Cusco travel blog
Stories, tips and honest takes for every kind of Cusco traveller — first-timers, trekkers, day-trippers and those chasing Andean sunrises
Planning a Cusco trip in 2026 — everything that has changed and what to book first
A 2026 planning guide for Cusco: current Machu Picchu ticket prices and circuit system, Inca Trail permit timing, what's changed since 2024, and a
Machu Picchu circuits in 2025 — what has actually changed and what it means for your visit
A 2025 update on the Machu Picchu circuit system: which circuits exist, what each covers, how to buy tickets now, and the honest truth about the new
Cusco in the dry season — a photo diary and honest conditions report
A personal photo diary from Cusco in October: late dry-season light, the Sacred Valley at its most vivid, Rainbow Mountain conditions, and whether the
Arequipa from Cusco — was the four-day detour worth it?
A personal trip report on adding Arequipa and Colca Canyon to a Cusco itinerary: the journey, the White City, the canyon, the condors, and an honest
Is the Boleto Turístico still worth it in 2024? I ran the numbers
An honest 2024 analysis of the Cusco Boleto Turístico: which circuit covers which sites, what each site costs individually, and when the pass saves you
Palccoyo — the quiet rainbow mountain most people walk straight past
A personal account of visiting Palccoyo instead of the famous Vinicunca rainbow mountain: lower altitude, fewer crowds, three coloured ridges, and the
The morning the condors came — Colca Canyon at dawn
A personal account of watching Andean condors rise at Cruz del Condor in Colca Canyon — what to expect, when to arrive, and whether the two-day trip is
Three days in the Amazon from Cusco — a diary from Tambopata
A personal diary of a three-day Amazon trip from Cusco to Tambopata: the logistics, the lodge, the wildlife, and whether the jungle is worth adding to
I finally ate cuy in Cusco — here is my completely honest review
A first-person account of trying cuy (guinea pig) in Cusco: where I ate it, what it tasted like, what the experience is actually like, and whether to
Inca Trail versus Salkantay — the real talk after doing both
A personal comparison of the classic Inca Trail and the Salkantay Trek, written after completing both: the good, the difficult, the crowded, and which one
Sleeping on a floating island — my Lake Titicaca homestay diary
A personal diary of spending a night on Taquile Island and a morning on the Uros floating islands — what the homestay was really like, altitude and all.
An afternoon weaving with the women of Chinchero — and what I actually learned
A personal account of joining a weaving demonstration with Chinchero's textile cooperatives — the history, the technique, the natural dyes, and whether
Two weeks in Cusco on an honest budget — what I actually spent
A genuine breakdown of what two weeks in Cusco cost in 2022: accommodation, food, transport, Machu Picchu, and where I cut corners versus where I didn't.
Inti Raymi in Cusco — a diary from inside the Festival of the Sun
A personal diary from attending Inti Raymi in Cusco: the Qorikancha ceremony, the Plaza de Armas procession, and the Sacsayhuamán finale — with honest
Is Machu Picchu overrated? An honest answer after four visits
Everyone asks whether Machu Picchu lives up to the hype. After four visits, here is my honest answer — the crowds, the costs, the reality, and why I would
Humantay Lake day diary: the hike, the altitude and the colour I did not expect
Humantay Lake sits at 4,200 m above sea level and is one of the most beautiful places I have seen anywhere. Here is the honest account: the hike, the
Cusco in the rainy season: what nobody tells you (and why I went back)
January in Cusco means rain, muddy trails and smaller crowds. It also means greener mountains, lower prices and a city that functions on its own terms
Salkantay trek diary: five days, four blisters, one extraordinary mountain
A personal day-by-day account of the five-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu — the passes, the camps, the cold, the altitude and the moment it all makes
A morning at San Pedro market: what to eat, buy and not miss
Cusco's San Pedro market is one of the best food markets in South America. Here is how I spend a morning there: what to eat, what the locals are actually
Cusco off the beaten path: the places most visitors never find
Beyond the Plaza de Armas and Machu Picchu queues, Cusco has another layer. Here are the neighbourhoods, ruins and rituals that most visitors walk
Sacred Valley slow travel: what happens when you stop rushing
Most visitors spend one day in the Sacred Valley on their way to Machu Picchu. I spent a week. Here is what revealed itself when I stopped hurrying.
Rainbow Mountain reality check: the crowds, the cold and the Palccoyo alternative
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) gets 1,000-plus visitors a day. Here is the unvarnished account — the altitude, the crowds, the commercial sprawl — and why
A week in Cusco: my honest trip report, day by day
Seven days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley — what I actually did, what surprised me, what I got wrong, and whether the altitude beat me.
Altitude sickness in Cusco: my personal story
I got altitude sickness badly on my second day in Cusco. Here's what happened, what helped, and what I'd do differently — honest account, no sugarcoating.
Inca Trail trip report: four days, honest account
A personal diary of the classic four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu — the climbs, the camps, the views, and what nobody tells you about Dead Woman's Pass.
Machu Picchu: what to expect when it's on your bucket list
Machu Picchu is on almost every traveller's list. Here's what the experience is actually like — the queues, the crowds, and why it still delivers.
First time in Cusco: what I wish someone had told me
Everything I got wrong on my first trip to Cusco — and the honest advice I wish I'd had before arriving at 3,400 metres for the first time.
Why I keep coming back to Cusco
Cusco is not a place you tick off a list. It gets under your skin. Here's why I keep returning to Peru's ancient Inca capital.