Once the foremost city of the Inca Empire, Cuzco is now a buzzing, vibrant city with an interesting and unique mix of ancient Inca and modern European culture. This beautiful city is the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Often overlooked as simply the gateway to magical Machu Picchu, Cuzco itself proudly displays its own rich and complex history, where Spanish colonial buildings sit directly atop ancient Inca walls.
Cuzco presents a beguiling blend of Incan and Spanish cultures.
Eat: In a city full of traditions, a wonderful way to discover true Cuzcan culture is to try its food. One traditional dish you’re sure to encounter is cuy (guinea pig). Alternately called cobayo or conejillo de indias, the taste is similar to rabbit. Traditionally reserved for nobility, today cuy is raised commercially and is a nutritious part of the Andean diet. Chicha Morada, a spiced drink made out of purple corn, is another delicious Peruvian specialty.
The majority of Cuzco’s restaurants are close to the Main Square, Plaza de Armas, and offer a variety of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets. One such restaurant is the Inka Grill. This comfortable restaurant, located in the heart of Plaza de Armas offers both traditional Andean fare as well as international specialties. You might try the Aji de Gallina, one of Peru’s most popular dishes. Shredded chicken is poached in a creamy sauce with nuts, parmesan cheese, amarillo and mirasol chili peppers and served with rice, yellow potatoes and hard-boiled eggs. The restaurants accompanying folkloric music performances make your meal truly memorable.
Learn: The city of Cuzco itself is a great museum that holds amazing archaeological and artistic treasures. Its streets, protected by magnificent buildings in which stone and adobe are superposed, is proof of a glorious past. The imposing ruins, which make Cuzco the “Archaeological Capital of the Americas”, as well as the impressive colonial buildings, have overcome the test of time and offer visitors a magnificent open-air museum. However, if you’re looking for a more traditional museum, don’t miss the Museo de Arte Pre Colombino. Located close to the city center and housed within a grand Spanish colonial mansion, Cuzco’s most visited museum is filled with interesting pre-Columbian art works, multi-colored pottery exhibits, detailed jewelry and historical Inca treasures.
Shop: Large, open-air markets filled with colorful displays of alpaca clothing, hats, ceramics, pottery, and jewelry center around almost every plaza in Cuzco. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, these places are entertaining to walk through and offer a unique cultural experience. One of the most popular souvenirs are the region’s textiles. High quality shirts, bags, hats and tapestries made from either fine alpaca or sheep wool are usually sold at low prices. High quality jewelry modeled after traditional pieces found in various Incan tombs can also be found very inexpensively in Cuzco. Pottery and colorful plaster figures called retablos, displaying patterns, designs, and figures from Incan myths and legends, are also common souvenirs. Don’t be afraid to bargain a little bit, it is very common and accepted form of shopping in Cuzco.
Don’t Miss: Visit a local chicharia to watch or try your hand in a game of Sapo. Legend has it that the royal Inca King, son of the Sun God, would travel to Lake Titicaca and throw gold pieces into the lake hoping to catch the attention of “El Sapo” (the frog), who was know for it’s magical powers. The Incas believed that if a frog caught the gold piece in its mouth, the thrower would be instantly awarded a wish and the frog would turn into solid gold. Today’s version of the game involves throwing small coins, called fichas, at a table with holes and a bronze frog attached. You earn points when your coin lands in one of the holes on the table and more points if it lands in the frog’s mouth. The game is best enjoyed over a glass of local chicha (corn beer), which was the sacred drink of the Incas and is still a very popular choice today for many campesino (rural farmers).
