Cusco City

Cusco needs 3 days, including at least one for acclimating to the altitude (3,400m) before any demanding excursion. April-October is the dry season, ideal for exploring both the city and the Sacred Valley. Prices are affordable by international standards, though they rise ahead of Machu Picchu due to high demand. It was the capital of the Inca Empire, and its Spanish colonial architecture stands literally atop Inca foundations of stone carved with millimetric precision, still visible on several downtown streets.