Top 5 Places to see in the Sacred Valley (besides Machu Picchu!)

Everyone visits Peru to view the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Well, I admit… it is a sight to see and definitely a must do, being one of the 7 wonders of the world and all! 🙂 But, there are many amazing places to visits and things to do in Sacred Valley besides Machu Picchu. A couple of them took my breath away and even made me reconsider Machu Picchu as the #1 site in the area! So when you’re planning your trip, don’t miss these spectacular sights in the sacred valley. Here’s the countdown…

5. Salineras & Agricultural Terraces of Moray

Salineras (aka Salinas) – These Incan salt mines are an incredible site to see. These 3000+ salt pans are carved into the side of a mountain, all irrigated by a single salt water spring on top. Since it was dry season, we got to see it at it’s peak, in shades of white & brown.

Moray – Moray comes from “Aymoray” meaning maize harvest, and these ruins have more to do with potatoes than aliens 🙂 These experimental agricultural terraces are located close to Salinas, and can be combined in a day trip from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. Shaped like an amphitheatre, these cluster of 3 terraces were used by the Incas to study agricultural patterns in different seasons. Each level has it’s own micro-climate and irrigation channels to control water flow to different crops and were used to determine which crops were best suited for the ever changing climate in the area.

4. Sacsayhuaman

These ruins are located just north of Cusco, and are perfect for a day trip. You can walk there, take buses / scheduled tours from Cusco, or hire a taxi and do it on your own. Some consider it to be a temple for the sun god, while others claim it’s a fortress. Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, and Sacsayhuaman is at the head of the Puma. The zigzag shape of the ruins resemble the jaw & teeth of the puma. The three-tiered ruins have a lot of stories behind it, so you may want to hire a local guide to walk you through it all. Since it’s at a higher altitude than the city, you get spectacular views of Cusco city from here, and a good sunset spot.

2. Pisac market & ruins

Pisac is famous for it’s sunday market, with local artisans showcasing their talent, and there’s also a section for local produce that is great to walk around. The Pisaq ruins are located about 20 mins from the market, and if you’re willing to do the trail, offers some spectacular views of mountains and showcases the sheer magnificence of Incan architecture – you’ll walk through tunnels in the mountains, steep steps carved in the stone and ledges that are barely a few inches deep while looking down at magnificent agricultural terraces.

Note: When you go to Pisac, be prepared to spend the entire day and go loaded with water and food, the trek is tiring in the heat!

3. City tour of Cusco

Cusco is a great town to spend a couple of days in, soak in and experience the culture. With the narrow cobble stoned streets and friendly locals, it is the perfect place to just take your camera and go exploring – day or night. Don’t miss the temple of the sun, Plaza de Armas, and various churches & museums in this tiny town. And there are many restaurants that will give you a true flavour for the local cuisine. If you buy the tourist ticket (Boleto turistico), you can also see a dance performance showcasing the different tribal cultures. It is also the perfect place to do all your shopping (tough some people claim Pisac market is great, the prices here are much more reasonable.)

1. Ollantaytambo

This tiny village in the valley stole my heart! It is the home to a great fortress, and of special military importance for the Incas. You can spend almost a day walking around the fortress, the huge walls that protected the city from invaders. The large rock monoliths were quarried 15 km away and moved manually to it’s final resting place here. Apart from the fortress, I loved the village itself, that still preserves the Inca way of life – starting from the way the people dress, to the tools they use, and the irrigation water that runs along the road, still functional! For the adventurous at heart – there are many fun day trips you can try from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo – horse back riding through the valley, zip line and riding RTVs to name a few. If you haven’t arranged these ahead of time, make sure you bargain for a good rate!

Photo Friday: Sunrise in Machu Picchu

One of my favrite moments… well worth the 4 AM alarm… waiting in line for 1 hour from 5-6 AM, where there were already 200 + people ahead of us (yeah, some people are as crazy as me!) and the half hour bumpy bus ride up to Machu Picchu!

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• The view from the watchman’s hut at 6:30 AM… eagerly waiting for the sun
• As the first rays hit Huyana Picchu

My A-Z of Travel

This is how I think I’ll teach my nephews to spell… A place in the world for every alphabet. As a kid, I used to play this game called “Name, Place, Animals & Things” where you had to list out a name, place, animal and an inanimate object – all starting with the alphabet you’re given. So here’s my list of favorite places –

A is for… Alaska – to see the northern lights.

Aurora Borealis in Alaska

B is for Brazil – The Rio Carnival, and while I’m there I’ll sneak in the Iguazu waterfalls in the amazon rainforest.

Carnival in Rio De Janeiro

Iguassu Falls

C is for China / Cambodia / Cyprus / Caribbean… arrrghh!! It’s just too hard to pick!

Great Wall of China

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

A Private Island in the Caribbean

Cyprus

D is for Denmark. I would have said Dominican Republic, but I think there are a LOT of great beaches in the Caribbean, Cyprus and Greece (coming further down in the list), so I wouldn’t mind vising Copenhagen, seems like a charming city.

Copenhagen

E is for Egypt of course! I have to take a cruise on the Nile and see the great pyramids.

The Sphinx with The Pyramid of Chephren Khafre

F is for France. Paris, The Eiffel tower, Louvre, Palace of Versailles, Giverny (the home of Monet which inspired his Waterlilies) and Nice to name a few places to see!

Claude Monet's Home and Garden in Spring

G is for Greece, and I’ve written a long post on why here 🙂

Acropolis at Night

H is for Hawaii – my love! I’ve also written a post on the best beaches in Hawaii

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

I is for Italy. The food, language, art and monuments! There’s just so much to do.

