Cusco, Peru

 The Temple of the Sun of the Incas (Coricancha) is believed to be the most important temple of the Incan empire, and the most revered temple in Cusco. Originally named Intikancha or Intiwasi, it was dedicated to Inti, the Sun God. However, when the Spanish arrived, they razed most Inca temples a...

The journey begins at about 3am on the streets of Cusco, where we pile into a minivan and drive a few hours to arrive at the foot of Vinicuna (Rainbow Mountain) as day breaks.  It’s a crisp, sunny morning at the foot of the climb (14,189ft) and the local compañeras line the path with dozens of ho...

Sacsayhuaman is located  about 10 minutes from the Plaza de Armas (by car) or 45 minutes walking. Another option is to take a ‘City Tour’, which includes transportation to this archaeological site. The entrance fee is included with the "Boleto Turistico" which is a ticket that gets you into the m...

Of all the hikes within the proximity of the city of Cusco, this one is the coolest. Not only that, but no one knows about it. It is a local's only secret. The only reason I know about it was because I lived there for years.There are two approaches to the hike. One that is for beginners, and is a...

The Pisac ruins bear a striking resemblance to Machu Picchu, just on a smaller scale. Fascinatingly, the drainage systems and agricultural terraces built in 1440 along with the rest of the ruins are still in use today. The Pisac ruins are believed to have defended the Southern entrance to the Sac...

Cascading down a hillside valley not far from Cusco, the nearly 3,000 salt pans at Salinas de Maras sit at an elevation of 3,380 m. Believed to have been created in the 1400s by the Inca, the historical site now operates like a co-op and preserves the ancient technique of harvesting salt by hand....

Located at an altitude of 2,792 m (9,160 ft) above sea level, Ollantaytambo was once the home of Emperor Pachacuti.  Built in the late 15th century, it has some of the oldest continuously occupied dwellings in South America. The beautiful cobbled streets, irrigation channels, and stone foundation...

Right from the entrance to the site, the ruins of Ollantaytambo climb up into the terraced heights of a temple district. It is often called a fortress, but only part of the site was dedicated to military purposes, while the very top is an unfinished temple. It was likely a Temple of the Sun, and ...

Day 1: Cusco to Ayapata (10 miles) The trail starts at 8,923 ft at the main gate operating the permit and passport check-ins at KM 82, Piscachucho. You'll cross the Urubamba River on a suspension bridge and proceed towards Ayapata at 10,829 ft. It's an easy day on the first day and should take ab...

Spanning just 4 days, but featuring 7 summits over 15,000 feet (and topping out at nearly 17,000'), this trail is not for the faint of heart.  Since the trail is extremely remote, permission must be attained from the locals. This is most easily done through a local guide company (I went with Kill...

Day 1: Cusco to Soraypampa to Wayracpunku (9 miles)The trail starts at 12477 ft and proceeds towards Salkantay Pass at 15090 ft. It's a gradual climb and incredibly beautiful. From the pass, it's a short downhill to the campground in Huayracmachay at 12477 ft. Even if the weather is sunny and cle...

The 1,000ft climb up Huayna Picchu is one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. This diamond shaped mountain looms directly behind the site and provides a unique perspective of Machu Picchu, allowing you to see the amazing engineering that went into this site. You start the hike on the fa...

Getting There: When you're purchasing your ticket for Machu Picchu, there is the option to add on "Machu Picchu Mountain". To do this hike, you need to purchase this add-on. Like Huayna Picchu, only a certain number of people are allowed up per day, so make sure you purchase your ticket ahead of ...