Cuzco was the capital of the Inca empire and a center of religious and cultural activities. During the campaigns of the Spanish conquest it was the site of a heated battle and siege that culminated in the storming of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking the city. Nowadays, almost everyone who  visits Machu Picchu comes through Cuzco so there is a lot of focus on tourism. However, it is a bustling city of around 300,000 and the capital of Cuzco department (state) so this is more than just a tourist stopover.

Cuzco is 11,000 feet above sea level so expect to feel the effects of the altitude for at least a day or so. Luckily, there is plenty to do here for that amount of time so, especially if you are here to hike the Inca Trail, it is a smart idea to spend a little time in Cuzco.

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	El Centro de Cuzco
	Sacsayhuaman

I love this picture of the little girl and her llama. This was on the path to Sacsayhuaman. Of course she expected something to take her picture. I gave her a coin after I chatted with her for a minute just to be sure she would look at me as a person and not just a change dispenser. 

Although we had a stopover in Cuzco both coming and going, we (at least most of our group) really only had about one full day to see the town. Between the initial day spent here and another day spent in Pizac and Ollantaytambo, it was enough to get acclimatized to the altitude but not enough time to really do a lot in Cuzco.

It really is an enjoyable place and on my NEXT trip, I will plan to spend more time there.

<< An old guy playing for tips in a walkway just off the main square.

Peruvian patriotism displayed from a hillside overlooking the city.