Cuzco is an ancient city where the Incans and the Spanish fought for control over the region. The conquistador Francisco Pizarro finally captured the city around the middle of the 16th century. In and around Cuzco there are many Incan ruins you can visit, like Sacsayhuaman, just outside of the city, built from giant stone blocks, and the Incan religious center of Qorikancha, known as the Golden Temple.
The Spanish left behind many churches and cathedrals. If you go to the central square, the Plaza de Armas, you can tour Cuzco's main cathedral, built on top of an ancient Incan temple. One curious thing you'll find in this cathedral is a large painting of the Last Supper. If you look closely at the main dish, you'll see that it's a large guinea pig, an Andean specialty.
If you're planning on hiking into Machu Picchu, instead of taking the train to the valley below, you'll have to travel with an organized tour. Solo trekkers are no longer permitted on the trail. The trek itself isn't very long, but because of the high altitude, you should plan on a strenuous hike. It's a good idea to spend a few days in Cuzco acclimatizing to the thinner air before you embark on your trek. Even though the guiding companies have porters to carry your food, tents and basic supplies, you'll probably still have to carry your own pack, so make sure you're in shape.
Hiking with an organized group is less expensive than hiring a private tour operator. Prices vary, depending on the services you choose and how much of the trail you're going to hike. But you should expect to pay hundreds of dollars for this adventure. The Classic Incan Trail usually takes four to five days, but you can opt to start farther along the trail, which should reduce the miles you'll be hiking and the overall cost of the trip.
In the past, it was possible to simply arrive in Cuzco and book your tour. The government has limited permits and the number of people allowed to hike each day, so you should book your tour several months in advance. Once you're on the trail, you'll be traversing steep passes over subtropical jungle, often trekking through the mist. You should bring proper hiking gear, which you can buy in Cuzco, in case you forget to pack the essentials before leaving home. Proper gear includes wet-weather clothing, several pairs of good socks and a pair of good hiking boots. The porters running up and down the paths, only in their flip-flops, might surprise you. Most of them have been hiking these mountains for years, and their feet are very tough.
By hiking the Inca Trail, you'll be able to get into Machu Picchu early in the morning, before most of the tourists arrive by train. This "lost" city, discovered in 1911, is actually lower in elevation than Cuzco. The city is perched on a high ridge, offering distant views over the mountains and the Urabamba Valley below. You can walk among the large stones, which were set in place without mortar, or stroll among the different plazas and tombs. After exploring the ruins, you can climb the steep path to the top of Huayna Picchu, the tall peak overlooking Machu Picchu, for a better view of the entire site. When the day is over, you can descend into the valley and take the train back to Cuzco.
