Under $100: Cusco

Pisac Market, Cusco, Peru © Pixattitude | Dreamstime

$100 will get you about 293 Peruvian Nuevo Sol, which is plenty to get you around Cusco, the historical capital of the Incan Empire.

Belgium and Switzerland might be world famous for their chocolate, but much of the finest cocoa in the world actually comes from South America. As a matter of fact, the world’s most rare cocoa tree, called Nacional, was recently rediscovered in the mountain valley of the Marañón River. Its football-sized pods are now shipped to the finest chocolatiers around the world. To learn more about Peru’s cocoa history, visit the ChocoMuseo, which is free to enter and features plenty of history, culinary presentations and, yes, tastings. You can also pay $25 for a two-hour workshop to make your own chocolate, though the helpful guides will give you an overview for free.

Cusco is also home to more spas than you can count, offering hours of relaxing massages, manicures and pedicures much cheaper than anywhere you’ll find at home. As you walk around the city, hundreds of people will sell their parlor, but for a place favored by locals and tourists alike, head to Nueva Vida, where you can get a full body massage for less than $20.

Peruvian Pisco Sour © Ildipapp | Dreamstime

Visiting a market is one of the best ways of seeing what life is like for the locals. Písac is the biggest around Cusco, and is particularly vibrant on Sundays, when people travel for miles to come to church, followed by a procession through town. San Pedro Central Market is another option closer to downtown. You can find an array of items ranging from the traditional handicrafts to strange items, like llama fetuses which are buried under houses as an offering to the indigenous god, Pachamama. A meal here will run you about $2 for chicken, rice and vegetables, and $1 for a freshly squeezed juice.

Cusco also has an exceptional nightlife scene that doesn’t cost too much money. For happy hour, head to Paddy’s Irish Pub, which bills itself as “the highest Irish owned pub on the planet at 11,156 feet”. You can get a Guinness here, but most of the drinks are South American favorites like Pisco Sours and Cuba Libres. Afterwards check out Mama Africa a favorite for locals and backpackers looking to party before taking on the Inca Trail.