Aug 24, 2024 -IMG guide Tyler Nachand reports the Machu Picchu team are enjoying their acclimatization, wrapping up their free day in Cusco with a visit to the cathedral, market and nearby Saqsaywaman ruins. Today the team traveled north to the nearby Sacred Valley, visiting Pisac before turning west and following the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo, where they will spend the night.
The Sacred Valley was a very important part of the Inca Empire and today it still holds many important archeological sites and ruins, and is a major farming area, with the Urubamba River flowing down the valley from the Machu Picchu area. Along the way the team visited a llama and alpaca farm, where the animals are raised for wool, and the wool is dyed into yarn.  It’s a great place to do some gift shopping!
Tomorrow the team will get dropped off at the trailhead for the Inca Trail, where they meet up with their porters and camp staff. That will be the start of the next part of their Peru adventure, a four-day trek to Machu Picchu along the original Inca route to the Citadel. All’s well in Peru!
Saqsaywaman ruins (Tyler Nachand)
The team at the Sacred Valley lookout (Tyler Nachand)
Cusco street scene (Tyler Nachand)
Checking out the locally made woolens (Tyler Nachand)
At the Cusco market (Tyler Nachand)
At the llama and alpaca farm (Tyler Nachand)