I recently came back from an 11 week trip in south america. I spent around a week in Cusco and had a great time (besides getting some money stolen)!
I can add to the hype and say it was the easiest place to get laid in South America. Shaolin's advice is pretty much with what I experienced. I do have a few things to add.
THE GIRLS
There have been many things said about the lovely ladies of Peru. I found them very friendly and in general very easy to talk with. However, on the downside they don't blow you away like the girls will in Brazil and Argentina. However, I found them better looking than the women in Bolivia (which isn't saying much) and Chile (they certainly don't look so great when you are leaving Argentina). In Cusco, you will see 6's, 7's and the odd 8. But you better bring your A game for that 8.
I did have Girl's approach me (I'm tall, shaved head and white) but they were generally a bit too old for my tastes and I would have to be very drunk and horny to do them. However, there are enough pretty girls to approach yourself on the dance floor. I heard from a few sources that while the local girls are a bit on the conservative side, its the ones that have come from places outside Cusco that are more DTF.
THE WAY TO PLAY
A few of the guys on here have said that most gringoes here are lame and won't approach. However, while approaching is important there is something else you must keep in mind. GET INTO THE CLUB BEFORE MIDNIGHT. I'm not kidding about this one. On all three nights that I went out to chase, I went out after midnight and the ratios were not in my favour. In fact, they were quite shit. One night, I felt as if everyone in the place had hooked up just before I arrived. However, when I went out with a mate around 9 just to chill another night, there were a lot of girls with not many men in sight.
TIME TO GO
I came during January, just after New Years. Now while the weather was alright during the day (but cold at night), it was also the holidays for a lot of South Americans. Now while this was good on the one hand (there were a fair few girls from Lima), there were even more Argentinians. I'm not gunna lie and say it was unpleasant to see the dance floor packed with hot Argy girls, but I will say that trying to get those Argy girls back to your place is not much easier than it was back in Argentina. (I managed a sloppy makeout with one, but the subject of 'my friends' kept on coming up).
So the point I'm trying to make is, pick the time you come carefully. I think low season would be much better (wikitravel or lonely planet should have this info).
CLUBS
Mythology/Inka Team: I can't remember which one is which, as they're right next to each other. I do remember, one is more of a mega dance club variety and the other is just a dance club that teaches Salsa dancing. I would recommend turning up when they start teaching Salsa (around 8 or 9). You don't have to dance Salsa, but you will find a lot more girls around at this point. The 2 clubs are located on the Plaza de Armas on the north west side.
Mama Africa's: This place seems to attract the skankiest of girls in Cusco. I got the feeling you needed more than a bit of game to get with the nice looking ones. I did better conversation wise with the foreign girls in here. Ratio of boys to girls were not favourable here (after midnight). Located on the Plaza de Armas west side.
The Groove: Loved this place. Coincidently, this was were I met my Peruvian flag. The music was awesome, there were people dancing on the bar, overall great party vibe with a huge dance floor. To get there, go past Mama Africas heading west, turn right at the first right and walk straight ahead.
SCENE
Cusco is a place where backpackers go to get trashed and party. Its also a place where Peruvians go to party (and are not so trashed). There is a party going on here almost everynight (every night was pumping except for Sunday). The alcohol is cheapish, even more so at the backpacker bars at hostels. I found most of the girls in the clubs could speak some English.
TAKE CARE
Whilst I did not get attacked, I was told by others that they were mugged for money at night. Keep your wits about you when you're returning from a night out. I never bothered with a taxi, but it might be something to consider.
Drugs are available here (I was told you can buy from the bouncers at any of the clubs) but be careful about this. Definitely do NOT buy from randoms on the street. However, some people seem to get away with a lot here. I hung out with a party girl from Lima one night and in the morning after we left a club she proceeded to ask almost everyone she met for drugs. Eventually, she found this local guy who gave here some stuff that she snorted just as 2 local Security guards walked by. And they 'missed' it! Looking back its funny but I was shitting myself at the time.
There are girls offering massages on the street. They're usually legit (and cheap!) but some of them are pro's. Just make sure what massage they're offering.
Always remember that when withdrawing cash, first comes the money, then comes your card. I found out this the hard way.
Lastly, don't get lulled into drinking cheap booze at the local backpackers bars. You will get pissed and then stumble with a bunch of other drunk gringoes into the bars after midnight, when the ratios are shit. Whilst you can get laid in this situation (I did), it is more difficult.
ACCOMODATION
I stayed at a family run hostel and there wasn't a problem when I came back with a Lima girl. They just gave me a private room. There was an American guy here who said most hotels don't give a shit, just as long as you pay them.
CONCLUSION
Cusco is a great place to party and has a tonne of sights around it. The party scene is awesome, with some easy girls. But you must approach and get to the bar before midnight. Long term, I think it would get a bit old and its just too small a place. Any longer than a month and I would recommend heading to Lima.
