The day is finally here! We had to get up early today (4:00 am) to catch the first bus up to the15th century site known as the Lost City of the Incas or Machu Picchu. The ruins are best seen in the early morning light. Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. In the Quechua native language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”Machu Picchu stands 2,43...

Today we took a 1 3/4 bus ride to Ollantaytanbo to catch the train to Aguas Calientes (meaning hot springs in Spanish) which is known for it's natural pools. Aguas Calientes (now officially Machu Picchu Pueblo) is a small town at the bottom of the valley next to Machu Picchu, and the principal access point to the site. It's the last town for visitors going to Machu Picchu and the end of the line for the train. The train ride (1 1/2 hours) was simply gorg...

Cusco has a long and interesting history dating back to 1200AD and linked to the first Inca ruler Manco Capac. However the city saw its expansion in the 15th century under the rule of the greatest Inca Pachacutec, who led a drive that spread the boundaries of the Inca empire as far south as Chile and Argentina, and north to include Ecuador and Columbia. This rapid expansion abruptly came to an end on the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Piza...

We got to sleep in today. For the first time during this trip we didn't have to be up before 5:30 am. The hikers were leaving for their 3 or 4 day hikes in the mountains and we will be going back to Cusco to learn more about that beautiful city. We left our beautiful villa nestled between the mountains and headed to the Maras salt mines which are located at an altitude of 3,380 meters in a small village, famous for its salt mines. It is made up of about 3000...

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was undoubtedly a key area of settlement to the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make a rare and fruitful combination for the high Andes. It was also the route to the jungle and therefore an area with access to the fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands. The Sacred Valley served as a buffer zone, protecting Cusco from incursions of the Antis, the fierce jungle tribes who from time to time raided the highlands. ...