Cuzco > Reviews

Advantages: The scenery, location, experience... need I go on
Disadvantages: A physically demanding hike and not that cheap

When most people think of South America, images of the bright, vibrant flamboyance of Rio’s world famous Carnivale, the fluid grace of the great Latino dances of the Samba and the Tango, the mesmeric skills of a South American footballer and, at least for some, the mystic of the Inca Trail all come to mind. My plans for my month in South America were at the best vague, well to be totally honest, non-existent really, bar my arrival in the Argentinean ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful, cheap (if you know how) and cultural
Disadvantages: altitude, but only briefly

...so what we saw of Cuzco was brief, but... Magical. We fell in love with Cuzco - I, most especially. The wonderful thing about the place is that it combines the wonders of new technology (an internet cafe around every corner) and the beauty of the Inca and Spanish architecture. The streets are littered with shops, restaurants, hotels and hostels, as well as laundrys and supermarkets. There are hotels for the rich traveller, and hostels for the ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful buildings and a real sense of history
Disadvantages: Extremely touristy and more expensive than most of the country.

...Cuzco! A quick history lesson - Cuzco was the capital city of the Incas, a group of people who conquered a large part of Peru and Ecuador. The Incan Empire was thriving nicely until the Spanish came along and conquered them for a change in 1532. The effects of this are still apparent today, with native Peruvian Indians speaking only Quechua and not a word of Spanish. The city itself was said to be shaped as a puma (one of the sacred aminals of ... Read review

Advantages: Fabulous Scenery, Once in a Lifetime Trip
Disadvantages: Altitude problems

It is a four hour train journey to Machu Picchu, through some very spectacular scenery. To climb out of Cusco the train has to do a zigzag route up the hillside. This involves going forwards, then reversing on to the higher track, then forwards again, then backwards, forwards, backwards - it does this about 6 times to climb out of the valley in which Cusco lies, then gradually moves down into the valley beyond. The railway follows the Urumumba ... Read review

Advantages: Good tour company, everything arranged
Disadvantages: Have to stick to the tour companies timetable

I have just returned from a trip to Peru. I went with the British tour company Page and Moy. Evrything was well organised and we had a great time, even though my wife had to spend a night in hospital, because of food poisoning and altitude sickness. The country is a fascinating place, with a great contrast between the haves and the have-nots. We in the First World have a lot to learn from these people who have next to nothing, but just get on and ... Read review

Advantages: Scenery, eating guinea pig, inca ruins
Disadvantages: weather, crap rental hiking gear

...Trial! We landed in Cuzco and nearly suffocated just unloading our bags - sea level to 3500 metres by plane can quite knock you for six. We went on a tour of all the inca sites in and around the town which was pretty good - those incas knew a thing or two about masonry. The inca trailitself was an amazing experience, but I don't recommend you goin the rainy season. We got completely drenched and ended up trying to avoid hypothermia by crashing in ... Read review