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One Day |
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| We leave the hotel by van directly for Chinchero, a potato-growing town at an elevation of approximately 3700 meters. During the hour-long ride, we see remarkable views of the Vilcanota mountains. Once in Chinchero we may visit the ruins, which display a great mixture of both Inca and Colonial building styles. We then get our bikes ready and depart on the country road leading through the green and red patchwork squares of the surrounding fields. This difference in color is due to the variety of crops grown by the local farmers. Arriving at the Huaypo lagoon we take a road along its border. A bit further up, we enter the Huayllacocha and Mahuaypampa communities. We visit one of the local houses, where we rest and enjoy our snack. We continue on the same road until we reach the terraces of Moray. Our guide will take us down into these ruins and explain their function. It is said that the ancient agricultural terraces of circular and concentric shape, which were built by the Incas, were used as a seed-producing area for the principal crops of the empire: maize and potato. Before riding on we have lunch at the top of Moray. After lunch we head our bikes towards the town of Maras on a dirt road, the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcanota Mountains before us. Maras is a typical town dedicated to agriculture and cattle, with portals built during colonial times. Crossing the Plaza de Armas, we continue our ride down to Salineras (the saltpans). We have two options: taking a single track all the way or the easier part-paved and part-dirt road. Once at Salineras we get off our bikes and watch (and perhaps participate in) the salt draining process. The single track that takes us into the Sacred Valley requires some skill. Some people might prefer to walk the very steep and narrow parts. The track leads us past Pichingoto, a small village with houses built into the rocky slopes, giving the place a unique appearance. From here we cross the Urubamba river over a hanging bridge. It is a short ride back to the hotel. Our journey has been mostly downhill. Programs |
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