Travel Diary: Cusco, Peru

After a magical day in Machu Picchu, Ama and I found our way to the old Incan capital of Cusco.

The Cusco Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru.

Ama and I found ourselves with a free morning after a full day to Machu Picchu and back. With an 11:00 am pickup to take us to our hotel in Cusco, we were able to read, write, and relax with a host of coffees. Shortly before the van was slated to arrive we made our way to the courtyard to take in some sunshine. By 11:15, we were on the road to Cusco.

The drive to Cusco from Urabamba is just 35 miles, but took more than 90 minutes with narrow mountain roads and traffic. The mountainous trek wound us through a series of small towns where we caught more glimpses of how the locals actually live. It is still largely a hard scrabble existence in these mountain towns. Jobs are scarce, and tourism is not as prevalent along these mountain passes, as many of these places are just a spot to pass through. These communities can see the wealthy foreign tourists streaming through their town, but the buses rarely stop to spend any money.