Carved by the Urubamba River, a huge Valley stretches out in the middle of the Peruvian highlands, in the Andes. Over the ages inhabited by huge empires and greedy invaders, the mysticism of the Cusco Region still manages to grasp many tourists. As the mind-blowing home to the Inca civilization, the Cusco Region is high on the list of many travelers and backpackers. Not only because of the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Incredible panoramic sceneries and tons of ancient Inca sites and ruins. Add to this the spiritual retreat centers and rural jungle and mountain farmers. It is no wonder so many different types of travelers find their way to Cusco. Discover here what all the hype is about.

The city of Cusco is on the UNESCO world heritage list since 1972, and this is no surprise. Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire from the 13th to the 16th century and the center to life in the Sacred Valley. When the Spanish invaded, they did not destroy the entire city since the Inca architecture was so robust and meticulous it would have been too much effort. Instead, they built on top and over the buildings of the Inca. As shown by several earthquakes since the time of Spanish conquest this was not a silly thing to do. Whereas Spanish colonial houses had to be rebuilt time after time, Inca architecture is still standing tall as the base of many buildings in the city.

The city center itself is a mix of notable churches, narrow alleys, and big open plazas. This gives it a very cozy feeling when walking around. Visiting the local craftwork shops and restaurants providing Peruvian local food becomes a very homely experience this way.

Walking Cusco is an experience in itself. Remnants of several cultures that lived in the city are visible on every corner and in every street. This Puma shaped ‘capital’ used to be called ‘Navel of the world’ by the Inca. All trails in the Valley eventually end up in this bustling religious and economical center, maybe so is yours. A must-see on your visit to Peru.