In the San Blas district of Peru, was the restaurant Pachapapa. This was by far the best meal we had in Peru. It was nestled in a courtyard and all the dishes were prepared in an oven next to us. Quite spectacular. DELICIOUS!

- A
- Aguas Calientes
- Arequipa
- B
- Barranco District
- C
- Caylloma
- Copacabana
- Cusco
- Cusco
- Cuzco
- H
- Huaraz
- I
- Ica
- Iquitos
- J
- Juli
- Juliaca
- L
- Lampa
- Lima
- Lima
- Lima
- M
- Máncora
- Mariscal Ramón Castilla
- Miraflores District
- N
- Nazca
- O
- Ollantaytambo
- Ollantaytambo
- P
- Pisac
- Pisac
- Puerto Inca
- Puerto Maldonado
- Puno
- Puno Region
- Q
- Quispicanchi
- S
- San Isidro District
- Santuario Historico Machu Picchu
- Santuario Historico Machu Picchu
- Santuario Historico Machu Picchu
- T
- Tambopata
- Trujillo Province
- U
- Urubamba
- Urubamba
- V
- Victor Larco Herrera
Cuzco
The steep streets of the San Blas district in Cusco, Peru. Almost like a maze, you could spend hours wandering, and always run into something interesting. Are we there yet?
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Cusco
The route to Machu Picchu has gotten smoother, thanks to two hotels outside Cuzco. Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel and Wellness resort is built on a 17th century hacienda and has one of Peru’s largest spas. Treatments feature coca leaves and camu camu, a fruit from the Amazon. To prepare for a trek, check into the Hotel Rio Sagrado and book an altitude acclimatizer massage at Spa Mayu Wilka. Photo courtesy of Aranwa Hotels. This appeared in the June/July 2013 issue.
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Cuzco
The end of another glorious day in the city of Cusco, Peru. The entire city is surrounded by mountains which come alive with light as the sun goes down.
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Cuzco
It kind of smells like a butcher shop, but it is a real study in life in Cusco. People sell everything from wool hats and scarves to cheese and potatoes.
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Cusco
Cancha is the toasted corn that is often served at Peruvian restaurants, as something to nibble on prior, and during, your meal. It's roasted un-popped corn and is normally prepared in a clay pot, on a low heat, with a bit of lard and ground salt.
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Cuzco
The view from our hotel room in the San Blas district of Cusco. This area of town overlooked the rest of the city and gave us a breathtaking view as the sun & rain mixed one evening.
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Cuzco
STAY During our stay in Cusco, Peru, we picked our hotel in the San Blas district of the city. I had read that this is where you could find great galleries, restaurants, and historical sites. They all proved to be true. Our hotel was the Casa Andina San Blas which was at the end of this street. San Blas is a beautiful part of town that features the very finest of both Inca & Colonial architecture. It is also a very steep part of town, so there are a lot of stairs that act as streets. Because of this, there is very little car activity in the heart of the area. One of the most popular restaurants in the city is Pachapapa, which is on the San Blas square. It features a courtyard with a huge oven where most of the meals are prepared. On the weekends, there is a beautiful artists market that features jewelry, painting, and textiles. At night, I'd highly recommend just wandering the streets in this part of town. Pop your head into a cafe and have a Coca Tea, or sit on the square. San Blas is quintessential Peruvian culture and a must see for anyone visiting Cusco.
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Cuzco
This is another Incan site outside of Cusco, known for its canals, waterfalls and aquaducts. The water from this fountain is as clean and delicious as you could ask for.
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Cuzco
Staying in a hotel in Cuzco, my wife and I got to examine the famed Inca stonework up close; one of the walls in our room was composed of the original Inca foundation--interlocking stones fit so precisely, without mortar, built with no metal tools... Andean history makes up the literal foundations of this Peruvian city: the colonial Spanish architecture sits atop the Inca foundations that line the streets. The pre-columbian architects knew how to build. In the numerous earthquakes that have shaken Cuzco over the centuries since the Spanish conquest, the European architecture topples every time; the Inca walls have never fallen. (Above: on the left--the famous 12-angled stone on a side street in Cuzco; center--the 'jaguar's paw' in Sacsayhuaman fortress in the hills above the city; right--a typical Inca-stone-lined street in the historic center.)
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Cuzco
Um...not so much. When in Peru, try one of the local delicacies: cuy. If it looks like guinea pig, that would be because it is. The skin is thick and rubbery; the meat is dark and gamey. You may want to chase it down with another local favorite, chicha (a foamy alcoholic beverage made from fermented corn). Just make sure you have a pisco sour handy as a back-up. Actually, if you really want something delicious: order soup. The soup in Peru is amazing.
