Days in Cusco

We always recommend staying a few days in Cusco prior to any exploration near Machu Picchu as it helps to acclimate to the higher elevation. But more importantly, Cusco is a beautiful city with so much to offer. If you have the time and budget to stay extra days in Cusco, I highly recommend it. There are many tours we can arrange, but it is ideal to have at least one full day to just wander the streets on your own. Most of my free time was in the evening when it was dark and not as easy to navigate for a solo gal. Still, I enjoyed those evenings wandering from square to square, getting a little lost, but soaking in the bustle of locals and tourists. I felt very safe as a women on her own even when the sun set at 6 PM and I was out there alone in the dark. I was still very aware and cautious, but was never concerned or bothered by anyone.

I wish I had at least one more day to explore with my guide or on my own. There are many historical buildings, churches, museums, but also markets and shops to enjoy. The restaurants are abundant to try excellent local cuisine. I took a day trip to the Sacred Valley to experience that as well. Not really recommended as it was a long day, but with even more extra time, staying a night in Ollantaytambo before the Salkantay trek would have been ideal. Ollantaytambo is a smaller version of Cusco and had many similar attractions – ruins, restaurants, walkable streets. For families, there are so many fun activities to do together in the Sacred Valley as well. The best part about our trips in Peru is that they are easily customizable and can tailor trips to fit any solo, couple, or family traveling.