Cusco (Cuzco) Peru Adventure Travel | Budget Travel Adventure
TOP 5 REASONS WHY NOT TO VISIT CUSCO (CUZCO), PERU
Cusco (or Cuzco) is the second largest city in Peru, and once upon a time, the largest city in South America during the era of the Inca Empire. Cusco was the central capital of the Incas. While most budget adventure travelers spend much time in Cusco (it is after all the base point for all Machu Picchu travels), the Larkycanuck does not recommend spending more than 2 days in Cusco. Here are the top 5 reasons for not doing so.
View of Cusco City from the airplane
1. Altitude
At 3,400 m (11,200 ft), Cusco is higher in elevation than Machu Picchu ruins, which stands at only 2,430 m (7,972 ft). Unless you are accustomed to such altitudes, or have acclimatized to it by spending 2 days, you are likely to feel symptoms of altitude sickness ranging from anything mild like dizziness, nausea to extreme like faint spells, cramps, severe breathing problems. Consult your doctor at home before undertaking a trip up here.
2. Tourist Trap
With over 1.5 million tourists visiting Cusco any given year, if the UNESCO had an official list of World Tourist Traps like it does for its Heritage Sites, Cusco would be in the global top 10. Which is good. But also bad. As one can only expect of tourist traps, the place is bustling with mostly overpriced hotels, restaurants, clubs, and souvenir shops. If you are likely to be ripped off anywhere in the world simply for being touristy, this place is it. While you may convince yourself that any purchase made serves the local economy and handicrafts, think twice! Make that thrice! Most souvenirs and handicrafts are not actually made in Peru, let alone by the Andean handicraft workers. Although official tourist staff will “recommend” authentic locations, beware. Recommendations don’t mean much from any stranger, official or not. It helps to know aninsider, like an international tourist guide, to suggest where the bargain stops are. And most genuine guides will be upfront in not recommending Cusco.
Saksaywaman
3. Not much to see
Besides a few notable exceptions, the city downtown itself does not have much to offer in terms of things to see in Cusco. There are some ruins outside the city centre, but once you have done Machu Picchu and Pisac, these local ruins are tiring at best to visit. Extremely boring at worst. So I recommend touring these local spots (Saksaywaman, Qorikancha, Tambomachay, Kenko) and others before departing for Machu Picchu trek. There are some notable tours to take within Cusco, but most local operators do not offer it, which is sad. It is a behind the scenes Cusco tour offered by select companies.
4. Dining options are blah!
I will admit that I did not spend enough time in Cuzco to be the authoritative source on dining options. But two meals and several walks along the plazas to find Starbucks, McDonald’s, and other fast food delicacies of North America is enough to hint at what to expect. Don’t waste your money on fine dining or expect authentic experience unless you go with a local. There are many other places in Peru to indulge.
Tambomachay
5. The crowd
See point #2 above. The visitors are not just foreign tourist. A good part includes Peruvians from other regions and other Latin Americans. The crowds can get bothersome at certain times, especially if you take a local tour that caters to mostly Peruvian crowd. We took such a bi-lingual tour in Cuzco. While the guide was really good and gave a different (local) perspective of the sites than a tour guide catering exclusively to foreigners, we were delayed extensively by locals who were on the tour bus (one did not show up for 30 minutes and was finally left behind by the group).
My fans familiar with my budget adventure travel stories will of course find my top 5 reasons to not visit Cusco as facetious. It is partially true. Cusco does have some spectacles worth visiting. Check out some of these photos below, and I will let you decide.
Disclaimer: A portion of this tour was sponsored by Gate1 Travel. Check out their other incredible tours in Peru.
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