Why Cusco is One of My Favorite Cities
Three years ago, I sold my fitness business in Portland, Oregon, & decided to travel to South America for three months. My first decision: pick a city to base myself in, where I could learn Spanish & start getting familiar with Latin culture. I spent a MONTH researching great South American cities ~ but eventually narrowed it down to two choices: Banos de Agua Santa in Ecuador, & Cusco, Peru. Ultimately, I chose Cusco, & ended up staying there a month. In this article, I’ll do my best to show why Cusco is one of my favorite cities in the world…& how it began my love affair with South America.
Map of Cusco
Cusco
Machu Picchu
San Blas Neighborhood
Sacsayhuaman
Cusco International Airport
Why Did I Choose Cusco?
Why did I choose Cusco as my South American home base? It seemed to check off my most important desires: 1) They had at least three MAJOR Spanish schools (I needed to learn at least some Spanish); 2) It’s a big city ~ but not too big (big cities tend to overwhelm me); & 3) It’s the gateway to Machu Picchu, which was #1 on my “South America Bucket List.”Â
This was the one place I knew I had to see.Â
I scoured Airbnb prior to my trip, & knew I could stay in great accommodations on a reasonable budget in Cusco. In short: I wouldn’t break the bank there!Â
But what I didn’t know, is how quickly Cusco would start to feel like the foreign home I never knew I was missing…
A Short Tour of Cusco…
If it’s your first time staying in Cusco, I highly recommend staying at a hotel within walking distance of the spectacular Plaza de Armas. This is where all the action happens ~ & where you can find tours, restaurants, & beautiful cathedrals. If there’s any festival going on: it will pass through the Plaza….& there’s usually a festival going on just about every day of the year in Cusco (I’m not kidding)!
A Trip Up to Sacayhuaman…
Most people pass through Cusco on their way to Machu Picchu. But there are phenomenal Inca ruins just five minutes from town: the former Inca strong-hold of Sacsayhuaman. This was one of my favorite places, & it’s one of the reasons why Cusco is one of my favorite cities: there’s a sense of peace & majesty here, combined with the genius that is Inca architecture (you’ll wonder how they managed to get such MASSIVE stones uphill, & placed beside each other with laser-like precision…in the 15th century).Â
Sacsayhuaman exemplifies much of what makes Peru & Cusco so special: there’s a sense of mystery, combined with overwhelming beauty. Sights like the jaw-dropping Andes Mountains, stunning views in every direction, lovable alpacas, & the rugged strength of the Peruvian people make Peru a place unlike anywhere in the world.Â
The People of Peru
No matter how beautiful a country is, the people you meet there tend to leave the deepest impression. And Peru is no exception. While Peruvians aren’t necessarily the most overtly friendly people I’ve met (Thais & Colombians both come to mind on that score), they do embody two qualities I value highly: strength & authenticity. From their rugged faces & deeply-tanned skin, to their ease in scaling mountains that equal the height of Everest’s base camp (& will leave you gasping for air) ~ strength, resilience, & quiet pride all seem to personify the Peruvian people I encountered along my journey.
This last image is what I think of most when I think of Peru: I can’t count the number of women I saw, carrying huge sacks on their back, usually up steep hills ~ bringing goods back to their families. And they were often wearing flimsy sandals…which blew our minds. I’m not sure why, but this is the image that comes to mind when I think of Peru.Â
It personifies, to me, a lack of pretension & uncomplaining strength.
Why Cusco is One of My Favorite Cities
I’ve returned to Cusco twice since that first visit, & have stayed in at least fifteen hotels all over the city! The sheer number of amazing accommodations is another reason why I love this city so much: there’s a charming choice available for all budgets. Some of my favorite hotels in Cusco are: 1) The exquisite JW Marriott El Convento ($150+/night), 2) The Novotel Cusco ($90+/night), & 3) Apu Huascaran Hostal, in the San Blas neighborhood ($25+/night) ~ which is a great example of a budget accommodation that still has a TON of charm…& is a perfectly safe place to stay.Â
But there are HUNDREDS of incredible accommodations in Cusco that you could literally spend a lifetime exploring….
The Beauty of Cusco at Night
 My last night in Cusco, I was staying in a fifth-floor room at the Novotel Cusco ~ & just happened to have a staggeringly gorgeous view of Cusco’s towering cathedrals. Something about this sight had me in tears, & to this day, Cusco is one of the only cities that has created this kind of emotion in me.
Even now, I still don’t fully understand this reaction I had to leaving Cusco. But I do know that Cusco had enough of the “foreign & exotic” to keep me enthralled & challenged, while still being small & charming enough to somehow become familiar.Â
Perhaps it was the perfect blend of old & new; familiar & unfamiliar.
Why Cusco is One of My Favorite Cities
Thanks for reading about why Cusco is one of my favorite cities in the world…though I realize now I never even talked about the FOOD!!! The food in Peru & Cusco is SO. SO. SO. INCREDIBLY. GOOD!!!! I probably need a separate article just to talk about it.Â
But you get the point…Cusco is a city I could go on & on about…
Read Next: Best Brunch Spots in Cusco, Peru
Lovely photos of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We went to Cusco as the first stop on our Machu Picchu trip, and I wish we would have had more time there. It took me a couple days to acclimate (I’m one of your older readers : ), and by the time I could climb the hills to our San Blas B&B, we were set to leave for Machu Picchu. I would love to see more of both Cusco and other cities in the stunning Sacred Valley. Keep up the good work!
Hi Ruth! I REALLY hope you get back to the Sacred Valley one day!! It’s such an amazing place, & if you’re anything like me ~ it will pull you back one day. Thank you so much for your comment : ) xoxo Noelia
What language school did you go to and do you recommend? Thanks Terri
Hi Terri, thanks for your question. I went to the San Blas Spanish School, & took both solo & group classes there. One of my teachers Katya became a friend, & she took us horseback riding at Sacsayhuaman, amongst other adventures. I HIGHLY recommend the school!! They were very professional & very reasonably-priced. How long will you be in Cusco? ~ Noelia