Cuzco – The Eclectic City You Need to Rediscover with Tourico Vacations – While Cuzco is certainly small enough to explore in one day, leisurely strolling this historic center is the best way to experience all it has to offer. You’ll have more than enough time to check out marvelous Machu Picchu.
The foodie scene in Cuzco is a pride of culinary richness and its arts and museum scene takes you on a deep-dive into the fascinating history of the region. It’s almost incredible to imagine that today’s Peruvians actually live alongside ruins left by the Incan civilization. Known as the Sacred Valley, the region is home to communities still speaking Quechua today. And there are so many ways to explore! Take a horseback ride, go zip lining and mountain biking, and then relax with a cocktail under a clear, starry sky at one of the luxury resorts that dot the Sacred Valley.
The Quechua peoples have an eclectic style of colorful dress. They are a people that very much remain connected to their heritage. Their vibrant clothing might surprise you at first, but it’ll quickly become familiar. Interestingly, the Quechuas predate the Incas. Today’s indigenous people are a melding of pre-Incan, Inca, and subsequent colonial influences. Catholics and Quechuas praise side-by-side, with the Quechuas using traditional dance to enliven the Catholic rituals. It’s an interesting amalgamation – spirits of the mountain on one side and Jesus and Mary on the other, all co-existing peacefully. The coca plant is vital to this culture. It is chewed for its mild, narcotic effects, or it’s used to help alleviate altitude sickness symptoms. It’s an important part of these ceremonies.
After you’ve become acquainted with the culture, you’ll discover there’s no shopping in the world like the shopping available in Cuzco. You might think it’s only traditional wares, and if that doesn’t exactly induce excitement, you’ll be happy to know that great fashion houses are developing in the city. For instance, Kuna showcases the designs of younger Peruvian fashion designers. At San Blas, take a look at the stunning creations of Eibhlin Cassidy. Nearly every market you’ll find has silver jewelry on display, and Fractal Dragon is quite possibly the best place to look for the trendier pieces.
Are you ready to discover the new Cuzco?
Tourico Vacations is the first online booking engine committed to providing customers access to exceptional insider prices on over 16,000 hotels, 2,000 cruise itineraries, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and attractions worldwide – and now, we offer incredible private home rentals as well. In addition to travel services, Tourico Vacations also offers Condos, European and American homes, a unique service offering accommodations at over 4,500 luxury vacation condos worldwide by the week.