Peru - the Sacred Valley

Anywhere else, the Sacred Valley would be its own attraction.

But with Machu Picchu next door, sometimes it gets overlooked.  Like Pippen to Jordan.  Or everyone else in the NBA next to Lebron James.

There are huge mountains, quiet villages and loads of Inca ruins.  It´s part of the same valley that reaches Machu Picchu, and the Incas built and built up and down the mountains.

We spent a couple of days visiting ruins, doing light hiking and relaxing after our 4am assault on Machu Picchu the day before.  We also got lost trying to find a way between two sites (it was in Frommer´s - how bad could it be?), with a river in the way and no way to cross it.  A stray taxi saved us, and we got some good pictures in the process.

Hello Pisac, citadel and farming town at the edge of the valley.  Like a castle out of Lord of the Rings.  It´s like Machu Picchu lite.

Looking down the valley at huge green ridges and fields. 

Couple of American tourists and their guide on the edge of the fortress.

Birds of prey everywhere - here´s one cruising high above the canyon.

Terracing halfway down the mountain - it must have taken a hefty amount of human labor to get the job done.

To add to the ambience, there´s even live music at the summit.

Caught Weiner trying to get a candid!



A birds eye view of the terracing and ruins.



Getting around in the taxi... folks are superstitious here, and a few religious charms can´t hurt.

Traffic jam!

Part Wyoming, part Utah and part wild west.

More clever terracing, more questions about what it was for.  Even today most Inca sites aren´t well understood and are shrouded in mystery.

Huge snowy peaks just behind that last ridge.  Most are well above 6,000m (20,000 ft.)  And this is at 14 degrees south of the equator!

Big mountains, bigger sky.

A different view of the terracing.

Taking the road less traveled, because it is the wrong road.

A great view of the topography - big canyons, big mountains, and winding paths. 

It turns out this scenic road would lead us about 20 miles from where we wanted to go.  Good thing we asked the local shepherd for directions.

Golden fields.

Local wildlife!

A different view of the Sacred Valley, towards Machu Picchu.

Special thanks to Weiner for this vanity shot.