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The city of Cusco is one of Peru's most important - and most visited - travel destinations, and for good reason: this was the heart of the Inca Empire, a place where all the myth and legend of ancient Andean societies found their most visible and enduring expressions. And that legacy is everywhere; in the city's great ruins and the enormous stone walls that remain standing to this day, in the surrounding villages that have been continuously inhabited for countless centuries and in the faces of the Quechua-speaking locals - people who have seen empires come and go, while their culture and traditions remain as vibrant as ever.

But what what you won't read in most of the guides is that all is not necessarily well in this most popular of popular tourist hotspots. Cusco is a city inundated by visiting outsiders, flocking to experience the city's stunning architecture and its proximity to Peru's other major draw cards, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.

Cusco is struggling under the strain of its own popularity and it is hugely important that visitors are mindful of their impact on the city, environment and culture that they are visiting. This covers the obvious: try to limit your environmental impact and not worsen the city's congestion problem by zipping around in taxis or small tour buses, ask before taking anyone's photograph and don't be surprised if your subject expects a Sol or two in return.

But also try to learn a little about the culture you're visiting before you arrive. Understand that indigenous Andean communities are often more conservative than Hispanic Peruvians and Westerners, and that for them, many of the must see tourist sights are actually deeply sacred places.

Your Peru Guide: Cusco Highlights In Pictures

The Plaza de Armas is Cusco's old colonial centre, dominated by the Cathedral and several churches. The Cathedral and the Church of the Companion of Jesus are well worth a visit, especially the Cathedral's collection of art from the Cusco School, a blending of indigenous and European influences that represents the cultural assimilation that took place here following the conquest.

The ruins of Saqsaywaman sit on a hilltop looking down over the city and are constructed of enormous stone blocks and impressive fortifications, making everyone assume the place was originally a military fortress. But recent discoveries have suggested the site was at least as important as a spiritual centre. Despite this, the jagged pattern of the walls are still recognisable as the fearsome jaguar teeth they were first intended to replicate.

The neighbourhood of San Blas rises up away from the centre on a steep hillside, and his home to a warren of winding cobbled streets, small squares and original colonial architecture. San Blas gets even more atmospheric at night when the area's bars come alive. Live music and drinks offers can be found in virtually any of the bars around the popular KM 0. They're all tried, tested and recommended.

Visiting Tips

Cusco is a high altitude city. Over 3,300 meters high. And that means very thin air for us sea-level dwellers, which can take several days getting used to. In fact, it's advisable to work your way up to this altitude and visit some of Peru's slightly lower sights first - Arequipa and the Sacred Valley are ideal. If you fly straight to Cusco from Lima, expect at least a tinge of soroche (altitude sickness) which can cause lethargy, headaches and vomiting. Don't overexert yourself, don't overindulge (especially with the booze), and feel free to try a mouthful of coca leaves, or at least some coca leaf tea, which really does help.

Most visitors to Cusco feel obliged to invest in the boleto turistico (tourist ticket) which is required for most of the city's museums and other sights. The ticket is expensive though, and although it is valid for ten days, most visitors staying in Cusco for a few days don't end up getting its full value. Only buy it if you want to visit all the sights that are included, and bear in mind that some of the city's best museums and other attractions (the ruins of Qorikancha, the Cathedral, the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art and the Inca Museum) are not included.

Saying that, the nearby ruins of Saqsaywaman and most sights in the Sacred Valley are all pretty much must-see places, and they're all included in the ticket, so the choice is yours.

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Imaginative travelers among us Baby Boomers are flocking to enjoy Peru. Adventure tours in Peru are taken in some style these days - no more of that backpacking nonsense for us!

Peru has it all. Desert, mountains, lakes, jungle and of course The Galapagos Islands. But before you imaginative travelers get too excited to book your adventure tour in Peru, here are some tips to help you enjoy Peru even more.

Learn just a few words of Spanish before you travel, it goes a long way with the locals.
 
When visiting the street markets, buy something. The locals will appreciate the trade.
 
Pack an open mind in your suitcase! Be willing to try everything especially the Chicha Morada, it's lovely!
 
Be prepared to encounter poverty and squalor but  remember your adventure tour will help some families.
 
Enjoy the opportunities available on your tour. An overnight bus trip is an experience not an inconvenience.
 
Tipping: allow US$18 per week for ordinary tips and tip your Tour leader at your own discretion.
 
Check  your vaccinations and take your preferred remedy as recurrent diarrhea can be a problem!
 
Take out comprehensive travel insurance before you travel otherwise you will have to buy it in Peru.
 
Finally,  do not leave your commonsense in the airport at baggage claims when it comes to your personal safety!

Baby Boomers...an adventure tour in Peru is a trip of a lifetime, take in as many extras as possible. The ultimate wildlife experience must be to visit of the Galapagos Islands. It's so good, so why not?

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Machu Picchu is one of the new wonders of the world, and despite its location in the high peaks of the Andes, it is accessible in the highest style. In one week you can visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes without feeling pressure like you are rushing through things. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most people, there's no need to rush through it.

