Information about Cusco

View over Cusco

Why study in Cusco?

Cusco is a charming and fascinating city, located in what was once the capital of the Inca Empire. The name "Cusco" means "navel of the world".

The architecture in town is an interesting blend of Inca and Colonial (Spanish) styles, and all of the houses here have lovely red tiled roofs.

In and around the city are numerous Inca ruins - the most famous of which is Machu Pichu, located just three hours away from Cusco by train - which attest to the historical significance of this location.

The city is located in a high mountain valley with an altitude of 11,000 feet (3,300 mts) and is surrounded by the majestic Andes. On any day of the year, Cusco is a lovely city.

Modern Cusco

Machu Picchu

In its modern incarnation, Cusco is a bustling center of 300,000 inhabitants whose major industry is tourism. City life is relaxed, and offers the visitor a wide array of festivals and other activities year-round.

City life is dominated by the majestic Plaza de Armas , a lively square filled with vendors, quaint shops, historic churches, and with restaurants offering authentic local dishes. There are also plenty of hamburgers, sandwiches and pizza places for the less adventuresome.

The Plaza, with its beautiful fountain and garden, is a favorite meeting place for residents and visitors alike.

Excursions in and around Cusco

From Cusco, it is possible to make many interesting short excursions to visit the historic Inca ruins scattered among the surrounding mountains and to small pueblos where life today is not much different from what it was hundreds of years ago.

Favorite activities of our students include attending the festivals taking place in the city and surrounding areas, adventure trekking, river rafting, horseback riding, historical and archeological tours, visiting Cusco's many museums, shopping and - of course - visits to local clubs and bars.

Please see the section on tours included for more information and travel ideas.

Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru

Climate and weather

This Andes of Peru has two basic seasons - wet and dry. The rainy season runs from November to April and visitors can expect brief afternoon showers during this time.

The rest of the year it is usually dry, with warm days and cold nights. Nights are especially cold between May and August, and visitors during this time should bring a warm jacket.

The issue of security

Occasionally, potential students have questions about safety. While we can't vouch for every part of South America.

Former and current students at EXCEL tell us that they find Cusco to be a comfortable and rather "laid back" city where the vast majority of visitors will experience no problems whatsoever. Of course, to ensure your safety while visiting Cusco, we do recommend that you take the same basic safety precautions that you would when visiting any new location.

Specifically, stay aware of your surroundings, carry your money in a secure location (funny packs under your shirt or sweater are ideal), leave expensive jewelry at home, and walk in groups (or take taxis) late at night or in isolated areas.

These basic precautions should be all you need to enjoy your stay in the Cusco area.

Home | Why Excel| Spanish Programs | Cusco / Peru | Study Regionally | Photo Gallery | Guestbook / References | Tours Included | Contact Us | Useful Links | Q & A

enter private area