Cuckoo for Cusco

Cusco is a picturesque town tucked away in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. As the once capital of the Inca Empire – there are remains and ancient architecture that still decorate the city today.

We kicked off our morning with a pit-stop at Alpaca Expeditions to deliver our final payment for the trek, and then headed for our first local foodie experience. We stepped into a quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant (name coming soon!) and made our way to the back – where it became clear we were the only tourists in the joint. We ordered a round of ‘Mate de Coca’ (coca tea) for the table and let the water warm our bellies. Coca is said to help foreigners adjust to the altitude – but it’s also intriguing to travelers because the leaves of the coca plant contain alkaloids which are the source for cocaine base. [Don’t worry mom and dad – we didn’t chew the leaves – so no failed drug tests here!] The boys continued lunch with different variations of alpaca while the ladies opted for corn “sopas” and chicken. The flavors were to die for! Between the food and the atmosphere, it’s fair to say we were hooked on Cusco.

Plaza de Armas was next on the list, which sits in the central square in the old city and is adorned with arcades, carved wooden balconies and Incan wall ruins. Santo Domingo Convent was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun (or Qoricancha), and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework. We toured the religious site which was top of the “to dos” in central Cusco and admired the talented artist of days past. We roamed the small, stone streets of Cusco in search of local treasures and souvenirs. Our fingers grazed soft alpaca hats and gloves, we admired the intricate handiwork on the various carved gourds, and swooned over the colorful textiles. Ultimately, the ladies opted for a few silver rings crafted by local jewelers while we sipped our afternoon coffees.

After walking every square inch of Cusco’s downtown and historical centers, our final stop of the day required a small hike to the top of the city. The view from Sacsayhuaman (pronounced “sexy woman”) at sunset was said to be the best in town — and the rumors were true. We watched the sun sink behind us as the glow of the day sparkled over Cusco and the Andes mountains in the distance.

We closed our day with family dinner at Morena Peruvian Kitchen and toasted to day one over the famed Peruvian Pisco Sour – nom nom nom. We stuffed ourselves with fresh ceviche, potatoes and corn, grilled trout, quinoa and mouthwatering Lomo Saltado (beef stirfry). Needless to say, we slept soundly and rested our bodies in preparation for the World Cup final and our ATV tour through the Sacred Valley.