Cusco
Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old city, with arcades, carved wooden balconies and Incan wall ruins. The baroque Santo Domingo Convent was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework. Here is the VHS City Guide to Cusco, Peru.
STAY
INKATERRA LA CASONA A Relais & Châteaux property located in the Plaza de las Nazarenas in the former home of Simon Bolivar with a Michelin star restaurant. Next to the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, Plaza, Nazarenas 211, Cusco 08002, Peru; inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-la-casona
MONASTERIO, A BELMOND HOTEL This former monastery, dating from 1592, offers luxurious colonial-style accommodations set around a courtyard. Nazarenas 337, Cusco 08002, Peru; belmond.com/hotels/south-america/peru/cusco/belmond-hotel-monasterio
PALACIO NAZARENAS, A BELMOND HOTEL Housed in a former convent built on Inca walls at the centre of Cusco, Peru featuring an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a bar, and a restaurant. Nazarenas 223, Cusco 08002, Peru; belmond.com/hotels/south-america/peru/cusco/belmond-palacio-nazarenas
PALACIO DEL INKA A Luxury Collection restored 16th-century Hotel located across from Coricancha in the heart of Cusco with ancient Andean-inspired decor. Santo Domingo 259, Cusco 08002, Peru; marriott.com/en-us/hotels/cuzlc-palacio-del-inka-a-luxury-collection-hotel-cusco
INKATERRA HACIENDA URUBAMBA Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a contemporary hacienda-style hotel of 5 stars in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in-between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Sacred Valley of the Incas, Km 63 of the Cusco-Urubamba-Pisac-Calca Highway, 08670, Peru; inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-hacienda-urubamba
RIO SAGRADO, A BELMOND HOTEL Set among lush gardens that line the Urubamba River, Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel, Sacred Valley is located in a glen once home to the ancient Incas. Km. 75.8, Carretera Urubamba-Ollantaytambo, Valle Sagrado, Urubamba, Peru; belmond.com/hotels/south-america/peru/sacred-valley/belmond-hotel-rio-sagrado
SANCTUARY LODGE, A BELMOND HOTEL As the only hotel located next to Machu Picchu, a stay at Sanctuary Lodge is a chance to be the first to enter the ancient Inca citadel at dawn. Machu Picchu, Carretera Hiram Bingham Km 7.5, 08680, Peru; belmond.com/hotels/south-america/peru/machu-picchu
DINE | DRINK
MAUKA An authentic Cusco restaurant dedicated to Andean cuisine, Mauka sees the world's best female chef Pía León draw on hyper-local diversity. Nazarenas 223, Cusco 08002, Peru; belmond.com/hotels/south-america/peru/cusco/belmond-palacio-nazarenas
3 MONKEYS COFFEE A specialty coffee shop. Pje. Pampa de la Alianza 474, Cusco 08000, Peru
MIL MIL Centro is the sister restaurant of Central by Chef Virgilio Martinez sitting 3568 meters above sea level at the archeological site of Moray in Maras, Vía a Moray, Maras 08655, Peru; milcentro.pe
LIMO The Limo Restaurant offers wonderful Peruvian fusion and novo-Andean cuisine on Cusco's Main Square. Portal de Carnes 236, Cusco 08002, Peru; cuscorestaurants.com
ART | CULTURE
OLLANTAYTAMBO Ollantaytambo is a village in the Sacred Valley of south Peru, set on the Urubamba River amid snow-capped mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Major sites within the complex include the huge Sun Temple and the Princess Baths fountain. The village's old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.
QORIKANCHA The Coricancha was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, and was described by early Spanish colonialists. It is located in Cusco, Peru, which was the capital of the empire. Santo Domingo s/n, Cusco 08000, Peru
PLAZA DE ARMAS The Plaza de Armas of Cusco is located in the city of Cusco, Peru. Located in the historic center of the city is the main public space of the town since before its Spanish foundation in 1534. Geological studies carried out in the area show that it originally had a swamp, crossed by the Saphy River. Cusco 08000, Peru
CENT DE TEXTILES TRADICIONALES DEL CUSCO Craft center with demonstrations of local weaving traditions, plus colorful textiles for sale. Av. El Sol 603, Cusco 08000, Peru; textilescusco.org
SAQSAYWAMAN Sacsayhuamán or Saksaywaman is a citadel on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. The site is at an altitude of 3,701 metres. Cusco 08002, Peru
CUSCO CATHEDRAL The Cathedral of Cusco or Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption is the main temple of the city of Cusco, in Peru and houses the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Cusco. F2MC+85M, Cusco 08002, Peru
MORAY Moray is an archaeological site in Peru approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Cuzco on a high plateau at about 3,500 metres and just west of the village of Maras. The site contains Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is approximately 30 m deep. Maras 08655, Peru
MACHU PICCHU Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery. 08680, Peru; machupicchu.gob.pe
SHOP
MERCADO CENTRAL DE SAN PEDRO Bustling covered market with stalls for produce, meat, clothing, souvenirs, snacks & fresh juices. Thupaq Amaru 477, Cusco 08002, Peru