If one was to drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, at the far end of the Sacred Valley, it might take 2.5 hours. But this would require putting on blinders to all the amazing spots along the way. In reality, there are probably two full days of exploration to be had along this route. To make the best of one’s time in what is normally one day in the valley, a good guide is a must. So Adventure Life continues the program in the Sacred Valley with the same amazing guide you had in Cusco. He or she will have already gotten a sense of what is important to the specific travelers in your party, and can devise a plan for Sacred Valley exploration that best matches those interests. Here are some ideas…
- Visit the surreal salt ponds created on the side of a hillside at Maras.
- Walk around the top of those odd terrace structures at Moray, carved in concentric circles and rising from the valley floor.
- Meet the weavers and learn their craft in the small village of Chinchero, then enjoy a walk among the village’s unique architecture.
- Explore the multiple levels of the fortress at Ollantaytambo. Each level gets more perfectly shaped as you rise higher, with the largest and tightest stones at the top.
- Walk the handicrafts market in Pisac’s main square.
- Wander among the ancient temples and plazas of the Pisac Archaeological Park and try to make sense of the old sundial, or take in the views across the Quitamayo Gorge.
Kevin's Inca Trail Hike
- Photos (112)
- Kevin Moore
- Cusco, Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Peru, Sacred Valley, Staff Blog, Traveler Stories
- Gaining Context – and Red Blood Cells - in Cusco
- Acclimatizing Prior to Inca Trail Hike
- Exploring the Sacred Valley
- Permitting and Regulations for the Inca Trail
- Inca Trail Highlights
- Variations on an Inca Trail Theme
- One Day Inca Trail Alternative
- When to Hike the Inca Trail
- Huaynapicchu Hiking
- Lake Titicaca – Is This a Homestay or Guesthouse?
- Is This Real or Contrived?
- Eating Your Way Through Lima
