"On the Trail"

The Journals from the Road

PeaceBike Tips for Travelers- Cusco, Peru -- Dec 2000

This is our first installation of Tips for Travlers and I would love feedback on how this does or doesn´t prove to be enlightening or helpful.

Cusco...

Thumbs up... a great place to rest a bit with lots of good restaurants, vegi-dishes, sit in the central plaza and meet lots of people.

Thumbs down... because this is such a tourist town you will always be asked if you want a shoe-shine, postcards, tours, and artesania. You do a lot of smiling and saying no... no gracias... and walking away.

TIP OF THE TOWN...Tad`s favorite econo-vegi restaurant... If you are at the main plaza go to Avenida del Sol and go downhill, take the first right and go two blocks. Follow the road downhill past shoe repair shops, clothing stores, and a few hotels. I think it is on the third block down right past a slightly busy intersection. It is on your right as you are going downhill. It is called Tercer Mundo, Comedor Vegetariano. They are busy between noon and 2 pm serving their lunch. First you get a mini-salad, then a vegi-full soup of some kind, then a main dish (Usually a choice of two options. I always take the combination.). And all that for 2.50 Soles or about 80 cents US. This is a restaurant with a local cliente and a few savvy or lucky viajeros. Enjoy!!!

MORE TIPS...

Buying stuff... If you want sweaters de pura alpaca contact my friends Sabina and Genaro. They will be wearing the light brown vendor outfits and rainbow hats. Ask for them but don`t say you want to buy from them and other vendors will direct you to them. Tell Sabina or Genaro that you are friends of Mateo y Francisco and they will happy you stopped by. They may be able to work a little discount for you but please don`t haggle too hard.

Tours...I made a good friend while in Cusco. His name is Edwin. He is a travel agent and has lots and lots of connections. You tell him what kind of a budget you are on and he can get you set up with hotel, hostal, tours, tickets, etc. And almost always he can work out a deal for you to get it cheaper than you could. You can visit his website at www.geocities.com/etourscusco for more information. Say hi from Mateo (my Spanish nick-name.)

Hotels... There is a range of about 10 Soles to 250$ here per night. There are a number for the 10 Soles range but can be a bit shabby. The hotel we stayed in may go up in price a bit but you might be able to ask for the 10 Sol price (plus inflation) We stayed at the Hospedaje Santa Isabel, which has carpetted rooms, private bathrooms, and your own kitchen to cook in. It is actually in a comercial complex....out front electronic shops and hardware vendors (and ORANGE AND CARROT JUICE). But also great staff in Andres and Jose Luis (brothers and both very friendly!) Jose is working on his English and will love to practice with you!!

You can check out their site at www.geocities.com/victorstours

We mainly patronized two cybercafes...one on on the way to the vegi restaurant... after turning off Avenida del Sol it is on the right on the first block. Fast satelite connection. 5 Soles/ hour to make calls using MSN messenger but great quality connection. Say hi to Freddy. Also, found one at the top of Avenida del Sol, right before you turn right to head into the Plaza De Armas. They have a big neon @ sign out front. Go downstairs and they have lots of connections. Edith and Raul are very nice and might make a deal with you if you are going to be spending lots of hours there.

Cheapest way to get to Machu Picchu... hike... 17 dollar fee includes entrance... or you can bus to Ollayantaytambo (4 Soles) and then evening train (10$), then spend a whole day in Machu Picchu (10$)and then morning train back(10$) to Ollayantaytambo and bus back(4 Soles).

Prices change but that is what I got...

Enjoy Cusco!!!

TAD

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