Exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Peru July 2017
We just came back from an inspiring week long trip to Peru. To get accustomed to the high altitude of the Peruvian Andes we spent the first couple of days in the city of Cusco - the former capital of the Incas - that lies at 11,000 ft above sea level. The city is well known for its narrow alleys, the beautiful plaza de Armas, and of course the delicious Pisco Sour. We enjoyed some relaxing days exploring the city and driving around the beautiful Sacred Valley where we visited historical places like the Moray Agricultural Terraces, the Maras Salt Mines, and the city of Ollantaytambo, which served as the last resort during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. On the fourth day we started our four day hike from Soraypampa all the way to the city of Aguas Calientes and the famous ruins of Macchu Picchu. Even though we are avid weekend hikers this was something completely different - being up in the mountains for multiple days, experiencing bitter cold nights and hot sunny days, and hiking from sunrise until sunset was a strenuous but much more rewarding experience. Along the way we were crossing the breathtaking Salkantay Pass at 15,000 ft and hiked all the way down to the colorful Inca Jungle. Even though we just had a couple of days to explore this wonderful region in the Andes, we came home with lots of new impressions, unforgettable memories, and stories that will still be told multiple years from now.
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Machu Picchu - City in the Sky
Salkantay Trek - exploring the Peruvian Andes
Golden Hour at Humantay Glacier Lake
Salinas de Maras - Salt Mines of the Incas
Mysterious Moray Agricultural Terraces
Colors of the Inca Jungle
