destination

Cusco

We admit, this is quite an unexpected entry to the list but 100% deserving. Set high up in the Andean peaks where you pretty much have to climb or descend to make your way to some of these spots surely makes you "earn" your meal. We recommend: Pachapapa, Chicha, Marcelo Batata (rooftop), Limo (amazing view), Cicciolina (tapas & peruvian cuisine) and Incanto. Cusco is the capital of the Inca empire and the start off point to visit the Sacred Valley where Machu Picchu is located. Exploring this city was incredibly fun and very different from other cities in South America with its historical monuments that talk about its Inca and colonial past, museums that gather the best of Cusco culture and diverse art and folklore expressions. San Pedro market is where you find locals selling fresh produce and traditional peruvian ingredients. San Blas neighbourhood is the bohemian part of Cusco and is rich in locally owned stores, art galleries and arts and crafts vendors. Museo de Arte Precolombino is the only museum in Peru that showcases ancient Peruvian cultures and is well worth a visit post which you can grab lunch at MAP Cafe (highly recommended). Walking the streets of the city you experience it all from locals dressed in traditional clothes, the sound of local tunes, an occasional llama crossing to handmade jewellery, carpets, rugs, paintings and foods, it is no wonder that Cusco is known to be the oldest living city of the continent.