Day 1: Acclimatization to High Altitude in Cuzco
Cuzco is a charming little town in Peru, but it is an important stop on a way to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu lies at about 2500 meters above sea level and therefore altitude acclimatization is a must. Cuzco is actually located at about 3500 meters above sea level, which ended up a great preparation for hiking up to the summit oh Huayna Picchu.

My friend back from college flew in several days before me, so I left my bags at the small family run hotel he found and we went for a breakfast.


The hotel was several blocks off from the main square, was reasonably priced (~$100/night), had recently renovated rooms, included hot breakfast, and had WiFi. What else do you need?


At this point altitude sickness started to get annoying, but Advil and coca leaves kept it manageable.


I asked for a glass of orange juice (2 sols). 10 minutes passed and I thought they forgot about the order. The same moment a waiter brought a huge 500ml glass of fresh and it became obvious why it took so long.

We went back to the hotel to meet up with our guide and spent the rest of the day exploring Sacsayhuamán archaeological site, Coricancha, and Cuzco school of art in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.


It was time for a dinner. Even though modern Peru gastronomy is on the rise, I wanted to try some traditional dishes.