Cusco, Peru

My main reason for heading to Peru was to go to Machu Picchu - its been on my bucket list for years. We ended up selecting the 'Cusco in 4 days' tour with Santu Tours - except we skipped the first day because we it was our only day to really see Cusco (the tour takes you all around the valley on the first day). Cusco was exactly what I had pictured in my head when I thought of Peru - its a beautiful city with the mountains in the background and so cool to see all the old buildings. It's also a city with baby alpacas!!!! Its a total tourist trap - baby alpaca gets shoved in your arms, phone gets taken from your hand, everyone poses, multiple photos taken and then a suggested dollar amount is requested - but sooooo worth it. They were so tiny and adorable and I'm pretty sure i screamed and ran at them with my arms open - v basic. 

We were up bright and early the next day to catch the bus that would take us through the Sacred Valley on our way to Machu Picchu. Our first stop was the Incan ruins of Pisac- these were agricultural terraces they created on the hillside by hauling soil from all around the region. The terraces were huge - much larger than they look in photos. After Pisac we stopped at the most amazing restaurant in the middle of nowhere called Tunupa Valle Sagrado. 

The last stop of the day was Ollantaytambo with its terraces and storehouses built by the Incas. Our tour guide showed us how you could see an Incan god's face in the side of the mountain. Great last stop before Machu Picchu!