Maras and Moray, let´s see something different!

A different way to see the Sacred Valley of Cusco (if you are tired of Inca ruins) is to travel 50 K to the north of this city and visit Maras and Moray towns. Moray is famous for the circular terraces where the Incas studied the effect of the different kind of weather on their crops. They did experiments with seeds using the different weather conditions in every terrace to develop new products. Some locals told me they found soil that doesnt belong to that area and were used to test different kind of seeds. In Moray there are 4 circular terraces the biggest one has about 30 meters deep. 

Maras is a little town, 20 min. from Moray (driving through a dirty road), here you can find the salt ponds the salt comes from the evaporated salty water from subterranean streams. The locals sale this salt to all the country. The ponds belong to the local people, a farmer can have 20 or 30 ponds and sale the salt in the local market, they have different kinds of salt and products made of it.

On the way from Moray to Maras you can see amazing mountains and local people working on their farms instead of the typical people trying to sale souvenirs to the tourists. 

  

  

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

One of the most beautiful treks in Perú, it´s a 4 day and 3 night trek on the Peruvian Highlands. Day 1 (11 km. and 4 hr. hike) Early bus journey from Cusco to Calca town, visit the local market and have breakfast. Buy some bread to give to the local kids on the road. Then will go by bus to Ankas Marca to see the archaeological site and then comtinue to Lares town to buy snacks and water. Then you will start the trek from Trapiche village and walk along the mountains, visit local villages and see lakes and white capped mountains. After 4 hr. hike you will get to Sonda, our first campsite, located at 4200 mts. over sea level. Day 2 is the hardest day, you will hike 20 Km. in about 7 1/2 hr. and get the highest point at 4600 mts. high, the campsite is located at 3400 mts. high at Marcacocha. Day 3 is the easiest day, just 10 Km. and 4 hr. walk to Ollantaytambo town and then take the train to Aguas Calientes town (next to Machu Picchu), spend the night in a hostel and next day take the bus to Machu Picchu ruins, you will have a guided tour around the ruins and then come back to Cusco by train. This trek is famous because the amazing landscapes and also because there are not many tourists around, just you and the mountains.