** Updated June 13, 2009 **

Recommended Reading

Exploring Cusco
Peter Frost
(Unfortunately not available through Amazon. The South American Explorers sells it in their clubhouse.)

The Machu Picchu Guidebook
Ruth Writer & Dr. Alfredo Zegarra

Accommodations

Casona Pleiadas
Tandapata 116

• A more upper scale option. Matrimonial ~$50.
• Nice inner courtyard and seating area.
• Wi-Fi internet.
• Above standard breakfast: eggs to order, bread, cheese, fruit bowl, tea, coffee.
• Our reservation had been lost when we arrived. Felipe, the owner, was very apologetic and offered to put us up in a neighboring hotel. We ended up bunking with Casey & Kyle in their room. Felipe brought us coca chocolates later to apologize.
• Note: Felipe also has great restaurant recommendations!

Hostal Pakcha Real
Tambopata 300

• Basic accommodations. Matrimonial ~$25.
• Rooms were dim and cold at night. (However, beds had adequate blankets and nice pillows.)
• Luggage storage available in locket closet.
• Standard breakfast: bread, butter, jam, tea, coffee.

Kjilla Intj
Choquechaca 261
killainti-hotel@hotmail.com

• Very basic, fairly run down, and dark rooms.
• Breakfast (with eggs!) included.
• They have some kind of connection with a social organization that works with rural schools.

Casa Elena
Choquechaca 162

• Lost our reservation. Ended up booking us in a much lower quality (albeit cheaper) hotel down the street.

Taxi Driver

I have used Juan Carlos multiple times. He is reliable and very nice, and good friends with the owner of Casona Pleiadas. Telephone: 084-984-774395

Restaurants

Fallen Angel
Plazaleta Nazarenas 221

• Gay-friendly with surreal, artistic decor. (Some of the tables are claw foot bathtubs turned fish tanks, for example.)
• I felt right at home, as if I were on Capitiol Hill in Seattle.
• Food is good. Fancy cocktails are better.

Jack’s Cafe Bar
Choquechaca & Cuesta San Blas

• The gringo hangout in town. Their yummy food is irresistible, and they have a great location you can’t miss.

Paddy Flaherty’s Irish Pub
Sunturwasi 124 (East corner of the Plaza de Armas, next to the Palacio)

• Another gringo joint… are there any non-gringo joints in Cusco? I don’t know.
• Great place for deep conversations over beer, cigarettes and rugby.

Punchay Cafe
Corner of Choquechaca & Sayacuchi

• Great breakfast options, good coffee. I had a yummy waffle!
• Nice patio seating, set above the busy street.

Granja Heidi
Cuesta San Blas 525

• A very fancy feeling place for dinner, with not so fancy prices.
• Also have heard it’s great for breakfast.

El Cuate
Procuradores 386

• Mmm. Mexican food! The best in town.

Don Esteban & Don Pancho
Portal Espinar 144 (Straight down Avenida Sol, almost across the street from the Serpost.)

• Great breakfast and lunch options in a modern setting.

Sites to See

Qoricancha/Koricancha Ruins

• Remains of Inca center in Santa Domingo church.
• Open Mon-Sat 08:00-17:00 and Sun 14:00-16:00.
• Note: The view of the building from Avenida Sol is as good as going in.

Ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qengo, Puka Pukara, Tambo Machay

• Hire a taxi to take you to all four sites. Should cost around $20, and take about 4-5hrs. I have used Juan Carlos multiple times. He is reliable and very nice. Telephone: 084-984-774395
• Open every day 07:00-17:30.
• Ticket cost $23 for all four sites.

Mirador from Jesus Cristo Statue

• The Jesus statue on the hill (you can’t miss it) offers a great view of the city. Remember to look for the streets forming the puma.
• Stop there on your way back from seeing Sacsayhuaman.

Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco
Avenida Sol 603

• Non-profit selling expensive, but very nice weavings. They have a small museum that is free for anyone to browse.
• 50% of profits go back to weavers.

Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Plazaleta Nazarenas

• This museum has some very nice pieces (weavings, gold jewelry, sculpture, carvings, etc) attractively arranged.
• Unfortunately the flowery descriptions for the pieces were written by someone with a Master’s in Fine Art rather than an Art Historian, so they lack context.

Municipal Artisan Market
Avenida Sol (Past the Center for Traditional Textiles about 3 blocks.)

• All of your standard Peruvian trinkets with some nicer artisan goods.