We thoroughly enjoyed our hotel, Belmond Rio Sagrado, in the Sacred Valley. The views and the food were wonderful. Our primary challenge was the altitude which was over 9000 feet. We found it really zapped our energy levels, but we managed by moving slowly.

While sipping coffee on our terrace, I spied this Andean Hummingbird resting on a tree branch.

The Sacred Valley is surrounded by the majestic snow-capped Andes. Every turn in the road gives a new and spectacular vista.

Our friends Alex and Maria admiring the scenery.


We drove to the town of Chinchero, known for alpaca wool textile weaving where our guide took us to a family weaving cooperative.

One of the family members demonstrated the ancient method of spinning the alpaca wool.

After the wool is spun, it is dyed using natural products.

Our instructor explained the significance and history in the pattern of a completed weaving.

Robert and I feed the pet alpacas.

As we drove around the Sacred Valley, our guide had been explaining the culture of the people who live in the Sacred Valley, descendants of the Incas. They live a very healthy life style by walking everywhere and consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and ancient grains. Evidently the Incas were practically vegetarians, but they did enjoy the occasional feast of cuy or…….here we go….I tried to warn you……guinea pig. Cuy is a special treat for people from Cusco and the Sacred Valley. They enjoy it for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. In one town we passed many restaurants that barbecued Cuy. A restaurant person would stand in front waving a barbecued Cuy on a stick. You are probably guessing that sooner or later, our guide would ask if we would like to try this special treat for ourselves. Sure, why not.

Would you eat one of these ADORABLE animals? Restaurants keep the cuy pen off the kitchen and feed them vegetables and salad greens.

And here we are with our cuy lunch. In case you are curious, it tasted ok but ours was dry. An acquired taste, I suppose, along with life at 9,000-10,000 feet.

Our last stop was the city market in Pisac. The available fresh fruits and vegetables were amazing.

This blog post shared our morning adventures with our guide in the Sacred Valley. Next up is our afternoon visit to special Incan terraces and a salt mine.