Cusco tour

Today started with what was meant to be a sleep-in… but travel excitement had other ideas. Carlos picked us up at 9am after a relaxed breakfast and we set off for a gentle day exploring some of Cusco’s most important historical sites.
Our first stop was Sacsayhuamán — a vast ceremonial complex perched above Cusco. Every time Carlos said the name I couldn’t help hearing “sexy woman” — which definitely added some unintended entertainment to the history lesson.
The scale of the site is extraordinary. The famous zig-zag walls are made from enormous stones, some weighing over 100 tonnes, fitted together so precisely you can’t slide a piece of paper between them. It’s even more remarkable knowing many stones were later taken by the Spanish to build colonial Cusco.
Next was Qenqo, a sacred ceremonial site associated with rituals for the elite. Here we descended into the underground chambers — a maze-like carved rock space believed to have been used for mummification and ceremonial preparation of high-status individuals. Standing inside those smooth carved passages, you can feel how significant this place once was.
A very important cultural stop followed… an alpaca shop!! Luckily we avoided spending any money, but we did learn the differences between fake and real alpaca wool.
Our final stop was Cusco Cathedral, built directly on top of former Inca foundations — a theme you see repeatedly across the city. Inside (no photos allowed) it was incredibly opulent: gold leaf, enormous artworks, carved wood and grand chapels everywhere. The Spanish certainly knew how to build monumental churches… often using stones from the very Inca temples they replaced.
The tour was supposed to finish at 1pm… but travel time operates on its own schedule and we wrapped up after 2 — meaning a very welcome late lunch.
Kim had a mission in Cusco: buy wool. Mission accomplished — and posted home. Quest completed ✔️
Mid-afternoon rain rolled in, raincoats came out, and while it slightly dampened the mood (and limited our time wandering Cusco’s main square), it also added that classic Andean atmosphere — dramatic skies, shiny cobblestones and the sense of a city that has seen centuries of change.
Another day where history feels layered everywhere — Inca foundations, colonial ambition and modern Cusco all sitting on top of each other.
And importantly… wool secured.Read more