Blog - Cusco Native

Laguna Humantay: A Beautiful Glacial Lake in Cusco

Laguna Humantay is a gorgeous glacial lake located in the Cusco region of Peru. Its pristine turquoise-blue waters are fed by the nearby snow-capped Nevado Humantay. Nestled among the the various scenic mountain peaks of the area, this is without a doubt one of the country’s most magical places. Laguna Humantay is well-known as one […]

How to Treat Altitude Sickness in Peru

Altitude sickness is called soroche in Peru and other Andean countries. This term derives from the Quechua surúchi meaning antimony, due to the native belief that the illness is caused by the presence of metals in the mountains. Altitude sickness begins to affect people at heights of around 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level. […]

Inti Raymi: Cusco’s Festival of the Sun

Cusco’s largest festival of the year takes place every June 24th, the date of the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. On this day, locals and visitors alike celebrate the Inca Festival of the Sun, known as “Inti Raymi” in the Quechua Language. First instituted by the Inca Pachacuti as a feast for the sun […]

Waqrapukara Hiking Guide: Discover Cusco’s Other Machu Picchu

Our Waqrapukara Hiking Guide has everything you need to know about visiting the mysterious Inca ruins of Waqrapukara. Keep reading to find out more about this amazing place and how to get there from Cusco. As the former capital of the Inca Empire and the closest city to the fortress sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Cusco […]

Birdwatching in Peru: The Best Destinations for Birders

Peru is home to the second-highest number of bird species of any nation in the world, trailing only its neighbor Colombia. The country’s topography varies from dry coastal desert to high altitude mountain ranges and dense lowland jungle, hosting every possible climate zone and allowing an extraordinary level of biodiversity to develop within its borders. […]

Hiking to the Inti Punku Sun Gate from Machu Picchu

The view of Machu Picchu from the Inti Punku Sun Gate is one of Peru’s most unforgettable and iconic sights, most famous for being the first glimpse of the citadel for hikers on the classic Inca Trail. Many tourists don’t realize that you can also pay a visit to the Sun Gate on day trips […]

12 Fascinating Machu Picchu Facts

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is Peru’s most famous tourist attraction and a place that’s on every traveler’s bucket list. You’ve seen the pictures, but how much do you really know about this interesting ancient city? Brush up on your knowledge and learn some history with these 12 fascinating Machu Picchu facts: 1. It […]

How to Avoid the Crowds at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is, without a doubt, Peru’s most famous tourist attraction and for good reason. This Inca citadel is a truly magical place, a lost city hidden deep in the Andes with the jungle at its feet–it’s hard to think of any place more beautiful and mysterious. After its abandonment by the Incan rulers, the […]

Q’eswachaka: The Last Inca Rope Bridge

Of all the great architectural and cultural accomplishments of the Incas, it is their system of roads which remains perhaps the most impressive. This highway system spanned the entire length of the empire and was frequently used by the special runners known as chasquis in order to deliver messages throughout the empire. In order to […]

The Best Books About Peru

One of the most essential items to pack on any trip abroad is a good book to read. Not only can this help to pass the sometimes long travel hours of an international trip, it’s also a great way to prepare for your time in a new country and learn a bit about the culture […]

Climbing Huayna Picchu and the Infamous “Stairs of Death”

Huayna Picchu (which translates to “Young Mountain” in Quechua) is the name of the mountain which lies directly behind the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. This jutting peak looms over the ancient city and dominates your field of vision while there. Maybe you’ve seen this iconic mountain in photos, but did you know it’s possible […]

Visiting the Legendary Boiling River in Peru

Hidden deep in a remote area of Peru’s central jungle, you’ll find an incredible natural wonder which is still not fully understood by scientists. The boiling river in Peru was once thought to be merely legend, and only a handful of local people had visited it or were even aware of its existence. Nowadays, its […]

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