Terra Andina Courtyard Cafe
Cathedral in Plaza De Armas
6 Potato Sampler – Yum!
Dennis by a Mock Cacao Tree
On Saturday, we flew from Lima to Cusco. We checked into Hotel Terra Andina. We had the whole afternoon to explore Cusco and I was excited to show Dennis my favorite places. We started off at Cafe Punchay, enjoying the famous 6 potato sampler. Then, we walked to San Francisco Plaza and took a tour of the Chocolate Musuem, Cacao. We made reservations for dinner at Chicha Restaurant, for later that evening.
Terra Andina Menu
When we arrived at Terra Andina, the reception was rather cold. We wanted to check into our room, but the lady at the front desk made us wait. She was dealing with some problem from another customer so we were pointed to a table in the courtyard. Finally, in about 10 minutes, we were led up to our room.
Room 207 – Foyer
Our room was nicely appointed and featured it’s own foyer, a bathroom, and a very large flat screen tv. Unfortunately, room #207 is right on a street, so the traffic whizzes down the cobblestones and makes a very loud noise. It’s impossible to sleep with the window open at night because of the noise. If you can sleep with ear plugs, this room would be okay…but otherwise, I would suggest getting a room that is internal and not on the street.
Room 207
After checking in, we took a walk to Plaza De Armas. And, then we had lunch at Cafe Punchay.
Plaza De Armas
Cafe Punchay – Patio Seating
6 Potato Sampler – Yum!
The Peruvians eat a lot of potatoes, it is an essential part of their diet; along with corn, cuy, and alpaca. The Inca Empire cultivated several hundred, if not a thousand, different types of potatoes! I love this dish, because the 6 potatoes are very different in taste and texture.
Peruvian Lunch Truck!
We have a lot of lunch trucks in Denver, so we got a kick when we saw this one!
The Inca Wall on Triunfo Street
Iglesia de la Compania in Plaza De Armas
KFC on 2nd floor in the building with the light brown balcony. I have never been to this KFC, but if you absolutely must have some junk food, this is the place!
Cathedral in Plaza De Armas
A Cusquenan
Plaza San Fransisco
After walking around the Plaza De Armas, we walked over to the San Francisco Plaza. We visited a Cocoa Musuem. Cocoa was originally spelled Cacao, but somehow the spelling was changed over time. We learned about the Peruvian chocolate market, production, and sustainability.
Choco – A Chocolate Musuem
Dennis by a Mock Cacao Tree
Cacao Flower
Cacao Pods
On the balcony of the Chocolate Musuem
Last time I was in Cusco, I had a really nice dinner at Chicha Restaurant, with my friend Brenda. Lucky for us, it was still thriving and still located in the San Francisco Plaza. I was excited to have dinner there with Dennis, so we made a reservation.
The food at Chicha is really inventive and the ingredients are fresh. I would highly recommend eating there, as the menu is all based on traditional Peruvian dishes, but with a special flare! The fresh juices are amazing, so any cocktail with fresh juice is highly recommended!
Chicha Restaurant
Alpaca Pizza and Cuy Asian Bowl
Tres Leches
Plaza De Armas at Night
After our filling dinner, we walked around Cusco some more and enjoyed the romance of the evening. Tomorrow, we were planning to do a day of river rafting, so we were both really excited.
Tags: Cacao Musuem, Cafe Pachay, Chicha Restaurant, Cusco, Cuy, Peru, Plaza De Armas, San Francisco Plaza, Terra Andina, Tres Leches