Day 51
Monday, January 29, 2024
We didn’t get to visit Machu Picchu.
Very sad.
So close yet so far.
The protests in Peru are blocking access to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu itself is open but the trains are not transporting tourists to the archeological site so we couldn’t visit, unfortunately.
It’s not even 2 hours drive from here to Machu Picchu (1h50min.)
We went to see another famous archeological site very close by Machu Picchu.
We explored the Ollantaytambo town in Sacred Valley which is 9000 feet (2,700 meters) above sea level, and houses some of the most amazing Inca buildings in Peru. You have to pass through the Sacred Valley to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco anyway, so it is absolutely worth it to explore once you are already here. There are some incredible ruins in the Ollantaytambo.
A massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Major sites within the complex include the huge Sun Temple and the Princess Baths fountain. The village's old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.
We had a great day climbing the ruins and admire amazing mountain view’s and learning about the Inka history.
Fun fact: With an altitude of almost 2,800 m (9,150 feet), Ollantaytambo is up higher than Machu Picchu.
