Pit Stop in Cuzco, Peru

TRIP INFO BOX
Route	Puno, Peru – Cuzco, Peru (RN3S)
Distance	385Km
Travel Time	8 hours
Road Conditions	Mostly asphalt, 50-100Km sandy asphalt after Sicuani, dogs!
Weather	Sunny, chilly
Terrain	Dry & hilly, mountainous pass 4350m
Food and Petrol	Frequent
Accommodation	Hostal Girasol, Puno

The ride to cuzco is mainly monotone, but there are some lovely views around the Abra La Raya mountain pass, which is about 4350m high.

Cuzco is expensive, but we’re already mentally prepared for that. We pre-book at Girasol Hostal (25USD/double including breakfast). It ain’t cheap but it’s got a kitchen, it’s comfy and with a bit of effort we get the bike inside and park in the small back “garden”. What is cheeky though is that they expect their payments in USD or in local currency they convert at their own marked-up exchange rate, taking that commission out of your pocket.

Curiously, as I remember it, there are two English medical students on a placement in Peru staying in Girasol as well and they are both sick….

The town itself is very pretty, particularly the historical centre. Beautiful old buildings of Incan and colonial suffusion circle the large rock-paved square and its fountain. Most of the streets and walkways are built of stone, as are the houses lining them. There are a lot of chic hotels, bars and restaurants that offer drinking and fine dining – something that contrasts the general Peruvian drive-through town.

We don’t spend much time here because of the cost, but we do take the time to go out and arrange our Machu Picchu tickets ahead of our visit there. This in itself can be quite an endeavour if you’re not familiar with all the options and details, so I have summarized all that in a separate post HERE!

Yes, even an Irish pub…