Cusco, at an altitude of around 11,200 feet, was the capital of the Inca empire and one of the oldest inhabited places in the Western Hemisphere. The Historical Center of Cusco has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
After hours of long-haul flights, we arrived in Cusco around noon. We were given some coco leaf tea at our hotel to help prevent altitude sickness.
After the tea, we headed to the historical center.
On our way to the historical center, we passed by a bakery store and the cakes in the display looked irresistible so we got some and they were delicious.
Soon we arrived at Plaza de Armas which was only a short distance from our hotel. There were lots of people at the plaza.
We found out that a local middle school was celebrating its 432nd anniversary. It seemed like the whole school was out on parade in costumes.
The celebration made Plaza de Armas very lively.
Due to lack of transportation, we decided to take a city bus tour.
Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), dedicated to the worship of the sun, was the most important temple in the Inca Empire.
Sacsayhuamán is an ancient fortress and religious site built during the 15th century by hand. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cusco.
A cute alpaca on the side of the road.
Finally, a viewpoint for a great view of the city.
