Machu Picchu, only a few short hours from Cusco is now one of the Seven Wonders of the World! That makes Cusco (also spelled "Cuzco") a melting pot of visitors from Europe, North America and every other continent. Although Machu Picchu is breathtaking, the beauty and culture found in Cusco alone is worth the trip!

The first thing that you'll notice on stepping out of the plane is the fresh crisp mountain air, shortly followed by the lack of oxygen--at 10,912ft (3,326m) the altitude here is no joke. Plan to do a lot of nothing your first day here and drink lots of mate de coca (that's coca leaf tea). The locals swear by it and it seems to help and tastes pretty good too.

Cusco is a heritage of Incan beauty still preserved in the enchanting cobble stone streets and in the huge granite walled buildings mixed with the Spanish colonial style and a tasteful sprinkling of western culture. The city dates back to the early 1200sAD and much of the architecture is still intact from centuries ago.

You can find almost any kind of food here if you look for it-- both traditional and international--and mostly at a reasonable price. The city is a bustle of foreigners from all over the world and locals--many of whom speak Quechua and wear traditional clothing--making Cusco very diverse and interesting. Cusco has a population in excess of 300,000 people but maintains a small town feel luring many visitors to stay longer than planned. The people here are warm and friendly and the greatest thing is that Cusco is probably one of the safest places to live in South America.