Cusco

It’s almost impossible to quantify the reasons why so many tourists come to Cusco. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, famed for its encapsulation of the country’s 15th and 16th century Incan culture, but it’s also one of the best-placed gateways for trekkers looking to make the ubiquitous hike up Machu Picchu in the high peaks of the southern Peruvian Andes. In short it’s a city whose tourist guides literally brim with activities to do. Today, the downtown is an attractive melange of post-colonial architecture that bears all the trademarks of Spanish influence, from the wide market square at Plaza de Armas to the buzzing Plaza de San Francisco, the kingpin of Cusco’s café culture and chilled-out bar scene. There are also plenty of museums to explore, ranging from regional history exhibitions to some of Peru’s finest collections of contemporary art. The city of Cusco is perched high in the mountainous Andean valleys, and represents one of Peru’s best enclaves of preserved history. It’s a place that’s long been considered one of the undisputed ‘must sees’ for any tourist in the country, whether they intend to make the more ambitious journey further into the Sacred Valley of the Incas or not.