Another reason why Cusco is a good place to learn Spanish is because Peruvian Spanish is generally a lot easier to understand than in many other Latin American countries such as Chile and Argentina where a lot of slang is spoken and regional accents are almost impossible to understand for a Gringo whose only just started to learn.

If you’re interested in volunteering there are also a lot of opportunities to combine your volunteer placement with Spanish lessons for no extra cost. Several of the Spanish schools in Cuzco are owned and run by non-profit organisations.

Costs of learning Spanish

Learning Spanish in Cusco is relatively inexpensive and most of the schools charge similar fees. Expect to pay around $7 – $10 per hour for one-on-one tuition, and around $4 – $6 per hour to be part of a small class (usually no more than 5 or 6 students).

Spanish Schools

Here is a list of some of the most well known Spanish Schools in Cusco:

Mundo Antiguo spanish school – http://www.learnspanishinperu.net/

Fairplay Spanish Courses – http://www.fairplay-peru.org

Wiracocha Spanish School – www.wiracochaschool.org

AMAUTA Spanish School – http://www.amautaspanish.com

Cusco Spanish School – http://www.cuscospanishschool.com

South American Spanish School – http://www.sasschool.org

Mundo Verde – http://www.mundoverdespanish.com

Maximo Nivel – http://www.maximonivel.net

Amigo Spanish Schools – http://www.spanishcusco.com

You can get discounts at most of the above Spanish Schools by joining South American Explorers Club

If you want to travel from Cusco to Puno there are several modes of transport you can take:

Fly to Puno from Cusco

It’s possible to fly directly from Cusco to Puno with LAN Airline. The flight takes about 50 minutes and should cost around $150-$200. It’s usually much cheaper to book your flight inside Peru than outside. Also note that the airport you need to fly to is actually Juliaca which is a short distance by car from Puno.

Train to Puno

The Peruvian rail network is currently not very extensive, however it is possible to take a direct train from Cusco to Puno. The rail network is currently controlled by Peru Rail and unfortunately for tourists this is surprisingly a very expensive way to travel. A roundtrip by rail between Cusco and Puno currently costs about $220 which is outrageous in my opinion. Rail travel is far cheaper in expensive western countries! Visit the scam merchants at http://www.perurail.com for more info.

Bus to Puno

The cheapest way to travel to Puno from Cusco is by bus. There’s usually several buses per day and take approximately 6 hours to travel between Cusco and Puno. It should cost about ??

Organised trips including visits to ruins.

There are a few interesting ruins between Cusco and Puno, such as the Racchi ruins which are worth a visit if you’re interested in the Inca history. If you take the train or the bus then it won’t be possible to visit these ruins. There are several fairly inexpensive tours you can take from Cusco to Puno that will allow you to visit these places of interest along the way. Shop around at the different tour agenices in Cusco to see what they can offer you.

If you spend any time walking around Cusco you’ll soon notice that many tour companies are advertising Ayahuasca ceremonies. It’s important to note that Ayahuasca is a very potent mind-altering substance and is not something to be taken lightly or for recreational purposes. An Ayahuasca ceremony is usually an incredibly intense spiritual experience and you had better be prepared to have your views about life altered for ever!

In my opinion it’s also very important that you take Ayahuasca with an experienced shaman who is able to protect the space and provide help if necessary. Otherwise you run the risk of having a harmful experience that could take some time to fully recover from.

There are probably well over a dozen people running Ayahuasca ceremonies in or around Cusco. The following are people or organisations that I believe to be reliable and will provide you with a positive and safe ayahuasca experience.

Etnikas – Etnikas is a store and shamanic healing centre in the heart of Cusco. They work with over 50 Peruvian shamans and are extremely committed to providing safe ceremonies to participants.

Kush – Kush owns The Shaman Shop in the centre of Cusco. He does 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) which currently cost $70.

Ayahuasca Wasi – Ayahausca Wasi organise  Aya retreats in Pisac in the sacred valley.

El Molle – El Molle is a small sustainable Ayahuasca community in Pisac, near Cusco.

If you’re not part of a tour and want to make your own way to Pisac then getting there couldn’t be easier. Here’s how:

Taxi to Pisac

Getting a Taxi to Pisac from Cusco is quite easy, and although it’s by far the most expensive way of getting there, it doesn’t cost the earth. Expect to pay around 40 soles in a taxi which is about $13. There are also collectivo taxis which are essentially minivans that set off as soon as they are full. These are very inexpensive and cost around 5 soles. In a taxi the journey should take around 40 minutes.

Bus to Pisac

The cheapest way of reaching Pisac from Cusco is by bus (currently 2.40 soles). The buses set off around every 10 or 15 minutes and are usually full of locals and is therefore the best way of traveling if you want to fully immerse yourself in Peruvian culture. There are also two bus stations in Cusco that serve Pisac. One route goes to Urubamba via Pisac, and the other route goes to Calca via Pisac. The bus usually takes around 50 minutes.

