Green Toad Bus

Recommended Night: 4+

Experiences gained in the amazing city of Cusco (sometimes spelled Cuzco) will stay with you for the rest of your life. It´s one of those places where you never want to leave. Sights found all over Cusco are filled with lots of surprising details. The magic of the city relies on its mixture of Inca walls with Spanish architecture. Most of the churches and the Cathedral of Cusco were built over former Inca temples, and many of the foundations still have visible finely carved Incan stones. 

Cusco is a living city: the streets are the venue for many religious traditions during the year that are both musical as they are colorful, the most famous of these being Inti Raimi, the ancient Inca celebration of the sun. Cusco has very attractive markets and also many interesting museums.

The heart of the city is the Plaza de Armas: a really nice place where people gather to relax and chat and it also makes the perfect starting point for a historical walk around Cusco. San Blas is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods, and not a far from the Plaza de Armas. 

Cusco is a very cosmopolitan city: You can see people from all over the world during the whole year. Nightlife is fantastic as the city is full of nice bars and discos. For a break from the always busy streets head to one of the many excellent places to try Peruvian food, and a variety of other great restaurants.

Cusco also has many attractions found on the outskirts: You can take a local bus or a taxi and visit the many archaeological sites in the region. Places like Qenco, Pucapucara, Sacsaywaman, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas are just some examples of this. You also have many companies offering tours, including guided bus trips to the many touristic treats of the area. And of course, Cusco is the base for your trip to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail , which can be reached part of the way by bus and then train.

Cusco is the capital of Peru Backpacking: You´ll always find hundreds of people looking for great adventure and fun. This is definitely one the best places for backpacking in Peru!

Recommended Nights: 3+

Not only is Lima likely to be the starting point for your visit to Peru, this enormous city is full of places and activities worth a day or two to explore. Take your time to feel the energy of street life in the central area and admire the beautiful parks and colonial buildings in the lovely San Isidro or Miraflores neighborhoods. Lima is a great place to start backpacking in South America!

The city of Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. It quickly became a very important commercial city and the administrative centre for most of South America. Unfortunately it suffered two giant earthquakes in its history (1687 and 1746) destroying most of the original buildings. Lima bounced back well after the disasters with the rapid reconstruction of delightful areas which attract a world of travellers. The Plaza de Armas, which features the beautiful Cathedral and the Government Palace, and close by the Church of La Merced, the Inquisition Museum and Saint Francis Monastery are just some of the interesting places to visit.

Traveling in Peru offers a unique experience, and Lima offers some of the things that you won´t see in the rest of Peru. Lima has the best museums in Peru, so allow time to see at least a few of the most interesting ones. The Gold Museum of Peru has an excellent collection of Inca gold crafts and a unique old weapons collection. The National Museum and the National Anthropology Museum are also good places to check out.

Lima is also a great place to have fun and relax! Adrenalin lovers should try paragliding in Miraflores or maybe surfing at the Waikiki or Los Chorrillos beaches. Be certain not to skip going out in Lima: the nightlife is one of the best in Peru, especially in the Barranco and Miraflores neighborhoods. The city hosts excellent bars and discos were you can find rock, jazz and Latin music. It also has nice "peñas" such as those close to the "Puente de los Suspiros", or Bridge of Sighs in Barranco.