Cusco - the Pearl of the Andes

If Arequipa was already very beautiful, Cusco surpasses all our expectations. The capital of the Inca Empire, located at 3400m, is significantly smaller than Arequipa and captivates with its numerous squares, churches, museums, an Inca wall (built without mortar), and the music that can be heard everywhere. The residents of Cusco seem to love festivals: right now we are hearing a parade (the third in 4 days).

You can have a very good breakfast at the market hall (condition: you have to give up jam, honey or Nutella). Instead, there are freshly squeezed fruit juices and rolls with cheese and/or ham.

The altitude is initially very challenging - it took us 2 days to acclimatize to the point where we could climb stairs without gasping for air.

A special experience on our 3rd day was a self-organized trip to the salt mines that are about 100km away. During our hike on a section of the Inca Trail, we encountered pigs, sheep, donkeys, and more. We had the opportunity to observe villagers and farmers in their daily work. At times, it felt like traveling 100 years back in time. The return journey on the local bus was adventurous - and not only because of the bus driver's braking system.

We like Cusco so much that we will extend our stay here after our trip to the Amazonas region, also to see the colorful mountains.

But tomorrow we will first go to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.