Cuzco: Itineraries

A Top Day in Cuzco

After flying into another splendid sunrise over the Andes, my plane finally lands on the runway in Cuzco. A short taxi ride into the city centre brings me to the Hotel Niños. I drop off my bags and then linger by the fireplace in the cafe with a cup of coca tea, willing my body to start acclimatising to the high altitude of Cuzco (elevation 3326m/10,912ft). Feeling refreshed, I ramble over to the Plaza de Armas, stopping to admire the city's historic cathedral, which took almost a century to build. A short, steep walk up Calle Tucumán leads to the Plaza del Tricentenario. There the modest Museo Inka awaits, with its hidden treasures from empires long ago and artisan weavers setting up shop in the inner courtyard. Heading east along Calle Palacio, I intersect with Calle Hatunrumiyoc, where a unique 12-sided stone is set into the wall of a 14th-century Inca palace. Later a colonial mansion, this building is the city's Museo de Arte Religioso (Museum of Religious Art). After taking a peek inside, I keep plodding uphill onto Cuesta San Blas, then gratefully sink into a chair at El Buen Pastor bakery or Granja de Heidi cafe for a freshly made, healthy snack. For the rest of the afternoon, I wander around the eclectic, artistic San Blas neighborhood, browsing the art galleries and craft shops while scouting out the newest eateries, bars and clubs for later tonight.

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