Up one level Peru and Bolivia, Dec 2006 - Jan 2007 » Moray, Salineras, and Pisac, Peru

Moray, Salineras, and Pisac, Peru

Moray and Salineras were two sites that Sonya in Hostal Marani recommended that we see. They're less popular with tourists and are a little harder to get to by public transport so we hired a taxi for the day. Moray is the site of three sets of large circular terraces that the Incas supposedly used for agricultural experiments. Circular terraces are unusual and we had never seen them before. Salineras are 500 year old salt pans built by the Incas to gather salt. Hot water flows out of a spring in the side of a mountain and the mineral rich water is diverted to a large number of salt pans to evaporate. These salt pans are still used today to create salt licks for cows.

On our third day in the Sacred Valley, we took the local bus to Pisac where we walked up about 2000 ft from the town to the Inca ruins in the mountains above. Few tourists walk the trail and it's a pity because the views along the trail are quite spectacular. While hiking up the trail, we wondered where all the tourists were; we found out when we turned the corner to the main Pisac ruins and saw hundreds of people milling around. The buses bring the tourists to the main set of ruins and most people don't go beyond them.

_mg_9408 Circular terraces at Moray, Peru. _mg_9408_crw_8382 Descending the Inca steps along the side of the terrace wall. Taken by Serene Koh. _mg_9431 Mostly unrestored circular terrace in Moray. _mg_9445 Circular terraces at Moray, Peru. _mg_9452 Serene descending the Inca steps along the side of the terrace wall. _mg_9487 Salineras overlook. _mg_9487_crw_8398 Taking photos at Salineras. Taken by Serene Koh. _mg_9523 Salt pans at Salineras, Peru. _mg_9535 The mineral rich water in Salineras. _mg_9573 Waterfall below terraces at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9581 Pisac. _mg_9598 Terraces in Pisac. _mg_9618 Rio Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. _mg_9624 Light on Pisac. _mg_9628 Terraces in Pisac. _mg_9637 Serene at the start of the upper terraces. _mg_9665 Farm at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9672 Inca ruins at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9680 Working aqueduct in Pisac. _mg_9699 Inca ruins at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9709 Inca ruins at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9718 Inca ruins at Pisac, Peru. _mg_9720 Stairs we used on the way up.