A quality tour striving to make you as comfortable as possible, with all the little details means luxury travel. In luxury travel and luxury vacations you expect 5-star service, at top value and top quality. Just because you are travelling luxury doesn't mean you don't consider where every dollar is going. If you are interested in luxury service to Cusco and Machu Picchu, you should expect private, comfortable transfers, in order to avoid sweaty cab rides and miscommunications and language barriers. You can expect tours will be private or at least very small numbers. No one enjoys riding around in a giant tour bus, having to wait until everyone is ready to go, and not being able to move through the tour at your own pace. In luxury travel, you can request private guides to avoid those hassles.

When traveling in luxury your hotels are largely the biggest upgrade that you will have. You will be exploring 5-star hotel options, some of which are destinations in themselves. The Monasterio hotel in Cusco, for example is a restored 16th century seminary that is literally on the site of an ancient Inca palace. Staying at the Monasterio is like staying at a museum. Another example would be the Sanctuary Lodge, right outside the gates of Machu Picchu. While thousands of people have to walk or take the bus from Aguas Calientes in order to get to the gate and lines out front, you will litererally be walking out your front door. This is a big advantage as well for those adventure travelers who want to hike Huayna Picchu. Only 400 people are allowed up Huayna Picchu each day so a line usually forms at the gate of Machu Picchu before it even opens. The first 400 people lined up are the ones who get the exciting privilege of summiting Huayna Picchu.

Luxury travel is certainly the most comfortable way to experience Machu Picchu. With little hassle and the best of the best in comfort, style and service you will not be disappointed with your decision to upgrade your vacation and take your time in this amazing part of the world.

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An exciting Peru Luxury tour will visit all the important highlights of this amazing country. Go to the Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and Puno and Lake Titicaca, the exciting birthplace of the Inca Empire. Luxury travel means the highest quality service and comfort. It means you will have 24 hour customer service on call and ready to find answers to your questions. An extension to this popular travel itinerary would be a luxury cruise from Puno to La Paz, traversing this famous high altitude South American lake.

Enjoy all the luxuries of a fancy catamaran cruise ship, departing from Puno. One tour is designed to take you across the lake in an exciting full day of cruising. An early morning land transfer will take you to Copacabana Sanctuary where you will board the Catamaran Cruise Ship.

You will sail directly for Sun Island, enjoying delicious snacks along the way. Sun Island is the mythical birthplace of the Inca Empire where the Inca creator god rose from the depths of the lakes bottom to create the sun, the moon, the stars, the land, etc. Lake Titicaca is the beginning of the world in Inca myth. Also on Isla del Sol, you will be able to visit the Inca Garden and the Inti Wata Cultural Complex. There is also the Ekako Underground Museum, where you'll find traditional medicine displays and the Titicaca reed shipbuilder's displays. You'll find the Pachamama agricultural Inca terraces, a handicraft center, and the Intica lounge and the Manco Capac lookout.

This cruise will bring you into the harbor and you'll be in your luxury La Paz hotel by nightfall relaxing after a beautiful day out on the lake. A second cruise option has you spending the night out on the lake. You will still visit Sun Island and be able to experience all the exciting things on off there. In the evening there will be a romantic candle-lit dinner and you will spend the night on board the Catamaran in a a comfortable luxury cabin with a beautiful view of the amazing scenery around you. You will be in La Paz before mid-day on the following day.

You'll be floating on top of the world on this memorable Peru luxury vacation.

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Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, and is the largest lake in South America. It is home to the Bolivian Navy (being the only accessible part of water for the land locked country) and a range of ancient cultures that live on today.

What attract so many people to the lake is the lakes inhabitants that live on manmade reed islands in a process that has existed for generations. While many of these islanders have now moved towards a tourist dependent income, some of the islands are remote and away from the tourist boats that visit - preserving their society and culture.

The Lake is the dividing between Peru and Bolivia, and sits between the route from Cusco to La Paz making the lake a transit hub and welcome break on the long journey. There are direct buses and trains from Puno to Cusco as well as Copacabana to La Paz. Puno also has its own airport with flights in and out of Lima.

The lake is made up of a number of islands that are split between Bolivia and Peru, with them being visit able from the main towns in each nation, Copacabana and Puno respectively. These towns are where the majority of tours leave from.

Day tours will take you to a number of the famous Uros islands where to can see how the ancient cultures still live today. The islands themselves are an attraction, being constructed by a number of totora reeds that grow in abundance at the side of the lake. The islands require constant maintenance to and this process has been passed down over generations. Some of the islands are open for tourist visitors, whose income is dependent on tourism when other are in relative isolation.

One of the most interesting islands is the Island of Amantani. This island is home to a number of home stays and lodges for visitors to the islands. These offer a unique insight into a different culture and society that lives on today that is very different to our own. Be prepared though, as the accommodation is basic, yet the homes are warm and welcoming with some tasty home cooked local food.

After a day of touring the Islands of Uros you may be interested in visiting the small Island of Taquile which is located about 45 km from Puno and is abundant with numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins.

The whole lake area is scattered with a collection of Inca and pre-Inca ruins and temples. One of the biggest sites is the former town of Tiahuanaco, on the Bolivian side of the Border. Interestingly according to Inca myth the Inca creator (Who is also the sun) emerged from the Lake to create the Incan dynasty. Tiahuanaco is accessible as a day tour from Puno, Copacabana as well as La Paz.

The town of Copacabana is the gateway to the Islands of the Sun and The Moon, with cheap public ferries operating the route along with guided tour boats. These islands are also home to a number of temples and ruins which are wonderful to see.

If you time your trip to these islands correctly you can see a fantastic sunset over the lake.

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