6 Mistakes I Made in Cusco, Peru
6 Mistakes I Made in Cusco, Peru
Cusco, Peru is known for Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and plenty of other awe-inspiring outdoor locations. At least when I visited, this was surely the picture I had in mind. And despite having some fun and memorable adventures along the way, Cusco and its neighboring Sacred Valley were my most challenging locations to visit to date.
As a seasoned solo traveler, I always research locations ahead of time, but in this case, there were still a few unexpected things and scenarios that surprised me and that I could have potentially avoided had I known about them sooner. In an effort to help you avoid the same trip pitfalls that I had, here are the 6 mistakes I made in Cusco, Peru!
6 cusco mistakes
Wear Sunglasses, even if you think you don’t need them
Visiting a high altitude city, I already planned to wear sunglasses on the days I’d primarily be outdoors. I wasn’t planning to wear them the *entire* time I was outside though. After all, I was visiting during the wet season, surely there would be enough rain clouds overhead so this wouldn’t be an issue.
Two days into my trip though, the eye pain started! Luckily it wasn’t too severe, but I had seriously underestimated brightness levels for over 11K feet.
My advice, especially as someone used to sea level brightness with lighter eyes, wear your sunglasses anytime you’re outdoors, even if you don’t think them necessary.
6 cusco mistakes
Re-think Remote Spots During the Rainy Season
As someone who loves venturing off-the-beaten-path when it’s safe to do so, I didn’t think twice about booking a few remote Cusco tours in December.
One of these tours was a day trek to Ausangate. This trip was one of the highlights from Peru, and I was extremely lucky that things worked out for my visit.
Another, and the reason for my caution, was Waqrapukara, an Incan archeological sight that resembled Weathertop in The Lord of the Rings movies. After leaving my hotel at 4AM and spending over 5 hours in the car, my day trip came crashing down because of bad road conditions. One of the towns along the drive experienced heavy rainfall the night before, meaning that its country dirt road had quickly become a muddy landslide that our car could not drive up.
Additionally, Waqrapukara was not very close to any other ruins or tourists spots, making it difficult to figure out a back-up plan.
So if you’re set on visiting Peru’s remote spots, I’d advise visiting during the dry season instead for better luck along the roads!
To hear more about my trip to Ausangate, check out my post about “What to Expect on a Day Trip to the Ausangate 7 Lakes“.
6 cusco mistakes
Shoes with Great Traction are a Must
You might think that rain boots are great for visiting Cusco during the rainy season or maybe even some sandals for visiting during the dry season, but in reality, focusing on shoes with solid grip versus the type will serve you the best.
Even if you’re just exploring the town and avoiding daytrips, Cusco has a lot of stairs and cobblestone walkways. I personally found a lot of these stairs to be a bit slippery and slanted, which made going down quite precarious without proper footwear – even while dry.
So leave those cute flats, sandals, heels, etc. at home and opt for something more durable in Cusco. Your feet and knees will thank you for it later!
6 cusco mistakes
Keep re-applying sunscreen, especially to your hands
You probably already know the side affects associated with high-altitude, but what many people tend to forget is to pack and apply a strong sunscreen. AND to keep re-applying throughout the day. High altitude means you’re quite literally closer to the sun and with lots of outdoor trips and activities, a high-SPF sunscreen in Cusco is a must.
In the era of COVID-19, where hand washing and sanitizing have even more importance and awareness than they have previously, it’s especially important to pay close attention to your hands, re-applying there as much as possible!
My recommendation? Try to make hand re-application part of your routine. Anytime you use hand sanitizer (which is available and encouraged or required at most tourist spots), be prepared to grab that sunscreen out of your bag and slather it on!
6 cusco mistakes
Get Clear Details Up Front
When booking tours, be clear about your expectations and trip details.
I experienced a few instances in which tour operators had a completely different idea of what my trip entailed compared to my own. Things like meals not being tourist-friendly to a photography tour not actually being a photography tour at all.
It’s best to set expectations with your tour provider and verify that you have an accurarte interpretation of what they are offering before you buy.
If booking in advance, communicate via email. Put the tour details in your own words and ask them to verify that you are understanding everything correctly prior to payment. Make sure to also re-confirm details with your guide on the day of your tour as well, especially if you booked a custom experience!
If booking on the fly, your hotel may be able to help verify your tour’s details. However, still make sure to voice any concerns with your guide up front before you embark on your tour as well.
Looking for a solid tour operator?
If you’re hoping to book tours in advance, here are the four tour operators I was able to easily book online and generally had a great time with during my trip.
Peru Summit Adventures – Custom Tours throughout Peru
Alpaca Expeditions – Hiking and Machu Picchu Focused Tours
Horseback Riding Cusco – Horseback Riding and Sacsayhuaman Tour
Peru Hop – Group Tours Between Cities by Bus
6 cusco mistakes
Book downtime in-between day trips
Many of the sights in Cusco are located outside of town and are only accessible by full day trips. With start times from 3-5AM times and end times nearing 5PM or later, these tours can be quite long and tiresome!
Determined to see as much as possible, I had some day trip planned every day except for two. And the two that I didn’t? I explored the city, hiking up the various hills and even going horseback riding on the outskirts one day.
As much as I loved the schedule I had, I do wish I had put in at least one day of strict downtime so I could relax and catch up on some sleep before my next big tour. Feeling like you’re falling asleep over your dinner plate in a fancy restaurant is definitely not fun.
If your schedule allows, pencil in a few “light” days between the aggressive day trips.
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