I began with 4 wonderful days in Cusco, wandering, taking a cooking class, and attempting to acclimate to 3400m elevation.
My adventure began with an adventure. LatAm airlines bumped me off my flight from Lima to Cusco! They put me on a later flight and gave me a food voucher, but it meant that I would miss the tour to 4 Inca ruins sites. 😭
I thought about crying, but instead contacted the tour operator, explained my situation, and they rescheduled me to the next day. 🥳
My hotel in Cusco, Posada San Blas, was up the hill from the Plaza de Armas, on a small and quiet street. Close enough to everything without being too chaotic.
As soon as I got settled, I found a FREE 2 hour walking tour in the city. I figured this would be good to stretch my legs, and see how the altitude would affect me.
The tour ended above the city with a Pisco Sour. And near the Mirador San Blas (Mirador = overlook, viewpoint).
I got my 4 ruins tour, a day later. We visited Saqsaywaman, a temple and later fortress against the Spanish (3700m); Q’enqo, a holy place honoring the Inca beliefs with the trinity of Puma (earthly life), Condor (spirit life), and Serpent (earth mother realm) (3580m); Puka Pukara, military ruins, and checkpoint on the Inca trail (3580m); and Tambomachay, Incan water temple and baths (3700m).
I also took a Peruvian cooking class! We went to the market with the chef, and then back to the workshop to make Pisco sours (regular and passion fruit – maracuya), causa limoña with trout and avocado, Peruvian ceviche, and lomo saltado. Wow! What a great time.
Next step, an all day tour through the Sacred Valley ending at Ollantaytambo, my pick up for the Inca Trail.