I went to Cusco for the altitude adjustment and a pre-hike pisco sour. I left with custom shoes, a second suitcase full of colorful home goods, and a deep, undying love for the most charming city in the Andes. Daily massages, market charms (?), and ceviche-induced joy—here’s how to do 72 hours in Cusco the real Adventurista way.

Lima didn’t exactly woo me with cobblestone streets and colonial charm—in fact, it felt more like a love letter written in concrete blocks from the 1970s. But what it lacked in visual romance, it made up for in one unforgettable, 15-course Japanese tasting menu that could single-handedly justify the flight. Safe, walkable, and unexpectedly delicious, Lima might not be the city you fall for—but it is the one you’ll crave long after you’ve left.