Although Machu Picchu is the main attraction of Cusco and probably, of Peru, there are so many other interesting historical and cultural sights to see! In this blog a short list of some other things to do in Cusco before or after your visit to Machu Picchu.

The Cusco City Tour is a must for travelers with some time to spend in Cusco! This five hour tour starts in the center of Cusco at the impressive Colonial Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas that contains over 400 paintings from the Cusquenan School. After that the tour visits the Qoricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, which was a religious center for the Incas dedicated to the Sun. According to history, the walls of this temple were entirely covered with gold at one point. From here the tour travels by bus to visit the four ruins located less than 8 km from Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, famous for its enormous carved rocks, Q´enqo, and Tambomachay.

The majestic town of Tigre is located on the Parana Delta only 28km north of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina and it is easily accessible by both train and bus. This scenic town, which was founded in 1820, actually sits on an island! The name Tigre is a result of the jaguars, which were hunted in this same area in the very beginning of the town’s history.

The town was founded and settled by European farmers and quickly became a lively port town, specializing in the transportation of fruit and wood up and down the Parana River.

Nowadays, Tigre is known for being a naturally beautiful resort town, which has a lot to offer tourists who are interested in sightseeing and shopping! Tourists can choose to tour the rivers and streams of the Parana Delta by motorboat or commuter launch.

The Gaucho
A staple of Argentine history is that of the gaucho, the classic Argentine cowboy that endlessly roamed the plains and pampas. Gauchos are known for their honor, horsemanship, and traditions, and they are intricately familiar with the land and the animals. Today, gauchos still exist, although fewer in number than in the 1600s, and today’s gauchos still spend the majority of their day on horses roaming the countryside.

In the 1600s, gauchos were known for causing trouble, slaughtering cattle at their whim. Their fearless image also helped draw the attention of the government, which actually employed them instead of the army as a way of keeping order in the rural areas.

Estancias
The breathtaking Argentine countryside, known as the Pampas, remains the gaucho’s playground. Traditionally residing on estancias (gorgeous colonial ranches), the gaucho raised and produced the highest quality meat in the world. Today, meat is a national Argentina obsession and the country continues to generate some of the best meat globally.

For those traveling to Argentina, a visit to the Cuyo region is a must. Argentina’s Cuyo region is known as the “wine region”, and it produces approximately 80% of all of the country’s wines. Its diverse scenery and lovely, sunny weather characterizes it from other Argentine regions. The surrounding views of snow-capped mountains perfectly accompany a glass of Merlot and carne asada day or night.

In addition to its world-renowned wines, its landscape is breathtaking. From beautiful, green flat land to the ridged Andes Mountains, this region possesses a diverse countryside giving you the opportunity to plan numerous outdoor activities and excursions. Hike the challenging Aconcagua Mountain, ski the mountain slopes of Las Lenas and Los Penitentes, or finally partake in that paragliding or rafting adventure you have been dreaming about!

Visiting the wineries of Cuyo.

With over 100 bodegas open to tourists in Mendoza alone, most people book an organized tour (a bodega tour). However, renting a bicycle and visiting wineries on your own is also a popular alternative.

Bodega tours are typically done in small groups and consist of visiting various wineries. You will learn about each bodega’s wine making process, partake in wine tastings, and tour the vineyards on foot, horseback, or carriage. Tours can typically be tailored to the interests of the group, and to get you started on your bodega tour, here are three excellent wine making areas of the Cuyo region.

Argentinean wine is world-renown, and in particular, Mendoza stakes claim to being the reason for its recognition. Mendoza is known for its Malbec wines and is situated in a desert region, which means it gets more than 300 days of sun annually. It is also near the mountains, which protect the plants from the Pacific Ocean moisture. Thus, its climate is perfect for cultivating this type of grape.

Mendoza Malbec wines are full-bodied, rich red wines, which is ideal for pairing with fattier cuts of meat. Um – hello – can things get any more perfect?! Argentina is FAMOUS for its asadas and bife (grilled meats). If your mouth isn’t watering by now, well, you must not eat meat or drink wine.

The good news is that once you find yourself in Argentina, you can easily book a wine tour. Many wine schools offer such tours and excursions, and Monique van Dalen (Netherlands) did just that. She booked a tour with a wine school in Buenos Aires and she set out for a weekend to experience all that Mendoza had to offer. Here is her experience…

A nice day trip option for those that need to renew their tourist visa is to cross the ‘Río de la Plata’ by ferry and visit the city of Colonia – the oldest city in Uruguay!

Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, the colony of Colonia was heavily contested by the Spanish who settled on the opposite bank of the river at Buenos Aires. Through Colonia, people were able to avoid the strict taxes imposed by the Spanish crown so for years Colonia was an important center for smuggling British goods across the Río de la Plata into the Spanish colonies. It is now an attractive and quiet place with a nice historic center and beaches that are well worth a visit.

Colonia is full of old-fashioned cars and motorcycles, and the ‘Uruguayos’ seem to carry their ‘termo’ and drink ‘mate’ constantly. Although the city transferred hands between the Portuguese and Spanish, Portuguese influence can still be found in several parts of the city, and taking the time to visit these historic sites is a must.

Peru is a country rich with fascinating history. Tales of the Incas continue to capture the imaginations of thousands, as hordes upon hordes of people travel from far and wide to explore the countless ruins of this ancient empire.

Peruvians are extremely proud of their ancestors, and you will undoubtedly learn a lot of intriguing information about Incan history during your time in Peru. Here are a few interesting facts to get you started…

This year is an important milestone for the nation of Peru as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of the mysterious Lost City of the Incas – Machu Picchu.

In typical Peruvian style, festivities will be on a grand scale. There are a multitude of events planned to honor this momentous occasion.
There are many ongoing events taking place in honor of the anniversary, including music festivals, school contests and more.

On July 3rd Cusco will see the Machu Picchu Centennial Parade through the city.
The main event will begin on July 7th at the ruins themselves. In the morning the traditional Tinkay ceremony will begin, along with the Salute to the Four Corners of the empire.  The Andean group Jaivas will perform “Heights of Machu Picchu”. 

The Choquequirao Trek is one of the most exciting alternatives to the Inca Trail. Getting well off the beaten track, trekkers journey toward the mystical allure of the ruins of Choquequirao.
Here follows the second instalment of our latest account of the unique adventure that is the Choquequirao Trek…

Day Three
Another early start and we headed off to the mysterious ruins of Choquequirao. After an hour and a half of walking we arrived at the "Cradle of Gold".

Although the early Spaniards were aware of its existence, Choquequirao was protected by its remoteness. Some speculate that the Incan Emperor Topa had it built as a personal spiritual retreat to rival his father Pachacuti’s magnificent estate at Machu Picchu.

Whoever built this place, it was undoubtedly an elite settlement, built for ceremonial purposes and occupied by Inca nobility.

The Choquequirao Trek in the Cusco area in Peru is one of the most exciting alternatives to the famous Inca Trail to the old Inca town Machu Picchu. Getting well off the beaten track, trekkers journey toward the mystical allure of the ruins of Choquequirao.

Experiencing Incan history in all its authenticity, this spectacular yet challenging hike crosses the Canyon of the Apurimac River and takes you to Choquequirao´s incredibly located ruins – perched high on a ledge above one of the deepest canyons in the world.

If the opportunity to partake in this trek presents itself to you it would be a crime not to take it. A truly unforgettable experience.

Day One
After a very early awakening I left Cusco to travel to Cachora, the village from which we would begin our Choquequirao adventure. The bus journey was an experience in itself, careering around sharp curves at a pace that did not do my stomach any favours… an entertaining escapade