The elevation in Cusco is 11,200 feet (3,400 m). It's highly recommended to stay in Cusco for a couple days to get acclimated to the high elevation before doing any hiking (like Machu Picchu). We all had headaches, bloody noses, and were drinking a lot of water and coca tea. Luckily we weren't puking or incredibly sick, like some people we talked to.
We didn't have any plans in Cusco, so on one of our free days, we hired a taxi for the day to take us to a few nearby spots that looked interesting.
Our first destination was the Maras Salt Terraces in the Sacred Valley. There is a natural spring of salt water that comes from the ground. To collect the salt, the people there make small ponds or terraces in the side of a mountain. The salty water is funneled and then then sits and evaporates, leaving the sodium behind. The people of Maras use the same method as their ancestors, the Incas. It was fun to walk around the the small ponds and to taste the salt. We bought some small packets of salt herb blends to take home. We were told by our taxi guide that each of these ponds (some own more than one) belongs to a family and it could have been passed down many generations.
From there we headed to the Pisac Market; we heard that it was one of the biggest and best markets around. When we got there, they were already closing up shop so we didn't see much. Lots of alpaca knitwear and since this was just the beginning of our travels we decided to hold off on buying anything. We were hoping on doing a short hike to check out Inca ruins above Pisac but it was getting dark and our taxi guide wanted to get home. We made a stop just before getting to Cusco to take some photos of the city at dusk from a great viewpoint.
Cusco is an amazing city, although our first day here sucked (at least for me) getting used to walking up steep hills and winding stairs at 11,200 ft. with luggage, left me with a pretty bad headache. But a little Mate de Coca helped eased the pain.
Next we head on a 4 day adventure to Machu Picchu.
We didn't have any plans in Cusco, so on one of our free days, we hired a taxi for the day to take us to a few nearby spots that looked interesting.
Our first destination was the Maras Salt Terraces in the Sacred Valley. There is a natural spring of salt water that comes from the ground. To collect the salt, the people there make small ponds or terraces in the side of a mountain. The salty water is funneled and then then sits and evaporates, leaving the sodium behind. The people of Maras use the same method as their ancestors, the Incas. It was fun to walk around the the small ponds and to taste the salt. We bought some small packets of salt herb blends to take home. We were told by our taxi guide that each of these ponds (some own more than one) belongs to a family and it could have been passed down many generations.
From there we headed to the Pisac Market; we heard that it was one of the biggest and best markets around. When we got there, they were already closing up shop so we didn't see much. Lots of alpaca knitwear and since this was just the beginning of our travels we decided to hold off on buying anything. We were hoping on doing a short hike to check out Inca ruins above Pisac but it was getting dark and our taxi guide wanted to get home. We made a stop just before getting to Cusco to take some photos of the city at dusk from a great viewpoint.
Cusco is an amazing city, although our first day here sucked (at least for me) getting used to walking up steep hills and winding stairs at 11,200 ft. with luggage, left me with a pretty bad headache. But a little Mate de Coca helped eased the pain.
Next we head on a 4 day adventure to Machu Picchu.
- Yuriy
Such beautiful shots!
ReplyDeleteI love to see new post from yall- it's like a mini vacation while I read. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteUgh your photos are so prettier than mine. I just got back from this trip - and I feel so lucky now! I didn't really get altitude sickness at all, I just felt that going up stairs made me more tired than usual.
ReplyDeleteBut anyways, I especially love the last photo! Looking forward to the rest!
belle + compass
Absolutely stunning. This is on the travel bucket list for us, so I thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteAh I love Cusco so much. And aren't Peruvians just the nicest people?!
ReplyDeleteAh this brings back memories. We were there 2 years ago. Near the Pisa market was a school and it was Mother's Day. The kids were performing a play for all the Mums - so lucky to have seen it. There may have been a character particular to Peru, someone like a boogie man. A couple of days later I bought a doll that a little girl was selling and it was dressed like the very same boogie man (some might call him bogey man, but not in my family!). Lovely photos and a great adventure for you.
ReplyDeletesuch an awesome place to visit. these photos are so beautiful, as always x
ReplyDeletewow lovely photos truly inspiring :]
ReplyDeletewww.thefernwehwolf.com
wow. these are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWow! These photos are amazing! It really makes me want to go there right now!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Yet another place I need to add onto my travel list. www.eatallovertheworld.com
ReplyDeleteThe springs look so pretty! Such a unique formation :B And the market looks so lively!
ReplyDeleteIncredible shots, love this!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are incredibly amazing <3<3 love your blog so much!!
ReplyDeletehttps://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Love these captures! Those Salt Terraces look so fun.
ReplyDeleteThat looks gorgeous. I had only seen similar terraces in a cave in Guatemala.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures -- you are doing such a beautiful job on your blog!
ReplyDeleteLove it! beautiful...
ReplyDeleteValentina
Valentina Duracinsky Blog
Wonderful photos, as always! Especially love the last shot !
ReplyDelete