The trip starts
at the Hotel. We leave by van and drive out of the Sacred
Valley. During the 45 minute ride we have an impressive view
of the snowcapped Vilcanota mountains. The driver drops us off at
the ruins 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.
After this visit
we head our bikes down a dirt road towards the town of Maras, 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. Near the Plaza de Armas, we rest and
enjoy a snack next to an old church.
Continuing 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 which 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 and descend on the
paved road to Yanahuara. We pass the town, cross the river once
more and continue on a dirt road near the river bank. Arriving in
Pachar, which has a small train station, we stop to rest and have
lunch.
Cycling on to
Ollantaytambo we will see a growing number of ancient Inca terraces
and note that the river becomes a canal. To enter Ollantaytambo
we cross another hanging bridge built next to the remains of an
old Inca bridge. We visit the town with its many houses that date
back to Inca times. Other homes were constructed with the stones
left by the Inca civilization. Before entering the fortress of Ollantaytambo
we put on warm clothing, since the wind causes the temperature to
drop sharply at the top of the fortress. To keep warm we also drink
tea or coffee. Our guide will show us around the ruins, constructed
with some of the largest stones in the Inca empire.
We cycle back
or take the van depending on the physical condition of the group.
