Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Moray Crop Circles and the Salt Pans
We’ve had a great day filled with many photo opportunities and beautiful weather. Our day began driving up another 3,000 feet to the Moray Crop Circles, which are an ancient Inca farming plots design for the optimum yield and irrigation. We took it slow due to the elevation but hear turn on the trail offered up another photo.
We then drove to the other end of the valley to see the Maras Salt Pans, which is a salt mining operation located in a steep valley just above where we are staying. The natural salt rich mineral springs flow from the mountain at 18C and through a complex series of channels the water is routed along the salt pans. Each level is fill with water and left for two months, at the end of that time the crystalized salt is harvested.
Then after lunch we visited and photographed in the village of Ollantaytambo. This village has had people living in it back to Inca times. When you walk through the old part of the village, the open flowing water system designed by the Incas still flows along the village streets. Fed from the mountain springs above.
We finished the day with our Welcome dinner and Peruvian horse show. It was a great evening including some of the group having an opportunity to ride some of the show horses. Tonight at dinner a couple of our group tired the guinea pig.
Tomorrow we depart at 7:00 a.m. by train to Machu Picchu. The train ride is approximately 2 hrs and 20 minutes. We will be visiting the “Ancient City” later tomorrow morning and again the following day. Enjoy the images from todays trek.
A view of the village we are staying in while in Sacred Valley
A lady heading to market in one of the small mountain villages
Village Street view
A farmer heading to his fields near the Moray Crop Circles
Mimi having to step aside to let a straggler pass by
Such a beautiful view, the snow caps remain on these mountains year round
The Inca Crop Circles, there are 4 locations in this region
This gives you an idea of our elevation
This gentleman was so busy, he had to stop for a nap
One of the small village streets, high up in the mountains
Nancy made a new friend today in the village
Another village street view, such an interesting town
This lady was looking for a ride into the valley
A high roadside view of the salt pans
Another view of the salt pans looking in the valley
In this image you can see the channel of mineral water flowing along the pans
Here is a shot of the harvesting of the salt, this practice dates back 200 years BC
This afternoon it got quite hot, so everyone is enjoying the shade
This gentleman was playing the pan flute at our lunch today
This colourful Macaw was in the overhead tree at lunch this afternoon
A lama having lunch
A view of the gardens where we had lunch
A little girl playing jacks
The streets of Ollantaytambo,notice the ancient water system along the wall
The remaining part of the Inca city of Ollantaytambo
A shy lady on the side street today
More of the ancient ruins
Ollantaytambo market, does he have a lamb chops tonight look?
The horse show before dinner tonight
Nancy riding one of the horses after the show
One of the dinner dishes tonight, this is deep fried guinea pig
Bill having the guinea pig, with teeth showing he even looks like a guinea pig!
Good night from Sacred Valley, more images from Machu Picchu tomorrow evening.