Gringo Alley

Location:
Cusco, Peru

Other Activity

By Michelle Hopey

Taxis won't drive up it, and you'll have a hard time finding your hotel if it's on it, but the tight, narrow cobblestoned street, Calle Procuradores, just off the west side of Plaza de Armas is known among locals as "Gringo Alley."

Unless your hostal is down the alley, you're likely to pass by the unassuming entrance, which looks like a barren road. But take a stroll down and you will find a handful of charming hostals, a slew of authentic artesianal shops, several internet cafes and a few great, mouth-watering, mid-range restaurants and bars you won't want to miss.

Its tall colonial buildings and narrow streets capture the air of old Europe. Calle Procuradores leads to a maze of small, seemingly endless alleys where you'll find even more shops and hotels.

The nickname, Gringo Alley may be a bit deceiving since it's not really all gringos; in fact, it's less gringo than the tourist glitz of Plaza de Armas. So, what makes this quaint sector a gringo zone exactly? Well, it is where gringos have been going in recent years to get away from the hustle of the Plaza de Armas and, of course, as time moves it's yielded a steady flow of tourists. But whoever started this trend was on to something--it's close to everything a tourist needs, but feels more like a piece of San Blas.

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