Catching Up on the Days In Between Lima and Machu Picchu

Lima to Cusco flight. We must have our bags packed and outside our hotel room at o’dark 4 am on Sunday, Oct. 6. The bus to the airport leaves at 5 o’yawn. Yes, there’s breakfast available, but, really, regardless of time zone, who needs to eat at 4 am?

We do, apparently. See food? Eat some.

Tauck took care of everything by way of delivering our luggage to a safe area for us to claim once we arrive at the wee hour of 6 am. We are handed our boarding passes by Zack the Tour Guide, and the bags are already tagged. We just hand them over with our passports and “poof” we go through security.

And wait. And wait. And change gates, but only once. Truly–I had imagined so much worse.

Arrive Cusco and get outa there pronto! Why? We left sea level at the crack of dawn and are now suddenly at 11,150 feet. Zack says we are going down to about 9,400 feet to the Tambo de Inca Resort and Spa located about midway down the Sacred Valley. If he told us once, he told us mucho veces:

• Go slow. Your body has less oxygen and that means it has to work extra hard just to fuel your circulation.
• Digestion slows down at high altitudes, so remember, “I know it’s Tauck, but you don’t have to eat all the food we put in front of you.”
• Drink water, drink water, drink water.

And look what Tauck gave us to help with the latter!

Head for the hills and then Sacred Valley. We board our deluxe vans (Donna, John and I are still Llamas) and drive over the Andes peaks that surround Cusco. “Stretch your legs” break at the east end of the Sacred Valley. Sneak preview of where we’ll descending and staying the night. (Machu Picchu is at the west end of the Sacred Valley.)

We arrive at Hacienda Huayoccari for lunch at a private estate, surrounded by the family’s crops and stables of Peruvian Paso horses.

Peruvian Paso Horses. We learn that the Paso horse has a unique inherited four lateral gait (style of walking), which is the breed’s trademark. Translation? They don’t gallop, and that makes the Peruvian horse one of the most skilled and smoothest riding horses in the world.

And they can dance in time to music! Watch:

Tambo del Inka Resort and Spa has the best welcoming committee EVER. Baby alpacas. Donna and I dropped our purse/backpacks in our rooms and bolted back to the entrance lawn.

Next day will be Machu Picchu. Sort of. Eventually.

Stay tuned/subscribe!