Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes us from Cuzco over a mountain pass to a remote Quechuan potato farming village where we spend much of the day before continuing and descending into the Sacred Valley, following the Urubamba River downstream to the fortress ruins of Ollantaytambo where we explore and do the final preparations for doing the Inca Trail.
Today's Journey
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Early sunny morning viewed from the hotel looking over Cusco. |
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Leaving Cusco, we head through the nearby mountains over a low pass. |
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Continuing to climb, we approach a small village near Chinchero where we stay for several hours. |
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The villagers have a small market stall from where I buy a few souvenirs. |
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One of several musicians playing a traditional instrument. |
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A potato farmer demonstrates his farming before we have a go at ploughing the field with a bullock and plough. |
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The village's children entertain us with a dance before a big storm hits. |
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Leaving the village we head to a nearby market overlooking the Sacred Valley, but the market has closed due to the storm and hail. The weather is just clearing so from here we look deep into the valley getting a glimpse of the Urubamba River we had followed downstream from its source in La Raya. |
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We head into the Sacred Valley and follow the river downstream until reaching the historic village of Ollantaytambo. |
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The buildings are all very traditional Spanish architecture. We explore the markets under the ruins of the ancient military base protecting the lower valley. |
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