This morning, you’ll ascend with Carlos to the monumental fortress of Ollantaytambo, Inca-built with enormous stones and so strategically positioned that it was successfully defended against the Spanish in 1537. This is one of the most significant Inca sites in Peru, and its location in a narrow mountain valley framed by rugged peaks is truly breathtaking. In the shadow of the ancient fortress, the ancient community of Ollantaytambo provides vivid illustration of Inca urban planning. Laid out in a simple grid with cobblestone streets, perfectly constructed stone walls and canals, many of the buildings and residences date back 600 years or more.
For lunch, we’ve arranged for you to dine at Hacienda Huayoccari, a 17th-century garden estate that’s been home to the Orihuela family for over 100 years. Enjoy a delightful farm-to-table luncheon of hearty and traditional Andean fare featuring fresh produce from the estate and nearby farms. Afterwards, you’ll have time to explore the owner’s private collection of pre-Columbian, Inca and Colonial artifacts including a rare ensemble of Qeros; these traditional drinking vessels were made of wood, ceramic or even gold and date back to Inca times.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Maras salt mines; worked for generations by the same families, these remarkable terraced pools cascade down the mountainside and across the valley. Nearby, you’ll spend time in the workshop of a famed Andean milliner – where his daughter carries on the family tradition. Then journey across the highlands to the circular terraces of Moray, perhaps one of Peru’s most fascinating and enigmatic sights. Scholars speculate that the ancient Inca may have used these terraces a type of agricultural testing station to study the effects of temperature and wind upon their crops. Meals B+L+D