Budget hostels

At the lower end for people on a really tight budget (hello backpackers!) you can find some really cheap hostels for as little as $5 a night. Facilities at these kind of hostels will be incredibly basic and you’ll be lucky to get a warm shower at price. You probably won’t find any of the really cheap hostels on the online hostel booking sites, so you’ll need to be in Cuzco itself to find these types of places.

Quality Hostels

For people who can’t afford hotels (or just prefer the social aspect of hostels) but still want a comfortable place with decent facilities there are some really good quality hostels in Cusco, often with private rooms available if you don’t want to sleep in a dorm. Expect to pay around $15 a night at the better hostels. Some of the better hostels in Cusco are listed on the Hostels World website – check out www.hostelsworld.com

Casa de la Gringa is one of the better hostels in Cusco. Also see my article about finding a good hostel in Cusco

Budget Hotels

Next up the accommodation ladder are the budget hotels which cost anything from around $15 to $40 a night. Most of the online hotel booking sites don’t list the budget hotels, and the best place to find a room for this kind of price is probably in Cusco itself. The budget hotels are usually clean and confortable and more than adequate for most travelers.

Mid-price Hotels

There are a lot of mid-price hotels in Cuzco that cost in the region of $45 to $150 per night. At this kind of price you’re going to experience quite a lot of luxury in a place like Cusco. Check out sites like www.hotels.com or expedia.com to search for mid-price and luxury hotels. Also see my article about finding the best hotels in Cusco.

Luxury Hotels

If you like to travel in style and money is no object then there are some very exclusive and luxurious hotels in Cusco. Probably the most well know is Hotel Monasterio which is a 5 star hotel and is positioned right in the middle of Cusco’s tourist center. Expect to pay over $500 a night at this rather exclusive establishment! Find out more here.

Apartments in Cusco

If you intend to stay several weeks or more then the best value accommodation is probably an apartment. There are many apartments available to rent in Cusco that you can rent for as little as a week. The San Blas area is probably the best place to find an apartment in Cusco. Also see my article about finding an apartment in Cusco.

Staying with families

If you really want to immerse yourself in Peruvian culture and also improve your Spanish then there are also many opportunities to live with Peruvian families in Cusco. There are many Spanish Schools in Cusco that can arrange for you to live with a family.

There are basically only two ways of reaching Puerto Maldonado from Cusco. They are:

Bus to Puerto Maldonado

The road link between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado has improved considerably. Not long ago it would have taken 2 or 3 days to reach Puerto Maldonado by Bus , but now it can be done in less than 24 hours, or at least during the dry season. Travelling by land during the wet season is probably not recommended.

Fly to Puerto Maldonado

The quickest and simplest way to reach Puerto Maldonado from Cusco is by airplane which takes less than an hour. You can currently fly direct from Cusco and for a reasonable price too (often much less than $150 for a roundtrip). However,  air carriers and routes change quite a lot in Peru. If there’s no direct flight then you would have to go via Lima at considerably more expense. It is also usually much cheaper to book flights inside Peru than from the outside.

You’ve probably figured out by now that if you want to visit Machu Picchu then you need to go via Cusco, the original capital of the Incas and gateway to The sacred Valley and other Inca Monuments.

There are several ways you can travel to Machu Picchu from Cusco; here are the most common:

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

If you’re feeling fit and adventurous then the best way to visit Machu Picchu is by the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail is one of the most famous hiking treks in the world and will take you on a 4 day trek through some of the most breath taking scenery in the world. However, be warned, you usually have to book the Inca Trail at least 3 months in advance.

Train to Machu Picchu

If you’re short of time or just want to get there in the most comfortable way possible then the best method is to take the train. Trains run several times a day between Cusco and Aguas Calientes (Mauchu Picchu village) and usually take between 3 and 4 hours. If you’re taking the train during peak travel season (June-August) then it’s usually a good idea to book your seat several days in advance.

Alternative Inca Trails to Machu Picchu

If you’re not able to book on the Inca Trail, or just fancy doing something a little different then there are several other treks that finish at Machu Picchu. The most well known is the Salkantay Trek and speaking from personal experience I can say that this trek is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it.

By Car

Several travel agencies in Cusco offer one-day visits to Machu Picchu by car. I’m not entirely sure how this works because it’s currently impossible to drive 100% of the way there by car. My guess is that they take you to Ollantaytambo by car and then you go the rest of the way by train.

Ukukus

Ukukus is one of my favourite Cuszo clubs and it can be found on Plateros just off the main Plaza. I like Ukukus because it attracts as many locals as tourists and usually has a good atmosphere. Most nights they start off with live music from local bands, then the disco usually starts around 11pm. They always play a varied selection of music from latin to pop & rock and then many different styles of dance.

