Machu Picchu
The city of Cusco is one of the most important cities in the country, and had already been an important location for centuries before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. It is surrounded by some of the most interesting and best preserved Inca sites, along with some spectacular Andean scenery and wonderful surroundings for adventure sports too. If you are looking for something to do outside the city, there are plenty of day trips you can try with a variety of different activities.
Machu Picchu
The most famous Peruvian site of all, this can either be accessed by day trip from Cusco or turned into a two day excursion by spending a night in Aguas Calientes. The train departs early from Cusco, and it is best to avoid the wet season between November and March, when there is a smaller chance of enjoying the site in all its glory in the sunshine. High in the Andes, this amazing Inca city is so well preserved because it was forgotten for centuries, but its beautiful location and amazing buildings has meant it is the premier tourist site in the country.
Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary
While it is possible to take trips into the jungles of the Amazon and to other wild parts of Peru, getting a close up view of the animals that live in this remarkable landscape can often be particularly difficult. Here at the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary, not only can you help the work of the family of biologists who rescue the animals, but you can also see many of the rescued animals as they recover, often including condors, alpacas, pumas and vicunas.
The Four Ruins of Cusco
The ‘boleto turistico’ is a pass that allows you access to many of the historic sites in Cusco, and you can either visit these four ruins in one trip or spread it over two or three days. The most famous are the Sacsayhuaman ruins with its impressive strong fortifications, while Qenko is just a short distance further up the road, and is known for the remarkable solar calendar which is well preserved. Pukapukara is a site that is believed to have originally been a military control point on the route out of Cusco, while Tambomachay is the furthest of the ruins from the city, but well worth the effort because of the lovely ornamental fountain there.
White Water Rafting on the Rio Urubamba
A short distance away from the Sacred Valley, the upper Urubamba river is one of the best locations in Peru to go white water rafting, with some great rapids that become really challenging if you are visiting the area during the rainy season. This is an exhilarating trip through some wonderful scenery, and is a great way to spend a day if you are looking for a change from the usual historic trips around the city.
-Contributed by Ayngelina Brogan