Our time in Lima turned out to be so much more enjoyable than we expected, and we knew it was only going to get better from there—assuming we could adapt to the dramatically increased altitude we were about to experience.  Altitude sickness could hit anybody, no matter how fit and healthy you are.  The only thing we could do is stay very hydrated, abstain from alcohol, and follow the other medical recommendations I had researched.  Not only would we be seeing Machu Picchu on this tour, but we would be visiting other ruins and towns at even higher altitudes, so it was important to stay disciplined. 

Seeing these high-altitude destinations requires flying into Cusco, which is at an elevation of 11,200 feet—quite an increase from sea level!  We would be returning to stay in Cusco at the end of our tour, but on this day, our final destination was Urubamba (elevation 9,420 feet), in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  Sleeping at a lower elevation was the recommended way to ease our transition to the high altitudes of the Andes, so Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) planned the itinerary perfectly.

Before arriving in Urubamba, however, we would be making stops along the way to see Inca ruins.  At one point, we encountered a blocked road full of people– something we had not expected given the sparse population of the area.  We saw a crowd and wondered what had happened.  Nothing happened; it was another parade!  After encountering a surprise parade in Lima, we never thought it would happen again, but it did; and it was fabulous!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

The parade and festival was celebrating Virgen del Carmen, an annual celebration that draws thousands of Peruvians and tourists to Pisac .  Raul, of course, knew all about it, but he wanted to surprise us.  He was hoping our timing would be right for the parade, and it was spot-on.   Encouraging us to jump out of the bus and join in on the fun, I didn’t hesitate.  I grabbed my camera and told Bruce I would meet him at the end of the route where the bus would catch up to us.  It was too crowded and chaotic to stick together, and the bus wasn’t going anywhere until the parade concluded.  So, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!  And that we did!

What a joyous, colorful, and noisy celebration!  The participating folkloric dance groups were dressed in amazing handmade costumes, competing for the top prize.  Each year, many hours are spent making each new costume by hand with every sequin and applique sewn on individually.  What a feast for the eyes!  The entire experience was a great introduction to the culture of the Sacred Valley.

After we piled back on the bus, we ascended along a switchback road above the Vilcanota River to explore the Pisac Ruins.  A well-preserved ancient Inca complex, it is one of the top historical sites to visit in the Sacred Valley and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

So far, so good!  The high altitude hadn’t registered with my body yet, so I was able to climb up to the top of the ruins at 11,400 feet to enjoy the beautiful vista of the Sacred Valley.

During our hike, we were greeted by some very mellow and tame resident alpacas!  They have become so used to people; they were unfazed:

The purpose of the terraced complex was to keep an eye on and control the tribes who lived below.  In the following picture, note the holes in the hillside.  These holes were burial sites where the dead were buried in a fetal position:

In the late afternoon, we arrived in Urubamba at the beautiful Villa Urubamba Hotel.  I will post more pictures in my next blog, but this is the musician who entertained us at dinner this evening.  I enjoyed his music so much, I bought his downloads, which I will use in my slide show which will appear in my last Peru blog post:

Fortunately, the altitude never made either of us sick.  I had a headache that first night—nothing a couple of Tylenol couldn’t cure by the next morning.  A few others in our group weren’t so fortunate!

Coming up next:  PERU #8: RAFTING THE URUBAMBA RIVER, EXPLORING OLLANTAYTAMBO INCA FORTRESS, AND A HOME-HOSTED LUNCH