The second I saw Cusco, I fell in love. You can feel the history there - the layers of culture and dreamy architecture everywhere you look. You see pieces of the old Inca Empire around every corner and high up in the mountains. Being near these ancient sites made me really think about how they got to be in their current state - so many battles, a lost civilization, Spanish influence and finally a mixture of it all to make up the current culture.

The minute you land in Cusco, you can feel the altitude. At 11,000+ feet, it's up there. Fortunately, I did not get sick but I did get easily winded, especially when walking up hills. Be sure to drink lots of coca tea! Not only is it delicious, but it helps with nausea if you do happen to get altitude sickness. There are also some amazing local experiences! Chicha is a purple beer made of corn and the local delicacy is guinea pig! I'm happy to say that I tried both but I think I'll leave those back in Peru.

I'm already dreaming of the day I'll be back in Cusco, walking the small streets, admiring the beautiful colors in the market stalls and drinking my fill of pisco sours... 

More from Peru - Lima, Peru | Cusco Valley | Machu Picchu | Uros Islands | All Travel