Ruins ruins and more ruins around Cusco, Peru

After a bit of a rough start to Cusco (getting kicked out of a hostel for writing an honest review of a past hostel) I was determined to organise my trip in and around Cusco, to make the most of the time I have there. Cusco is a very cute town with buildings and rocks still from Inca times.

I ventured out early to sort out my Machu Picchu ticket and rail passes (more on that later). Then nabbed a tourist ticket (130 soles) to see all the ruins in Cusco and the surrounding areas. The ticket was good for 10 days and included a Native Folk Show and museum passes.

The Native Folk show wasn’t as naff as it sounds actually (yes I know what you’re all thinking). The dances were very enthusiastic and colourful. It was a great way to add a bit of culture into the ticket.

The next day in Cusco I decided to join a tour (20 soles) to see the 4 main ruin sites around Cusco. This turned out to be a good idea because there was a guide there that was able to tell you a bit about each one, plus it included transport. Otherwise it would have been a bit of a hike and I wouldn’t have understood as much about each site. Only downside was the limited time at each spot and the attempts to get us to buy other stuff.

The sites included:

Cusco was a quite pretty city, but what most people don’t mention is how much you will be hounded by people trying to sell things, massages or get you to come to their restaurant. I swear in the weekend I couldn’t go more than a minute or two without someone in my face.

Top Tips for Food in Cusco:
La Valeriana – cafe, with amazing food and cupcakes, fresh juices and actual coffee!
Jacks – cafe, great for breakfast, lunch or dinner – serving up a range of foods for any taste buds.
Los Perros – restaurant/wine bar, mega 400g burger was amazing and I wish I’d had time to return to taste some of the asian foods on the menu!