Chasing Rainbows in Sacred Valley: A Peruvian Adventure

Peru has held a spot on my bucket list ever since I started one. So when a friend extended an invitation to join their trip, my immediate response was an enthusiastic yes. Numerous planning calls, emails, and several unnecessary rounds of packing and unpacking later, I found myself on the red-eye flight to South America, filled with excitement for the adventures that lay ahead.

Given that Peru was a shared dream destination, a carefully researched travel hit list needed to be crafted. This led us to curate a comprehensive 11-day itinerary encompassing four key destinations: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima.

Sacred Valley

As this is my inaugural travel blog, I believe starting each one with an overview of quick facts and logistical details would be beneficial before I ramble further about my trip. Here's the first of many hopefully informative snippets:

Travel Tidbits

Why "Sacred": Named for the alignment of the Urubamba-Vilcanota River, locally known as the "Sacred River," with the Milky Way or "River Snake," the Incas, who placed profound significance in astronomy, believed these rivers to be cosmic siblings. Additionally, the valley's fertile land amidst hard conditions of the Andean mountains made it the heart of the Inca Empire.
Elevation range: 6,730 ft. to 9,800 ft. above sea level
Our stops: Ccochahuasi Animal Sanctuary, Awana Kancha, Pisac Ruins, Mercado de Pisac, Moray Inca Ruins, Salt Mines of Maras, Ollantaytambo Ruins and its town
Our hotel: Aranwa Sacred Valley in Urubamba
Our mode of local travel: Taxidatum, a local taxi company that offers airport transfers and private transportation within Sacred Valley
Important travel tips: Don't underestimate altitude sickness. It can be a real concern. Despite my initial confidence in acclimating easily, I learned the hard way being cocky can back fire on you. It rendered me horizontal for a significant day and a half, necessitating oxygen therapy and additional medical assistance. Adequate preparation, including research on preventive measures, is crucial.

The Highs

While every place we visited held its unique beauty and historical significance, a few stood out as personal favorites.

Ccochahuasi Animal Sanctuary: Our first stop, it was immediately captivating with the various indigenous animals in its care. The vicuña, known for its elusive nature and production of exceptionally soft albeit expensive wool, was a rare treat. If you're an animal lover like me, it's a definite must-see.

Salt Mines of Maras: A jaw-dropping testament to Inca engineering, boasting over 3,000 pools in mesmerizing shades of pink. The historical significance, coupled with the continued ownership and mining by the local families since the pre-Inca era, adds profound depth to its magnificence. However, the most extraordinary part of this experience for me, was the scenic drive to reach the site. Cruising along the long, solitary road against the stunning backdrop of the Andean mountains bathed in the golden hour light was an absolutely breathtaking moment. Naturally, we asked our driver to pull over, allowing us to capture the obligatory photo ops. After all, as they saying goes, if there are no photos, it didn't happen.

Ollantaytambo: Part of our meticulous planning was to make sure we were being efficient with how we spent our energy. Staying a night in Ollantaytambo proved to be a wise decision as it gave us an extra few hours of rest before we took on Machu Picchu, which was our next stop. While in town, one has to visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins. Its 17 terraces and daunting height offered a bit of a challenge for this admittedly unfit traveler, but it was a rewarding climb once you reached the top.

While this may sound repetitive, I cannot help but express my deep admiration for Incan engineering, with their precision and ingenuity particularly reflected in the Temple of the Sun leaving an indelible mark in my memory. In this site, one will discover, and it won't be the last, the unwavering Incan belief in astronomy as evidenced by the deliberate angles of the stone placement aligning with the direction of the sun during the winter solstice. This not only served as a guide for their agricultural practices, but also played a central role in religious celebrations, underscoring the intertwining of their culture and the cosmos.

Shopping: An indispensable fun element during any of my travels is shopping. I love returning home with unique finds that transform into cherished mementos of my adventures. Peru, with its rich, artisanal heritage passed down through generations, proved to be an amazing treasure trove with local artisans showcasing their artistry through an array of beautifully crafted items.

Expect to have your sights inundated with woven products made from alpaca wool, including blankets, scarves, sweaters, beanies, gloves, and adorable mini alpaca souvenirs. For a strategic shopping spree in a centralized location, Mercado de Pisac and Ollantaytambo are must-visit stops. For those who enjoy shopping in smaller, niche markets operated by local coops, both Awana Kancha and Urubamba present charming options. While Awana Kancha stands out for its visibly higher quality products, this distinction is reflected in its slightly higher price range. In essence, Sacred Valley provides a comfortable middle ground between the relatively pricier markets of Lima and the more budget-friendly and easily accessible options in Cusco. This balance ensures a fun Peruvian shopping experience without sacrificing its inherent enticing appeal.

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