Is Cusco Safe?

Cusco sits high in the Peruvian Andes at around 3,400m and was the capital of the Inca Empire, the political and religious heart of a state that once stretched down much of South America. When the Spanish arrived in 1533 they built their churches and mansions straight on top of the Inca stonework, and you can still see it everywhere: massive mortarless Inca walls holding up colonial buildings around the Plaza de Armas. The city stays deeply Quechua, and you will hear the language in the markets and see traditional dress and weaving in neighbourhoods like San Blas. Most travellers use Cusco as the base for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, but the town itself, with its steep cobbled lanes, courtyards and mix of Inca and Spanish history, is worth a few days on its own. Take the altitude seriously and give yourself a day to adjust before any big hikes.