The next morning we took the train to Ollantaytambo, the ruins to the east of Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley. Once we arrived, we hired a taxi for the day to take us around to a few Sacred Valley sites, and then take us back to Cusco, grand total of $50 for the three of us.

Ollantaytambo was first built as the estate of the great Incan leader Pachacútec in the mid-fifteenth century. About one hundred years later it became the temporary capital of the Incas when Cusco fell to Spanish rule, and it is fondly remembered as the site where the Incas were able to defeat a Spanish advancement, attacking from their vantage point high in the terraces as well as ingeniously using their irrigation system to flood the plain below.

Ruins and Sacred Valley

Having eavesdropped on a tour group, I gathered that when you talk into one of these niches, someone else can hear you by simply sticking their head into one of the 20 or so other niches in the walls. Erin and I decided to carry on a conversation through the wall rather than this face-to-face business.

Llama-a-plenty in Ollantaytambo.

Hotel on the rock; you have to climb 400 feet to get up to your room, and the whole concept left us with a lot of questions. Do they have TV? What if you get bored in your room? What are the restaurant options? People pay good money for this?! Here are the views from the Natura Vive Skylodge.

Maras central plaza

A preview of where we were headed next.

City Hall and the church

High altitude plains

There are three of these earthen bowls in Moray, thought to be laboratories of sort. The Incas were able to plant potatoes, quinoa, corn, etc on each of these different rings, essentially distinct micro-climates, and then use that knowledge to plant crops at their ideal altitude and settings all across the empire.

Using ancient steps.

A second bowl, with the Cordillera Urubamba in the background.

Growing high out of an aloe plant.

Making our way down to Salinas de Maras, an area full of pools the Incas used to harvest salt.

Salt formations

Salt crystals floating in shallow water.

Summoning our inner goat to climb back up.

Click here to walk around the ruins of the Sacred Valley.