Exploring Cusco, Peru

We're continuing our travels through Peru by exploring the cultural city of Cusco. This high altitude city has preserved its cultural roots, alpaca-loving community, and Andes mountain vibes. This gateway to Machu Picchu is the perfect place to acclimate to the altitude before taking off on the Inca Trail trek.In this episode we talk about:Things to know for traveling to CuscoHow to handle high altitude and avoid sicknessWalking city tour with Free Walking Peru ToursOur first hostel experience at Pariwana HostelMule-back riding to rainbow mountain the beautiful Vinicunca Mountains in the AndesDrinking pisco soursThe chocolate museum in CuscoCristo Blanco and an “easy day” to get there$6 Peruvian massagesWe absolutely LOVEDHotel Rojas Inn in Cusco, but we also considered staying at the gorgeousNovotel Cusco andAranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel - all come with a free breakfast buffet!We took a tour out tohike/horseback ride Rainbow Mountain and highly recommend it! You can see that tour and others we recommend in ourCusco Viator Shop.You can't go to Peru without seeing the ruins so be sure to listen to our full episode about the 4 day/3 nightInca Trail hike to Machu Picchu adventure we did, lots of good tips in here!If you're looking for a flight deal to Peru, we recommend signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to get daily flight deals (points & cash) emailed directly to you!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shop:Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.