terminal Terrestre is about a 20 minute walk down the Av. Sol. You can also take a taxi for a few soles. Buses are plentiful from other Peruvian cities like Lima (about 24 hours), Puno (6-8 hours), Arequipa (10 hours), Nazca (14-16 hours) but are quite long and slow, although the views can compensate. The main roads are quite good, but some can be bad, making trips take longer than expected.
Also, make sure your bus has a bathroom or that it stops for bathroom breaks every couple of hours before you buy tickets.
Cusco is connected to Machu Picchu, Puno, and Arequipa by rail.

Getting around
The centre of Cusco is small enough to walk around, although you will probably need to catch a bus or taxi to the bus station or airport.