A Journey Through Peru :: Landing in Cusco

Peru is one of my favorite countries. It is full of surprises, from landscapes where the jungle meets the mountains, to the abundance of traditional agriculture practices still being used, to the number of people still speaking the Quechua language rather than Spanish. While studying abroad in Chile, I took a month off from classes to journey through Peru, soon wishing that I had found a study abroad program in Cusco. I traveled from Lima, to Cusco, to the Sacred Valley, through the jungle to Machu Picchu, to Puno, to Lake Titicaca and the islands, to Tacna, and finally ending my journey by crossing the border back into Chile through Arica.

After spending a couple of days in Lima, we flew to Cusco. Cusco is the "continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city" (Lonely Planet). We stayed at Hospedaje Turistico Recoleta, which was a wonderful hostel - quiet, clean, and spacious.

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Within 30 minutes of wandering around the city, we came across a church where many boys were rehearsing some kind of show. We passed by this rehearsal for the next few nights, and on the fourth we were lucky enough to see the show complete with singing, dancing, and lots of popcorn.

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We strolled over to the center of the city and hung out in Plaza de Armas. The photo below is of Cusco Cathedral. Strangely there was also a Starbucks and McDonalds in the plaza. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised by this...just a little saddened.

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We walked over to the market and spent some time exploring all of the goods that vendors were showing. I saw a small alpaca stuffed animal and took him home with us. I'm not sure if it's because I really wanted a dog at that point and couldn't have a real live pet, but I really treated that stuffed animal like a pet...

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For dinner that night, our appetizer was unpopped popcorn, or canchita. I was in love with all of the colors and speckles on each kernel. This kind of corn is so different from the typical yellow corn that we grow in the US, which is often GMO and non-organically grown.

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The next morning we packed some lunches and took the bus up to the ruins above the city. We jumped out at Tambomachay, which is "a source of spring water that is believed to be worshiped by the Incans" (Lonely Planet). The water is still running, and it is impressive to see old irrigation technology still functioning.

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After spending some time wandering around the small town next to the Tambomachay ruins, we crossed the street and explored the Puca Pucara ruins, which was once a fort used by the Incan military.

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Part of the Puca Pucara ruins.

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We took a bus down the road to Qenqo. Qenqo is a labyrinth made of stones and is thought to have been used for sacrifices and rituals.

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This is the view of Cusco from the Qenqo ruins. A couple is sitting on a stone rock overlooking the city.

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