What’s revealed around the corner in Cusco
If you wander deep enough into Cusco, Peru — away from the Plaza de Armas and generally in an uphill direction — you can escape the touts and the tourist traps.
In the side streets and alleys, the city starts to display its personality, centuries in the making.
Shadows and sunlight in a street of San Blas
Taxi and Capilla de San Antonio Abad
Dancer sculpture, llama, and church bell tower
Blue window and red flowers in the San Blas neighborhood
Dog and doors in San Blas neighborhood of Cusco, Peru.
The hills of Cusco, Peru touched in sunlight
Love your pictures! They tell the entire story! We really miss Peru.
Glad you like them Mike, we’re all about visual storytelling.
LOVE the pics! My husband is a little obsessed with Peru and dreams of going back all the time!
We couldn’t agree with your husband more. Peru is a place that quickly inspires return-visit dreaming and conspiring.
Your pictures definitely show how beautiful Peru can be. I’ve always wanted to see Cuzco, but I have heard the tourism aspect can be overwhelming, so it’s good to know it is possible to get away from it. All the amazing ancient architecture and the beautiful colors are stunning. How long were you there?
Thanks Katie! Despite the heavy dose of tourism, Cusco is definitely worth visiting. We stayed there on our way in and out of the Sacred Valley, about 5 days total. We were there in late spring, which is off-season and more pleasant I’d bet.
It’s also much easier to get from town to town in the Sacred Valley than I thought it would be — the shared taxi vans and public buses are very efficient — and we would have stayed more in smaller towns if we had known that.
Hey Lauren,
Thanks for sharing your trip! I’m getting pumped for my upcoming trip reading about hearts on sticks and extreme sliding :) We have a few days to spend in the Sacred Valley. What towns would you recommend staying in?
-Kat
You’re welcome. Ollantaytambo and Cusco are the best towns for overnight stays if you only have a few days. Ollantaytambo is more chillax and great for getting started on nearby hikes early in the day, while Cusco has a lot of nighttime activities.
Enjoy your adventure!