Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire, is a sprawling mass of adobe houses perched at an altitude of over 3000 meters (12,000 feet!). It is the tourist's gateway to Machu Picchu, outdoor Andean adventures like rafting and trekking and trips to ruin sites in the Sacred Valley. If you are planning on signing up for a hike to Machu Picchu, whether it's the Inca Trail or alternate routes, try to avoid the rainy season in January-May. Although this inevitably means you'll be visiting in  more...