Rome, Italy

J is for Japan, just to see the cherry blossoms in spring.

Cheery blossom in full bloom

K is for Kenya… I’d love to go back and do the safari all over again!

Up close with the lion

L is for Lebanon… Just because it starts with L 🙂

M is for the Moon… well, ok, Morocco! Don’t they allow tourists to visit the moon for some insane amount of money now?? Well, but the training etc. seems like a lot of work, so I’ll settle for Morocco 🙂 Just walking around the streets, experiencing sights & sounds.

Old Arab Lamps in Marrakesh

N is for New Zealand… time to see the great barrier reef, kangaroos & koalas

Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

O is for …. Oman?? Don’t really want to go there… maybe you can suggest a place that’s worth visiting starting with O 🙂

P is for Peru – I can check this one off the list… I visited Machu Picchu this year while they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of it’s discovery.

Sunrise in Machu Picchu

Q is for Quebec – I’ve been to Ottawa & Montreal, but missed Quebec city. On the list for the next trip that side. Maybe to see the fall colours?

Quebec City

R is for Russia – Moscow looks very inviting.

Kremlin & Red Square Fireworks

S is for Spain – rent a luxury villa on the beach, and spend a lazy week there! I would pick Sri Lanka, but it’s close to home and I’ve been there (LOVE IT!) so Spain’s the pick of the day.

Majorca, Spain

T is for Tibet – The Himalayas, Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash, what else need I say.

Mount Kailash seen from across Lake Manasarovar

U is for United Kingdom… pick a day where’s there’s an India Vs. England cricket match at Lord’s. And who can resist the food in London 🙂

V is for Vietnam – I’d love to spend some time and explore the culture & traditions in Vietnam.

W is for Western Samoa – I didn’t really know this country even existed till a few minutes ago when I googled “countries starting with W” 🙂 But looking at the pictures, and the location (It’s located off the coast of NZ, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean), I think it deserves to be on my list 🙂

Falefa valley, Upolu Island

X is for a free choice of my own… I pick INDIA! There are just soooo many places I haven’t seen in my own country! I don’t know if I’d pick Kerala – god’s own country with backwater cruises, the tea estates of Assam, driving in Ladakh, or the vibrant little towns in Rajasthan!

Y is for Yellowstone National Park, another spot that’s on my Top 5 list.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone

Z – when all this is done… it’s time for some ZZZZZZ at home!

Photo Friday: Almost run over by Peru Rail!

A Peru Rail train called the “expedition” is chugging along as we were only a few feet away on the tracks. Taken at Aguas Calientes, a tourist town 30 mins away from the infamous Machu Picchu. The building in the middle of the photo is of Cafe Inkaterra – a beautiful restaurant located on the banks of the Aguas Calientes river with spectacular views of the untamed greenery all around.

Do you have a bucket list? Here’s My Top 5 Dream Destinations!

If you could pick any place in the world to spend a day, week, a month of your life, where would it be? Would you travel half way across the world to visit one of the wonders of the world, or just drive down to the closest beach and pick a spot with the perfect amount of sun?

Well, you ask me “What if I have more than one place in mind?” That’s okay, a lot of us (including yours truly) do. Be it a single place or a bunch of them, I’d love to hear your thoughts (and maybe even help plan your next vacation there)!

While you’re thinking, here’s the top 5 on my bucket list (for now) –

Where: Greece, Europe

Who: For the culturally inclined, history lover and food connoisseur

How long: 1 month! – I find that I enjoy a leisure trip to soak in all that you see and truly experience the “local” lifestyle much better than a fast paced checklist oriented vacation.

When: May – June or September – October to avoid the peak season summer crowds.

Why: The Greek Islands have everything I can think of in a vacation – Cities that mix the old with the modern, archeological sights, pristine beaches and good food for vegetarians! You can pick whether you’d like to stay in the heart of a city or take a cruise ship out to a beach in the middle of nowhere!

Where: Yellowstone National Park, USA

Who: For the outdoorsy & adventurous

How long: 1 week

When: June – July when the wild flowers are in full bloom.

Why: Yellowstone is the mecca for fun in the outdoors. In the warmer months you can hike, bike, camp, go whitewater rafting, horseback riding and ziplining. In the winter months Yellowstone is a great place for cross country skiing and snowmobiling (though that’s not my cup of tea). Aside from all that, the real reason is 3 words – GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING. Google it!

Where: Caribbean Islands

Who: For the beach bum that wants to get away from it all

How long: 1 week. I’d pick two drastically different settings and spend a few days in each.

When: Any time of year! January – February if you want to get away from winter, July – August if you’re looking for low season.

Why: Really?? Is that even a question? Don’t you know me at all 🙂 Dazzling white sands, crystal blue waters make for the best getaway ever!

Where: London, Europe

Who: For anyone who’s never been there before.

How long: a weekend

When: A warm summer weekend, if there’s an India – England match at Lord’s, even better!

Why: Seems like the perfect tourist city for a weekend away!

Where: Galapagos Islands, South America

Who: For the nature and animal lover

How long: 2 weeks

When: March – April. It’s the warmer, wet season so the weather’s great. It’s also the breeding / mating season for birds sea turtles & sea lions. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the adorable newborn pups crawling around the islands.

Why: Galapagos is an ecological masterpiece, with a wide range of endemic wildlife. Some of these creatures don’t exist anywhere else in the world! Truly a Darwinian wonderland to visit. Cruise ships plan 2 week trips that cover most of the island, this might be easiest vacation to plan yet!

Well, that’s my list for now… what’s yours?