What to see in Cusco and around

Cusco has a lot to offer, like for example a chocolate museum, where you can create your own organic chocolate. And a lot of Inca ruins that are close by and less touristy than Machu Picchu. But there is also an animal sanctuary between Cusco and Pisaq.

Maras Salt mines

These terraced salt mines are a nice alternative to busy Cusco apart from something Inca related. The view is wonderful and of course you can buy salt and salted Chocolate (one of my favourite).

Ruins of Pisaq

These are much more beautiful than the one closer to Cusco and easy accessible. You need to buy the boleto (ca. 150 Soles/46$) for this sight as well. To go there see below…

Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

This is one of the only Animal Sanctuaries in Peru. It is based on donations and founded by a family of Biologists. They are doing what they can with the amount of money they have. The animals are rescued from farmers who mistreated their animals, from coffee plantages or hotels. Some animals have good chances to be soon in their habitat in the wild again. Others are hurt too much or are even blind or are too much used to the humans. Others like the Lamas and Alpacas are farm animals and just stay there anyways.

The entrance is 15 Soles (4.60$) and you get either a Spanish or an English guide. You can ask as many questions as you want.

Is it vegan?

You might think so but…

They do not only protect animals but also traditional technics of coloring wool and weaving. This aspect is, of course, not vegan.

They rush the condors up a hill until they fly for the public.

Furthermore most of the cages are too small, but this is due to the lack of money and space. And they have rescued some jungle animals that should live in another climate zone, again lack of money and similar places in the jungle region.

In the end like everywhere in Peru you can buy some souvenirs of wool. But you don’t have to.

Therefore I left with mixed feelings.

How to go there

You take a minibus (3 Soles/0.90$) or colectivo (5 Soles/1.55$) in direction of Pisaq and tell the driver to leave you out at the Santuario de animales. They all leave in the same street, which is called Puputi (Lat -13.51919 Lon -71.96736) or if you drive your own car the Sanctuary is more or less at this position: (Lat -13.46706 Lon -71.89847).

For more information visit their webpage: www.santuariocochahuasi.com

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