Our last full day of this trip ended with another airport hotel in Lima sneaking a good night’s sleep before catching a flight home.
But first, we had some more things to see in the Sacred Valley. Eight of our Adventurers packed our bags and hopped in a transport van to see what we could see before our 730 flight at the Cusco airport. Tracy stayed behind to check out the charm of Ollantaytambo for the day.
Our first stop was the Salineras de Maras or the Salt Mines of Maras. The site consists of hundreds of ponds that have been ‘mined’ since pre-Inka times and are still active today. At first glance they seemed painted but as we got closer we realized the white color is crystallized salt covering the wall of the ponds.
Here’s how it works:
1. A hot, salty spring feeds a complex network of channels that direct water into thousands of small, individual ponds.
2. Over several days, the sun’s heat evaporates the water in a pond, leaving behind salt crystals.
3. The salt is then scraped up and collected by local families who have inherited the plots for generations.
We saw some people working today taking salt out of the ponds to dry – and we had lots of options at some craft stands to buy some to take home and try ourselves – so we did.
It was a short but cool stop, but perhaps the best part about it was a restaurant we passed on the way into the site that looked interesting to stop for lunch. What a delightful detour it turned out to be.
The main lodge is the hub of the Mountain View Experience. Dotted across the hillside are A-frame cabins with a view of the mountains from every angle. The lodge itself is a cozy wood cabin, but with lots of glass for the views and with a modern style that is comfortable, outdoorsy and chic all at the same time.
It seemed pretty fancy actually but as we walked in, the kids saw something a lot more interesting than a wood burning stove – lots of llamas and alpacas right outside.
Quickly the kids got up close and personal with the llamas, CreeperKitty seemed to make some fast friends.
Turns out one of the big benefits of this place, even if you only stop for lunch, is that you can feed the animals. Corn husks seemed to be on the menu today. They asked that everyone feeding wear a traditional poncho and hat. We think it’s to train the animals that those clothes mean food and if you aren’t dressed like that they won’t bother you. Regardless of why, it made some great photos.
Once our food came we all enjoyed a fantastic meal. It was fresh and filled with delicious flavor combinations. Check out this Beef Carpaccio.
What a pleasant surprise all around.
Our one hour drive to Cusco was uneventful. We set a time to meet our van driver and then wandered around the Plaza de Armas and nearby historic structures. We had only about 90 minutes so we were satisfied to just walk around rather than go in any of the museums.
Cusco was the Inka capital but it was also colonized by the Spanish so most of the buildings we saw were colonial.
And just before we left, the kids got their traditional McDonald’s meal. They said it was pretty much like home, except for the option to get an Alpaca burger.
After the McDonald’s was consumed we rode to the airport and said our goodbyes to the Sacred Valley of Peru.
It was a great trip. We enjoyed the country, the sights and our traveling companions. Until next time, keep Adventuring.
5 Adventures Together 