Cuzco

After breakfast, we will go for a walk around Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. Legend says this city was founded by Manco Capac himself - the founder of the Inca civilisation, the son of the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. Cuzco, translated from Quechua, means "navel of the earth" - rulers of the empire lived in luxurious palaces, and important religious ceremonies were held in magnificent temples. This is exactly how, at the peak of its prosperity, this city was seen by Francisco Pizarro - and he founded it anew, dismantling the Inca masonry and building colonial mansions on the foundations of the ancient palaces.

On the cobbled streets of Cuzco, we will learn to identify Inca masonry and spot the traces of the Incas in Spanish buildings. We’ll talk about how the South American Indian empires were destroyed and how many executions the picturesque Plaza de Armas saw. We’ll gaze upon the magnificent portals of the Cathedral, where Indian and European motifs are intertwined. And we’ll try to picture what the Temple of the Sun might have looked like in Incan times, with its golden elements and majestic beauty. 

We’ll also stop by the Inca Museum, find out why the Incas grew coca, how they moved huge stones and how their burials were arranged. Interesting fact -  the museum was built on the site of an ancient Inca palace.

And of course, we will get lost in the labyrinths of the San Pedro market, where we’ll be dazzled by the bright colors of Peruvian bags, ponchos and blankets. And when the abundance of fruits and vegetables on display inevitably whets our appetite, we will lunch in a traditional Peruvian restaurant, where the most adventurous of us can try cuy chactado, also known as fried guinea pig. 

After lunch we’ll have some time to unwind back at the hotel - and later on, we’ll go out for dinner to another fabulous Peruvian restaurant.