Cusco

We arrived in Cusco with little expectations short of knowing that it was a tourist trap! We are glad to say that we were pleasantly surprised! Being over 2800 meters high on arrival the altitude really did hit us, especially as our hostel is up 60 steps so carrying our bags up there wasnt a walk in the park! Even though Cusco is relatively expensive compared to the rest of Peru the alcohol prices arent as bad as we thought, as one in the air is like two on the ground (as we discovered on night one!). Cusco is busy but feels really safe (with the usual harassing you get everywhere), its made up of some nice squares with pleanty of nice restaurants and cafes.

We didnt do much for the first 2 days as Orla was feeling a little under the weather but did buy a tourist ticket and so went to some nearby inca ruins to try to prepare for the trek we were planning!

We had to book an alternative trek (Salkantay) because the Inca trail was booked out in April. Luckily for us it worked out much cheaper than the Inca Trail and so off we went to purchase some warm clothes!! We went to the market here and got everything we needed (thermals included!) for less than $50, rented some sleping bags and headed to bed for an early night as we were being collected at 4am!