Enjoy.
I can add to the hype and say it was the easiest place to get laid in South America. Shaolin's advice is pretty much with what I experienced. I do have a few things to add.
THE GIRLS
There have been many things said about the lovely ladies of Peru. I found them very friendly and in general very easy to talk with. However, on the downside they don't blow you away like the girls will in Brazil and Argentina. However, I found them better looking than the women in Bolivia (which isn't saying much) and Chile (they certainly don't look so great when you are leaving Argentina). In Cusco, you will see 6's, 7's and the odd 8. But you better bring your A game for that 8.
I did have Girl's approach me (I'm tall, shaved head and white) but they were generally a bit too old for my tastes and I would have to be very drunk and horny to do them. However, there are enough pretty girls to approach yourself on the dance floor. I heard from a few sources that while the local girls are a bit on the conservative side, its the ones that have come from places outside Cusco that are more DTF.
THE WAY TO PLAY
A few of the guys on here have said that most gringoes here are lame and won't approach. However, while approaching is important there is something else you must keep in mind. GET INTO THE CLUB BEFORE MIDNIGHT. I'm not kidding about this one. On all three nights that I went out to chase, I went out after midnight and the ratios were not in my favour. In fact, they were quite shit. One night, I felt as if everyone in the place had hooked up just before I arrived. However, when I went out with a mate around 9 just to chill another night, there were a lot of girls with not many men in sight.
TIME TO GO
I came during January, just after New Years. Now while the weather was alright during the day (but cold at night), it was also the holidays for a lot of South Americans. Now while this was good on the one hand (there were a fair few girls from Lima), there were even more Argentinians. I'm not gunna lie and say it was unpleasant to see the dance floor packed with hot Argy girls, but I will say that trying to get those Argy girls back to your place is not much easier than it was back in Argentina. (I managed a sloppy makeout with one, but the subject of 'my friends' kept on coming up).
So the point I'm trying to make is, pick the time you come carefully. I think low season would be much better (wikitravel or lonely planet should have this info).
CLUBS
Mythology/Inka Team: I can't remember which one is which, as they're right next to each other. I do remember, one is more of a mega dance club variety and the other is just a dance club that teaches Salsa dancing. I would recommend turning up when they start teaching Salsa (around 8 or 9). You don't have to dance Salsa, but you will find a lot more girls around at this point. The 2 clubs are located on the Plaza de Armas on the north west side.
Mama Africa's: This place seems to attract the skankiest of girls in Cusco. I got the feeling you needed more than a bit of game to get with the nice looking ones. I did better conversation wise with the foreign girls in here. Ratio of boys to girls were not favourable here (after midnight). Located on the Plaza de Armas west side.
The Groove: Loved this place. Coincidently, this was were I met my Peruvian flag. The music was awesome, there were people dancing on the bar, overall great party vibe with a huge dance floor. To get there, go past Mama Africas heading west, turn right at the first right and walk straight ahead.
SCENE
Cusco is a place where backpackers go to get trashed and party. Its also a place where Peruvians go to party (and are not so trashed). There is a party going on here almost everynight (every night was pumping except for Sunday). The alcohol is cheapish, even more so at the backpacker bars at hostels. I found most of the girls in the clubs could speak some English.
TAKE CARE
Whilst I did not get attacked, I was told by others that they were mugged for money at night. Keep your wits about you when you're returning from a night out. I never bothered with a taxi, but it might be something to consider.
Drugs are available here (I was told you can buy from the bouncers at any of the clubs) but be careful about this. Definitely do NOT buy from randoms on the street. However, some people seem to get away with a lot here. I hung out with a party girl from Lima one night and in the morning after we left a club she proceeded to ask almost everyone she met for drugs. Eventually, she found this local guy who gave here some stuff that she snorted just as 2 local Security guards walked by. And they 'missed' it! Looking back its funny but I was shitting myself at the time.
There are girls offering massages on the street. They're usually legit (and cheap!) but some of them are pro's. Just make sure what massage they're offering.
Always remember that when withdrawing cash, first comes the money, then comes your card. I found out this the hard way.
Lastly, don't get lulled into drinking cheap booze at the local backpackers bars. You will get pissed and then stumble with a bunch of other drunk gringoes into the bars after midnight, when the ratios are shit. Whilst you can get laid in this situation (I did), it is more difficult.
ACCOMODATION
I stayed at a family run hostel and there wasn't a problem when I came back with a Lima girl. They just gave me a private room. There was an American guy here who said most hotels don't give a shit, just as long as you pay them.
CONCLUSION
Cusco is a great place to party and has a tonne of sights around it. The party scene is awesome, with some easy girls. But you must approach and get to the bar before midnight. Long term, I think it would get a bit old and its just too small a place. Any longer than a month and I would recommend heading to Lima.
Enjoy.