Mama Africa

Mama Africa is very popular with the tourists and is packed full most nights. If you like to feel hot and sweaty and squashed then this is a great place to be.  It also seems to be a good place to cop off with the opposite sex if that’s what you’re looking for. Watch out for the Brichero/as though!

Inca Team

I’ve been to Inca Team a few times and always had fun, although like Mama Africa it’s often jam-packed (at least during high tourist season). If you like to do nothing but dance the night away this is probably the best place to come. Inca Team can be found on the corner of Plaza de Armas.

Mythology

Located right next to Inca Team this is another very popular Cusco club. I’ve only been here a couple of times but I had fun on both ocassions

Mythology, Inca Team and Mama Africa are basically right next to each other. You don’t have to pay to enter any of them so you can easily check them all out on a single night and see which works best for you. They all play similar music usually and drink prices are about the same.

For many years Cusco has been a bit of a Mecca for backpackers and travellers touring around South America. I think I’ve read that Cusco is one of the top 3 tourist destinations in all of South America, although don’t quote me on that! But that’s the main reason why there are so many hostels.

When I knew I was moving to Cusco the first thing I did was book myself into a hostel for about a week so that I had somewhere to stay while I was looking for someone to live.

Personally I’ve always preferred hostels to hostels but it’s all down to personal preference. If you’re looking for luxury then you won’t find it in a hostel.

What I love most about hostels is the social aspect. Most hostels contain a common room and/or dining area which are always great places to meet fellow travellers (who are usually very open and friendly). I’ve met many great people while staying in hostels and had many amazing conversations.

In Cusco the cost of staying in hostels can vary quite a bit, which is usually down to the amount of services offered. Some hostels provide a lot more services than others. If you have a laptop then you’ll be pleased to know that several hostels in Cusco are now offering wifi which is always a bonus.

How to find a hostel in Cusco

If you’re travelling around Peru for any length of time then you most likely have a Rough Guide to Peru, or a Lonely Planet guide or something like that. Those books always list a number of the best hostels.

Personally I usually use the internet when I’m looking for a hostel. The site I normally use is http://www.hostelsworld.com. Another popular site is http://www.hostels.com/. What I like about these kinds of sites is that they allow travellers to rate and review the hostels they’ve stayed in so you can really get an idea of whether the hostel will be ideal for you based on other peoples experiences. Another great advantage of these websites is that you can book a bed or a room online so you don’t have to worry about the hostel being full up when you arrive.

If for some reason you’re unable to make a booking before you get to Cusco then there’s no need to worry. There are cheap hotels and hostels all over the main tourist centre of Cusco, and most of them are within a 10 minutes walk of each other, so it should never take you very long to find a place to stay.

In a future article I will be listing most of the highest rated hostels in Cusco.

What’s special about San Blas?

San Blas is characterized by it’s narrow cobbled stoned streets, colonial architecture and abundance of unique artisan stores, galleries and workshops. There are also several high quality restaurants and hotels in the San Blas area making it a popular place for tourists to stay in.

San Blas also provides some great views over the city of Cusco.

Although an interesting place, there are not many attractions in San Blas and thrill seekers will certainly find it a little boring. But if you’re the kind of person that enjoys wandering around and admiring interesting and unique architecture, or arts and crafts, then you will almost certainly enjoy your time in San Blas.

Getting to San Blas

The San Blas district is in central Cusco, less than a 5 minute walk north of the main Plaza de Armas. If you head up Triunfo and past the Inca Wall that features the famous 12 sided stone, you will find yourself in San Blas. Reaching the centre of San Blas involves walking up some steep narrow streets so take it easy, particularly if you’ve only just arrived in Cusco and are still adjusting to the altitude.

If you’re heading to San Blas straight from the airport then get a taxi to the heart of San Blas. It’s about a 15-20 minutes journey by car.

Things to see in San Blas

Iglesia de San Blas
Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sundays and holidays 10am – 6pm.

Apart from the stores and workshops, the main attraction is the church. This is the oldest parish church in Cusco and definitely worth a visit. The Cusco tourist ticket allows you entry to this church. Inside you will find several great works of Spanish art, as well an intricately carved pulpit that was carved by indigenous artisans.

Best hotel in San Blas

The best hotel in San Blas is probably Casa San Blas, a boutique hotel with fairly reasonable prices. This hotel is usually very highly rated on most of the travel review sites.

http://www.casasanblas.com/

Best Hostel in San Blas

The best travellers Hostel in San Blas in almost certainly Casa de la Gringa which always seems to attract some of the most interesting and friendly travellers and backpackers you will meet in Cusco.

http://www.casadelagringa.com/