Travel blog
Guides and tips for traveling in Cusco and the Andes
Itineraries, altitude, the best times to go and practical tips, written by the Tari Tours team here in Cusco.
Tips, itineraries and travel stories
Cusco weather: four seasons in one day and the 3-layer rule
Strong sun, cold rain and freezing nights in a single day: how the Andean microclimate works and how to pack for Cusco with the 3-layer rule.
Inca water engineering at Tipón, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu
Tipón’s 500-year-old fountain, the channels that flooded Pizarro’s cavalry at Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu’s 160 drains: the Inca water systems that still work.
Andean music in Cusco: instruments and where to hear it live
Quena, zampoña and charango: meet the main instruments of Andean music, what they mean in Inca culture and where to hear them live in Cusco.
Licensed guides in Cusco: why not to settle for an informal guide
Safety at altitude, history told right and valid tickets: the real difference between a licensed guide in Cusco and an unauthorized one hired to save a few soles.
5 extra costs in Cusco and Machu Picchu to add to your budget
The Machu Picchu bus, entry fees not in the tourist ticket, restrooms, tips, water, ATM fees and taxis: the small costs most tours leave out and how to plan for them.
Where to see the Andean condor in Peru: places and best time
Where and when to see the Andean condor: the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint in Colca Canyon, the best morning hours and chance sightings on Cusco treks.