We flew to Cusco by Latam airlines from Lima. It was a short 1 hour flight.
As we descended towards Cusco, I was slightly apprehensive about altitude sickness, having heard of people falling ill at 3500 metres. We had started to take Diamox a few days earlier to alleviate any issues.
Not something I had anticipated, were the steep turns to line up with the runway at Cusco International Airport, located right in the centre of the town!
As we approached, we flew low over the crowded housing. Communities were right up to the boundary fence of the runway.
Our journey to Urubamba to our next hotel took a little over an hour. It was built as a spa retreat in the hills above the small town and is called Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba.
This unique hotel offers two types of accommodation. Rooms located in on the perimeter of the main building housing the lounges, restaurant and shop. And Casitas, small lodges with log fires up the mountain side.
The peaceful tranquility here along with the warmth and comfort this hotel and location give, are unique.
The restaurant food was delicious and beautifully presented. It arrived from the kitchen hot, full of flavour and great presentation.
The following morning we were picked up by our guide and headed to the fortress of Olantaytambo, where we climbed the steps to the top of the mountain.
This imposing archaeological site in Peru’s Sacred Valley boasts 15th century stonework. It was originally a royal estate built by Emperor Pachacuti and later served as a key fortress where Manco Inca defeated Spanish forces in 1537.
From here we went to the town of Chincero, with beautiful views of the valley.
The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, we were transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay, a centre for Andean traditions, where we expected demonstrations of elaborate textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware to be carried out, using ancient Incan techniques, however the demos didn’t materialise. They also have resident llamas, sheep and alpacas.
Whilst here they provided a buffet lunch before visiting the fortress of Ollantaytambo which served as a fortress and a residential area.
Finally we returned to our hotel for dinner before retiring for the night.
The next morning we were taken to Wayra Ranch where a three course lunch was provided accompanied by a traditional Paso horse demonstration.
The Peruvian Paso horse is renowned for the smoothest gait in the world. We enjoyed the short equestrian demonstration to the rhythm of marinera music whilst tourists like us looked on.
That night a small group of us were lead up the side of the mountain by the hotel to a plateau to star gaze.
Truly mesmerising and an opportunity to do astrophotography. Getting down in the pitch black required nerves of steel and a lamp with a candle to assist
