Trip Ideas VIDEO: Five Things to Do in Cuzco By Melanie Lieberman Melanie Lieberman Instagram Twitter Melanie Lieberman is currently the senior travel editor at The Points Guy, where she oversees travel and lifestyle features, including hotel, cruise, and destination coverage. Prior to TPG, Melanie was an editor at Travel + Leisure, and her work has appeared in Bloomberg Pursuits, Yahoo Travel, Jetsetter, Boston Common Magazine, Luxe City Guides, Thrillist, and Saveur, among others. She has been recognized for her journalism, poetry, prose, and playwriting in various competitions and festivals, and has been featured as a travel expert by notable outlets across radio, podcasts, in print, and on television, including Good Morning America, MSNBC, Fox Business, and The Weather Channel. You can usually find her climbing to the top of the tallest mountain (or building). Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on July 6, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Cuzco, perched high in the Andes Mountains, is the longest continuously inhabited city in South America. It was also the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, which makes it a particularly popular destination for travelers. Heading to the Peruvian city for the first time? There’s a ton to see, so let this video be your guide to Cuzco’s can’t-miss offerings. Take time to admire the city’s interwoven histories, best exemplified by the pre-Columbian structures, temples, and convents scattered across the city. Qorikancha, for example, is a temple built to honor the sun god, Init. It dates back to the 15th century and sits conspicuously in the middle of what is now the city’s downtown. In Cuzco, it is not uncommon to see colonial homes abutting Incan ruins. Of course, you can’t visit Peru without scaling Machu Picchu, a true bucket list journey. The Lost City of the Incas is considered one of the world’s greatest archaeological settlements. Travelers can reach the legendary citadel by foot — a strenuous, multi-day hike — by bus or by train. The latter can be a luxurious way to amble along the Urubamba River, canyons, and lush countryside. Surely your epic journey to the UNESCO World Heritage site will have worked up an appetite. Fortunately, one of the most fun things to do in Cuzco is sample the food. Unique to the Andes region are such specialties as tamales, chairo (a soup made from dehydrated potatoes), and spit-roasted guinea pig. The latter, known as cuy, is served regularly at celebrations and is best eaten with your hands. Next on your Cuzco trip is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, wedged between bustling Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Here, travelers can enjoy villages, markets, and ample Incan ruins and terraces. Back in modern Cuzco, seek out other architectural highlights contributed by the Spanish Conquistadors, including La Merced Church and Convent and the Cuzco Cathedral. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit