If you plan a vacation to Peru, don't ignore a quick getaway to Cusco, Peru.

Telling you to visit Cusco, in Peru is kind of redundant if you plan to take a family vacation getaway to Peru. But, we will re-emphasize, since no one should skip this beautiful and historic city.

To get to Cusco, the recommended mode of transportation is a flight. You can take bus or train, but it is not recommended because of a couple reasons. One, the bus ride is over extremely mountainous roads, meaning you go slow and it can be dangerous. For instance, a bus ride from Lima to Cusco, will only cost a few US dollars, but will take you 24 hours to drive-trust us, you don't want to waste your time in a bus!

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Many families that take a family vacation in Peru, come because they wish to see Incan ruins or climb to Machu Pichu. If this describes your family, then Cusco is definately the place you want to spend some time. However, when you arrive in Cusco, you will be best advised to spend the first day doing very little walking around. Your body will not be acclimated to the elevation (3360 meters or 11,000 feet). You should spend the first day relaxing in your hotel, drinking Coca tea and not exerting yourself. This may be hard for your children to do, but it is in their best interest, otherwise you will spend your day trying comfort a child with headaches. If your doctor is willing, you may want to get a prescription for Diamox to combat altitude sickness; take it before arriving in Cusco.

When you arrive in Cusco, you will notice that there is an abundance of Cusco hotels or hostels, vying for your business. Feel free to bargain with the prices. We recommend staying in a hostel as opposed to a hotel. You will find that most hostels have a bathroom inside them and offer all the same amenities as a hotel, just for less cost. The other thing you will see is that there are millions of taxis driving around looking for fares. They will honk and/or flash their lights at you. Don't worry, they aren't mad at you, they are communicating with you, asking you if you want a ride. The best thing is to either shake your head no, or just ignore them. If you want them to stop, waive your hand.

There is a lot to go into about shopping and eating while vacationing in Cusco, so we created a separate page. Follow it here: Where to eat and shop in Cusco, Peru. Cusco was the old capital of the Incas and saw the height of it's power during the rule of Pachacutec in the late 1400's. You will find that many of the buildings in downtown Cusco are constructed of Incan stonework. When the Spaniards arrived in 1534, they built churches upon Incan temples they tore down. Many of the walkways and roads are also of Inca construction. To honor the greatest ruler of the Incas, the Peruvians, have built a gigantic statue to him. We suggest you take some time and bring your family by to read up on a little history of him and take some pictures. This brings us to the first important thing you will need to purchase. The Boleto Turistico or Tourist ticket is a must have, if you plan to visit any ruins or sites around Cusco. It costs around $20 and will get you in to all the major ruins and museums in the area-other than Machu Pichu. You can purchase a ticket by heading to the Plaza de Armas(the city square) and asking someone where the tourist office is. Be careful who you ask. A local may take you to a office where they will sell you ticket at an inflated price. You will know you are at the correct office by the sign over the door that says "Turistico." Or you can go here and tell Victor what you want to do. (He operates a travel agency just north of the Plaza de Armas. We could give you directions to his office, but it is really difficult to find if you have never been to it before, so just call him on the phone number listed on his site). This bus tour is a good way to go, and we highly recommend doing this tour because you will have a tour guide on the bus explaining the history of the ruins along the way. Plan accordingly, because this bus tour is an all day event (about 11 hours), however, they do stop for a pre-paid lunch buffet along the way. The only real downside to this kind of tour is that they don't spend enough time at the market place in Pisac (where you can get the best deals on clothes, trinkets, and artistry).

One last bit of information you should know, before we talk about the Sacred Valley around Cusco. You are expected to bargain for anything you buy in the marketplace or shops. Never pay the asking price! With that in mind, you shouldn't bargain so hard that you feel like you ripped the vendor off. Remember, the average family in Peru only makes about 800 soles a month, which is nothing next to what the average Westerner/American makes. It's okay if you don't get the rock bottom price-you can be a blessing to the locals.