Because Cusco sits at an elevation just above 11,000 feet, many travelers wonder why they shouldn’t move on directly to the Sacred Valley on their first night. The easy answer is that in Cusco you can explore by foot from your hotel – on flat, even ground. You won’t ever be more than a few minutes from your hotel, and a quick nap, in case the altitude begins to cause you troubles. Better yet, you will never be more than a few blocks from a café where you can sit down, enjoy some coca tea, and let your oxygen levels catch up. This safety valve would be a lot less plausible if one connects directly to the Sacred Valley (still at 9,400 feet) on the first day.
But the better answer is this: context. It is with that walking tour of Cusco that you begin to see the juxtaposition of modern religion placed directly on top of ancient customs, of 21st-century clothing worn side-by-side (and sometimes in conjunction with) the same time-honored styles the Quechuans have been wearing for centuries. It is in the squares and in the markets in Cusco where you realize it’s not all Spanish and English being spoken here. There’s Quechua, too – a language not far removed from Inca itself. It’s in Cusco where you begin to understand that the Incan “history” you came to see… isn’t entirely history after all. Sure, the Catholic cathedral is built literally on top of the giant foundation stones of the original Koriconcha temple, but the giant paintings on those modern walls are depicting Peter, Simon and Judas eating a traditional guinea pig at the last supper.
With a new Cusco International Airport being built closer to the Sacred Valley (projected opening in 2023), there will be increased requests from uninformed travelers to “skip Cusco” altogether. But I will continue to recommend Cusco as a first stop for all of my travelers. Not only is it a highlight in itself, but the context gained there makes all the other highlights that much better.
We've used Adventure Life for several trips in the past and have always been very pleased with them. The staff is personable and professional at the same time. Erin put this trip together for us in just a few days, and it has everything we were looking for! I recommend them without hesitation.
benn
1 month ago
I served as the person responsible for planning a trip to Galapagos and Machu Picchu for a group of 14 people. Jane with Adventure Life was very helpful throughout the process. Making suggestions, offering insight, and in the end helped me overhaul an initial plan into something even better. Also, Jane makes all the plans including the flights within and between Peru and Ecuador. Thanks to her this is going to be a stress-free adventure. After making the final decision about the trip, Jane gathered the contact information for all the travelers and sent out the details to each traveler individually with links to pay deposits, upload passport info, and personal preferences. She also ensured a group email was sent out to the entire group welcoming us to the trip preparation process. Our trip is a year from now and we are excited to make this once in a life time trek. I am happy to have organized things through Adventure Life. However, two small issues came up that were a little off putting. First, Adventure Life adds $50 per person to the cost for each traveler as a donation to a Galapagos conservation fund. I think this should he offered as something that can be added at each traveler’s discretion. Instead, it is automatically added, and each person must ask to have it removed if they do not want it included. Second, although the trip deposit may be paid with a credit card without incurring an additional fee, the balance must be paid in another way to avoid a 3% credit card fee. Maybe this is standard with all travel agencies. In the end I would definitely go through Adventure Life for the next big trip.
Brenda Nielsen
2 months ago
I think it was very helpful that Franny and I spoke on the phone. I think she had a better idea of what we were looking for, and she planned a great itinerary for us!
Elizabeth
3 months ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 months ago
Easy.
Great work on the follow up and details by Waru.