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Cuzco
These horses carried us up and down practically vertical and very narrow mountain paths towards the Salcantay Pass and then down to the high jungle and Machu Picchu.
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Cuzco
Climbing stairs at 12,000 feet in the Andes--breathtaking. What could be more timeless than a view over Cuzco from the surrounding hills, Quechua-speakers knitting on the cobblestones? "Internet." One can never rise above it, it seems. Inescapable.
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Cuzco
Dona Juanita, a q'ero shaman, walking out of the sacred site of Moray after a ceremony honoring mother earth.
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Palacio Nazarenas
Orient-Express has turned an 18th-century convent into a hotel, preserving the courtyards and frescoes. Native experts designed bath products that use coca leaves and white sage from Lake Titicaca. From $595. 51/(0) 16-108-300. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.
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Cuzco
There are many markets in the city of Cusco, but none with a more magnificent backdrop than the open air market at Plaza San Blas. Here you will find both contemporary & traditional art, jewelry, wool, and other small gifts. With the mountains and city in full view beyond, this market occurs every Saturday, and there will be a band or group of performers to entertain you as you shop.
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Cuzco
As I descended the Inca Trail, a heavy rain stopped and the mist lifted to reveal this image of Machu Picchu.
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Cuzco
The former home to conquistadors, Inkaterra has beautifully restored the Colonial home and transformed it into Peru's only Relais & Chateaux hotel.
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Cuzco
This photo was taken in Cuzco's Main Square at the end of a popular protest. These girls were playing around the square after school. The Main Square has a daily life very intense with locals and foreigners enjoying the beautiful Cuzco.
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Cuzco
The courtyard of a working monastery in the heart of Cusco city. The monastery houses an art collection as well as Incan structures.
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San Blas
This store is just a little ways off the main street of the San Blas arts district in Cusco, but definitely worth the diversion. Inside, funky, modern jewelry and handbags are mixed with neatly hung vintage dresses, shirts, and jackets. The walls are covered with artistically placed magazine pages that reflect the style of the wares for sale. It's one of those stores where you go in thinking "oh I could get a souvenir here" and end up buying one or more of the beautiful bobbles for yourself.
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Cuzco
With only 11 HUGE suites, La Casona is one of my favorite hotels I've ever stayed in. Heated floors and delicious food in their restaurant make any stay here superb. I especially loved my Plaza Nazarenas view.
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Cusco
Anyone heading to Cusco, Peru will discover that there are tons of hostels to choose from. A lot of them tout the fact that they are 'steps from city center,' or 'right downtown where the excitement is.' But there is only ONE that is literally above all the rest, and that's the Loki Backpackers Hostel. Now to be honest, it's a bit of a party scene and the crowd that stays here is definitely on the younger side, students enjoying their gap year and things like that. However, while the clientele likes to carouse, this hostel does boast the premier view of Cusco. The photo above is from my seat at the bar in this hostel. Cusco was glowing in the distance, and a huge fireworks display went off a few moments after I snapped this. Even if you don't necessarily stay at this place, I'd suggest you make the trek up the hill just to take in a brew and the view.
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ChocoMuseo
Cusco's Choco Museo did not disappoint. Although the aromas are a bit overwhelming upon entry, the place itself is simple and inviting. There is a kitchen in the back where you can pay to learn how to make your own chocolate treats. There is plenty to buy and a room of educational tidbits about chocolate's origins. We ended up buying out half the gift shop and then staying for the best mocha and hot (Mayan) chocolate. We couldn't find it anywhere else so naturally, we returned a few days later to enjoy another cup on the balcony overlooking the plaza. (If you don't want something heavy or containing dairy, I highly recommend trying their chocolate tea! Delicious.)
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Cuzco
Textile factory that specializes in Apaca wool.
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Cuzco
It seems like a small town but when you walk throughout this small city from end to end you find yourself taking in so much more than you imagined. The locals, tourists, markets, commerce, daily life... we found ourselves at the top of a neighborhood (near San Cristobal Church) which gave us a view of the entire town.
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Cusco
Cusco is much more than a jumping off point for Machu Picchu. The cities cobbled streets and sidewalks wind through architecturally impressive cityscapes complete with colorful inhabitants. The cities many plazas, often punctuated by impressive fountains give Cusco a community feel even though the city is most often overrun by tourists. Even in the rain Cusco is special and romantic and is best enjoyed with a glass of vino caliente!
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