Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Need to Know
NAME GAME
In Quechua, Cuzco is spelled Qosq'o.
ALTITUDES
Cuzco sits at
a dizzying 3362m. Rest and stay hydrated if arriving from sea level.
For further
coverage,
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.
Cuzco Don't Miss List
BY ANDREA CONFALONIERI, FORTUNATA HUAMAN AND ADA LUZ
CARDENAS, THE TRAVEL TEAM AT TURISMO CAITH, A LOCAL
NONPROFIT ORGANIZING COMMUNITY TOURS
1 MERCADO SAN PEDRO
In Cuzco, a market isn't just for shopping - it's a place where people come to socialize.
A great time to visit the
mercado
(
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)
is on a weekend, when vendors from
the surrounding communities gather to buy and sell goods. It's an event where the
modern and the traditional, the rural and the urban, all mix.
2 SAN JERÓNIMO
Explore neighborhoods beyond the city center. At the eastern end of Cuzco, the area of
San Jerónimo has a beautiful plaza and narrow streets. Life here is lived in a more tra-
ditional Andean way. Go with a well-informed guide who can fill you in on the town's
history and traditions.
3 EAT LOCAL FOODS
Cuzco offers incredible international dining, but we suggest finding a
picantería
(in-
formal homestyle restaurant) and sampling local foods (
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)
. Some of the best:
cuy
(guinea pig), tamales (corn cakes) or
chiriuchu
(a sampler of meats and other
items) - served with a glass of
chicha amarilla
(yellow corn beer).
4 WANDER THE STREETS