Being one of the most popular places to visit in Peru, you wonâ??t find a shortage of things to keep you occupied during your time in Cusco. These are just some of the reasons why you should make it a point to visit Cusco this year.

The Ruins

All of the ruins in Cusco tell an important story. The Temple Of The Sun, located fairly close to the Plaza de Armas, used to be covered in gold until the Spanish conquest. The ruins of Sacsayhuaman were once a giant fortress that was crucial to the city.

The Views

Everywhere you turn you will see amazing views. To see something truly spectacular, take a hike up to the top of the valley so that you can overlook all of Cusco. Also, while you are at the Sacsayhuaman ruins make sure you check out Ausangate. You can easily see this holy mountain from here and it acts as sort of a backdrop.

The Animals

If you see an animal on a leash in Cusco it probably wonâ??t be a dog, but an alpaca or a llama. You can find them virtually everywhere and tourists commonly stop to take pictures with them. Donâ??t worry though as they tend to be fairly tame and are generally leashed and donâ??t wander around freely.

The Architecture And Layout

When you are in Cusco you will feel as if youâ??ve stepped back in time. Many of the churches are made out of stone that came from Incan temples that were destroyed. Many of the buildings have interesting colonial finishes and Inca foundations. The streets are also rather interesting. They are made out of cobblestone and very narrow.

The Food

One of the reasons why the food tends to be phenomenal here is because itâ??s usually fresh. Fruit and vegetables are local and the fish offerings are often the catch of the day. Not sure what to try? Go for the pachamanca or the ceviche. You canâ??t go wrong with either of those options.

The Shopping

Now you probably donâ??t want to visit another country just to shop, but it is a perk here in Cusco. You can find all sorts of trinkets and textiles to take back home. These items are usually handmade and of surprisingly good quality. They also are reasonably priced so you can easily splurge a little bit without breaking the bank.