Cusco

Welcome to Cusco

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire—the "navel of the world" from which the Incas ruled territory stretching from Colombia to Chile. Today the Andean city at 3,400 meters enchants visitors with its fusion of Inca foundations and Spanish colonial architecture, where baroque churches rise from perfectly fitted stone walls. The gateway to Machu Picchu, Cusco merits exploration in its own right: ancient temples converted to churches, markets where Quechua-speaking vendors sell traditional textiles, and restaurants reinventing Andean cuisine. The altitude hits hard at first, but the rewards of acclimatization are extraordinary.