Ins and outs

Most travellers arriving from Lima will do so by air. No flights arrive in Cuzco at night. The airport is at Quispiquilla, near the bus terminal, 1.6 km southeast of the centre. You can book a hotel at the airport through a travel agency, but this is not really necessary. Many representatives of hotels and travel agencies operate at the airport, offering transport to the hotel with which they are associated. Take your time to choose your hotel, at the price you can afford. There is a post office, phone booths, restaurant and cafeteria at the airport. There is also a Tourist Protection Bureau desk, which can be very helpful if your flight has not been reconfirmed (not an uncommon problem). Do not forget to pay the airport tax at the appropriate desk before departure.

All long-distance buses arrive and leave from the Terminal Terrestre, Avenida Vallejo Santoni, block 2 (Prolongación Pachacútec), in Ttio district.

There are two train stations in Cuzco. To Juliaca and Puno, trains leave from the

services. Look out for special promotional offers. When arriving in Cuzco, a tourist bus meets the train to take visitors to hotels. Machu Picchu trains leave from

The centre of Cuzco is small and is easily explored on foot. Bear in mind, however, that at this altitude walking up some of the city's steep cobbled streets may leave you out of breath, so you'll need to take your time. It is even possible to walk up to Sacsayhuaman, but a better idea is to take a combi to Tambo Machay and walk back downhill to town via Qenqo and Sacsayhuaman. Combis are the main form of public transport in the city: well- organized, cheap and safe. Taxis are also cheap and recommended when arriving by air, train or bus.

Official

.

, www.saexplorers.org, is an excellent resource for the traveller, only a couple of minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas. They provide great information on the Cuzco area, along with an extensive English-language library, expedition reports, maps, weekly events, flight confirmations, free internet for members, phone and mail service and equipment storage. They also have a recycling centre, room heaters for rent, practical advice on responsible tourism and a volunteer resource centre. Their leaflet

is invaluable.

If you need a

(a report for insurance purposes, available from the Banco de la Nación), the