Savvy Exploring

We went to the Sacred Valley, experienced a local festival, hiked the mountains, explored the streets and markets of Cusco, took an amazing trek to Machu Picchu, toured the citadel, and spent a couple days in the capital. (14 day trip)

This secret ancient citadel hiding in the clouds is a wonder, the only problem is it isn’t so secret anymore.

The Salkantay Trek is an amazing way to get to Machu Picchu. This trek takes you from the majesty of glacial snow capped mountains to the tropics within a few days and the view of Machu Picchu at sunrise is unforgettable.

Cusco is a colorful city with lots of culture and history. It was once the capital on the Incan Empire and today is a huge tourist hub and backpacker haven. Cusco is one of those places where you can find a bed for the night for anywhere from $5 to $300 and a meal to match. Cradled in the mountains, its winding cobblestone street have a new surprise around every turn, and often a view.

Salineras de Maras is an intricate system of terraced salt pans that are dug into the mountain. Salt is water carefully channeled through them so the salt can dry and be collected.

A historic town in the Sacred Valley with lots of character, dazzling festivals, sites, and many hiking options. Also a great place to acclimatize to the altitude.

There are a few options but this free hike is great for thrill seekers who want to be right out on the cliff edge. You get a panoramic view of the town and pyramid, while traversing steep narrow trails to several ruins.

This is a massive ruin where you can to spend anywhere from an hour to a day. See stonework comparable to Machu Picchu, in a beautiful setting, with a fraction of the crowd.

This half day mini-adventure will take you off the beaten path on a trail just outside town. You will see lots of terraces while hiking along a mountain trail that passes by farms and through a couple backyards. The trail can be a little tricky to follow so read this for directions.

You must come here if you are in Rome. The history is a little gruesome but the architectural accomplishment is staggering.