Our Day 2 in Peru was all about getting from Lima to Cusco.

We started our day with a nice breakfast at our Lima Airport Holiday Inn hotel which worked out great as we arrived in Lima at 12:30 am and had just one full day in Lima before we had to fly to Cusco. So staying close to the airport worked out great as we would be returning to Lima for several days at the end of our trip where we would go for the gusto with a beautiful hotel on the beaches of Lima.

Off to the airport we went and with an aisle seat my compulsive picture taking was somewhat limited but I was able to sneak a couple of pics across two people and out the window.

We landed in Cusco and our Cusco hotel transport was waiting for us. Our driver Arturo was so wonderful and gave us a fantastic introduction and overview of Cusco on our drive from the airport to the hotel. Such a different vibe from Lima and my excitement of what we were about to experience here in Cusco just grew and grew the more Arturo spoke and the closer we came to the heart of Cusco and our hotel, the Palacio del Inka.

What a marvelous place to make our home while in Cusco. A Marriott collection hotel, the venue, architecture, staff and vibe was fantastic. Built on the grounds of Inca ruins the hotel lobby takes your breath away. Our suite was fantastic with views of the Cusco hills that look like they were literally stacks of houses built one on top of the other.

At over 11,000 foot elevation, Cusco was once the capital of the Inca empire until conquered by the Spaniards in the early 1500’s. Hence, there are the still a number of Inca ruins but many Spanish Colonial churches, cathedrals and structures. Cusco is still the capital and hub of this part of Peru and definitely the springboard to Machu Pichu.

We would have today and tomorrow to explore and enjoy this spectacular city and once checked in we asked our concierge for a good lunch spot and we were off to explore the Plaza de Armas de Cuzco.

The walk to the plaza was fantastic. After just being in Córdoba, Spain a few months prior you could truly feel the Spanish influence in the way the streets and plazas are composed and of course the architecture. On one street in particular, you could see the remnants of the Inca masonry walls with their giant stones and super tight joints and on the other side of the street the smaller stone masonry fitted with mortar from the Spaniards.

The Plaza de Armas was busy but beautiful and not as crazy as Lima. Cusco has a magical and friendly vibe. Every vendor was so friendly, gentle and kind…. You feel it everywhere we have gone in Peru but in particular here in Cusco. Of course we had to get our photo with the Peruvian and her llama!

We found our lunch spot, Limo, which was a Japanese / Peruvian fusion restaurant and once again amazing food, cuisine, not to mention, view of the Plaza.  Of course more ceviche for me - spectacular!

We  slowly made our way back to the hotel for some complimentary oxygen brought right to our room, a siesta and then cocktails and a nice light dinner at the hotel. Peru is on Central Time but with all the travel and the high altitude, we definitely could feel it and so we called it an early night so we could really enjoy our only full day in Cusco which would be day 3 of our Peruvian  journey.