November 2021

A follow up from the Cusco and Machu Picchu post: Cusco

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
Peru album

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

After spending over a week in the Sacred Valley, went took a night train to the town at the base of Machu Picchu, named Aguas Clientes. The next morning was a very early alarm to take a bus to the gate at the grounds. We first hiked up Wayne Picchu, which is a mountain peak that overlooks the city of Machu Picchu. It was mostly foggy on the way up, but cleared for amazing views as we were leaving and hiking back down.

Then we met up with a guide and spent several more hours learning about the history and the specific buildings that make up the old Inca settlement. The name isn't actually known, but it goes by the name of the mountain it's on, Machu Picchu. It was definitely an amazing experience, one of the true wonders of the modern world.
Just a note though, they expect the crowd limitations to continue to be reduced every year, and maybe in 15-20 years have to shut it down completely due to the damage being done by tourists and the foot traffic.

Next we trained back to Cusco and spent several days in the city. There are 5 or so Inca sites around the edges of the town, a local artisan market, several Spanish churches, shops, and a cool plaza.

Recommend:

• hike Waynu Picchu to get the best view of Machu Picchu
• hire a guide and spend most of the day at Machu Picchu
• visit San Pedro market in Cusco
• eat at local places around the Cusco main plaza

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels Peru album

Cusco:

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

The Sacred Valley is set between Cusco and Machu Picchu. It was one of several main routes in the Incan empire. We spent a week checking out many of the ruins that still stand today and are ready for exploration.

Recommend:

• get a 10-day pass to see most of the sites in the Sacred Valley and Cusco
• several of these can take an entire day to explore: Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero (w/ waterfall hike, Perolnyoc
• get a guide at either Ollantaytambo or Pisac

Trip Map

Pictures

Ollantaytambo - major trading hub and spot between Incan religious sites. It has a Sun temple and water temple.

Chinchero - agriculture and religious site

Humantay - a cool crystal blue lake in the Andes along part of the Inca Trail

Pisac - a large settlement

Moray - research area for crops and climate

salt mines of Maras

Perolnyoc

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen