Cusco, Peru
Photo by: Metamatrimony
When I first arrived to Cusco Airport my heart was jumping. I felt this excitement in my body almost like I knew I was here before. Right when I passed customs & I left the airport, I looked out at the beautiful mountains & right away I felt at home. I’m someone that really enjoys the warmth, but those mountains instantly captured my heart. When I arrived in Cusco in February, the daily high was 17°C. I noticed right away that the rain was unpredictable & constant. It was overcast & mostly cloudy about 93% of the time, but when the sun came out it was HOT. I would pull off my poncho & enjoy a little bask in the Cusco sun.
Photo by: Metamatrimony
I stayed in Cusco for about two weeks & got to enjoy the rich Peruvian energy of the city. The cobblestone streets are extremely narrow & you have to walk single file up very steep hills, which is a super fun experience. There are so many little cafes at every corner to peek your head into, & an array of history to dabble your thoughts in. Churches, monuments, fountains, it was all so extraordinary & I really felt like I was traveling back in time.
Everyone was talking about possible altitude sickness, thankfully I was not negatively impacted by it. But I did get winded after walking six flights up the stairs to my apartment everyday, I was gasping for air every time.I stayed in a cute & humble abode overlooking the entire city of Cusco. Waking up every morning to the extraordinary mountain view made me feel so safe & held. I loved hearing the street vendors playing charango & smelling the sweet aroma of corn & flowers.
Photo by: Metamatrimony
The currency in Peru is Sol’s & I would say Peru is super affordable:
Average dinner cost - $8 USD - 8 Sol’s
Expensive dinner cost - $15 USD - 57 Sol’s
Coffee or Tea - 2.5 USD - 10 Sol’s
Photo by: Metamatrimony
Cusco is known for its cuisine & world renowned chefs. I had to check out some of the local vegan restaurants around me & was pleasantly surprised.
My top 3 Vegan restaurants in Cusco, Peru:
#1 Green point
Everything on the menu is amazing here, & I spent lot’s of time at this restaurant especially because of the beautiful aesthetic. Green point is an all vegan restaurant & I would say the best vegan food in Cusco, Peru. It’s more of a fancy place & you can get an amazing affordable dinner here. My favourite dishes were the “Tacu Tacu”, Vegan Ramen, & Burrito.
This place is super cute & slightly off the beaten path. It’s all vegan & has many delicious dishes that are super unique. When you walk in The Vegan Temple you are instantly relaxed. They have meditation music playing & you sit on adorable cushions close to the ground. They have tons of detox juices & smoothies that are so worth the money. They are HUGE. I recommend the “Ganesh” sandwich & “Maha Deva” salad. I wish I could have tried more dishes at this place, please try it if you are in Cusco.
I have daydreams of the wrap I had here. This restaurant is vegan/vegetarian & has many traditional Peruvian foods. I had the “Durum Vegano '' & fries & i swear those were the best fires i ever had. The wrap was full of flavour & sauce. Don’t underestimate this place. It took a long time to get my food but it was only one Peruvian man cooking & it was so worth the wait.
Fun Fact: If you didn't know Peru is all about the potatoes, they have over 500 different types of potatoes, so if you're into potatoes Peru is the place for you.
With Love,
Jia. xx
