2025_26 Oosterdam, Sacred Valley, Peru...

We were picked up from our hotel and headed to towns in the Sacred Valley. Our first stop was Chinchero in the Peruvian Andes. This was my first time to this colorful and ancient archaeological We town of Chinchero. We were lucky to get a quick tour of Incan weaving, including how they do natural coloring of the wools. The town boasts a rich cultural heritage thanks to the Killke and Inca cultures, who inhabited this territory. Our driver dropped us in town and awe climbed up to the main square or Plaza Chinchero. Making our way through the narrow stone paved roads with a gutter slotted in the middle. These are pedestrian roads, with houses and shops forming the boundary on either side. What makes this place special is what is hidden or lies beneath. This whole area is built on top of Inca ruins once part of a palatial Tupac Yupanqui palace. Off the main square is the Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, built in 1607 houses baroque altars and numerous paintings from the colonial period, unfortunately it was under renovation so we could not visit. Within its main archaeological site, there are large enclosures, terraces, water channels, shrines, and large stone gateways. This town was truly a pleasant surprise and the scenery was stunning. It doesn’t get any better than the beautiful scenery heading to Moray…it was absolutely stunning travelling through the Urubamba River Valley. We arrived at Moray, entered the complex and were in awe of what lay beneath us… The Inca ruins of Moray are more than just attractive circles in the earth; they provide insight into the way of thinking of one of the most advanced ancient societies on the planet. The layout of the terraces was not randomly placed; every ring was designed to allow air and sunlight to flow through in different ways. One of the most developed societies in pre-Columbian America, the Incas were experts in ecology, architecture, and agriculture. It is thought that Moray served as an agricultural laboratory where the Incas conducted crop experiments. Moray is a powerful reminder that the Incas had amazing ideas about sustainability, science, and nature. This serves as a reminder to us that innovation is not just new; it has existed for ages. Luckily for us the rain held off till we were about to leave Moray…what great stop! Next, we headed for Maras and the Salt Ponds. Maras is a charming village located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas famous for its historic Maras Salt Ponds. These salt terraces, dating back to pre-Inca times, consist of over 4,000 ponds where saltwater from an underground spring evaporates, leaving behind salt crystals. This ancient harvesting method remains active, allowing visitors to witness a millennia-old tradition still in use. We walked down to a number of viewing platforms seeing the locals at work harvesting the salt. Our last stop was the Inca archaeological sites at Ollantaytambo…I have been to Ollantaytambo previously to take the train the Machu Picchu but never to visit the ruins. Ollantaytambo is an Inca archaeological site and town in Peru's Sacred Valley, known for its massive fortress ruins and well-preserved Inca-era town layout. It was a royal estate for Emperor Pachacuti, a strategic military stronghold during the Spanish conquest…today it is a popular tourist destination, the starting point for the Inca Trail and also known as the gateway to Machu Picchu. The driver dropped us in Ollantaytambo Town…we walked through the cobbled streets before arriving at the archaeological site. Once you enter the gate at Ollantaytambo the terraces can’t be missed, literally, like steps made for a giant, they cascade down the hillside. The ladies toured the lower portion of Ollantaytambo…I hesitated about the climb since we are at Machu Picchu tomorrow but decided to try it. The guide and I made it to the top, challenging in the high altitude but we did it…Once we reached the top, after a hellava climb, we were able to appreciate the Temple of the Sun…Six colossal stone blocks make up this temple. We walked back to meet our driver to return to our hotel. We hit a home run today as all the sites we visited were a first for us and exceeded our expectations. Great day and the weather held out for us. Off to Machu Picchu tomorrow.  Pray that the weatherman is wrong about the rain forecast…  I can’t thank enough our guide, Adson, who, for the last two days has been amazing…