Sacred Valley of the Incas

After breakfast, we departed for our tour to the Sacred Valley, which refers to a broad and gently sloping river plain between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. This valley was a key area of settlement to the Incas because of its combination of agreeable climate and lush plains. The Incas were also attracted to the natural beauty of this area, as the valley is a corridor through glorious mountain landscapes, its fertile floor walled by dark granite cliffs and the gleaming snow peaks of the glaciers.

At the end of the Sacred Valley, we visited Ollantaytambo, another major Inca site. This massive fortress and ceremonial centre is one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest. The village is built on the traditional Inca foundations and it is the best living example of an Inca street plan. The settlement is laid out in a trapezoid and each block contains a self-contained unit housing many people.

We visited colourful Indian markets where we feverishly haggled for gifts for family and friends back home. We stopped for lunch at a delightful restaurant with more GREAT food. It was here that we thanked our guide, Dennis, for his professionalism, for breathing life into the ancient Inca history and making it come alive for us, for sharing his knowledge of Peru's history and Peru's daily life, for keeping us safe, for laughing with us, for joking with us, and for gracing us with his kind and gentle spirit.