Leaving the city of Cusco behind and traveling further into the mountainous countryside, otherwise known as the Sacred Valley, came as a challenge. However, it was full of excitement. The deep-rooted history of the Sacred Valley of Peru, the old buildings and architecture, and Hotel Monasterio are irresistible.
Hotel Monasterio
As you walk into the lobby, coca tea is readily available. Walk a few feet and the beautiful courtyard lies ahead. Everything is open to the outdoors – the hallway, the lobby, and the restaurant, so it gets a little chilly! The service is also excellent.
Breakfast is brought out at a fast pace, timed almost perfectly to when you are finished eating your plate full of colorful fruits, eggs, and local Peruvian dishes from the buffet. In our room, there was also three of everything (towels, water bottles, shampoo bottles, even our beds!).
Visiting the Pisac Ruins in the Sacred Valley of Peru
As we travelled deeper into the countryside, we
Driving through the Sacred Valley up to the Pisac ruins is filled with lush greenery, casitas (little houses), and a magnificent view of the Urubamba River. Climbing the ruins is even more majestic. After dozens of steep, rocky, uneven Incan stairs, we came to a site of some of the ruins.
Sadly, as we climbed, my heartbeat was incredibly fast, and no I was not out of breath (although that happens a lot)…it was just extremely nerve wracking. One trip, and you’re off the cliff! And it’s me – notorious for tripping.
Looking at the ruins below, there are terraces built into the mountainside by the Incas. Due to the structure, the terraces should be there for almost forever, according to Jose Tito.
Biking Through the Pisac Ruins
Starting off our 25 mile biking trip after our local lunch was not easy. I have ridden many bikes in my day, but not a professional mountain bike with low handles and a high bike seat. Not easy. A guy in our group had to ask if I was okay cause I was swerving everywhere and couldn’t turn. At mile marker one or two, I began to get the hang of it. The only trouble being I had no idea what I was doing with my gears.
After a quick lesson from madre, I had it down pat. Lucky for me, I was no longer huffing and puffing. There were a few instances, mostly uphill, where I had a few troubles. I almost fell once and just could never make it up the steep inclines of the dirt road filled with rocks and pebbles, which resulted in hopping off the bike and slowly walking up the hill! Not a bad idea, some people even followed suit.
Biking through the Andes is unlike anything I have ever done. I got a feel for how these locals actually live, watching them farm, and saw their animals (cows, sheep, llamas, pigs, dogs, chickens, etc.).
Biking on a beautiful breezy day, seeing a huge glacier off into the distance surrounded by the green mountains (an odd combination) could create an amazing portrait. Everything is just so different from what we are used to in America, and even those living in the city of Cusco and not the Sacred Valley of Peru.