We were thinking maybe we had made a mistake scheduling a tour of the Sacred Valley outside of Cusco after our epic experience at Machu Picchu. Although it’s home to some of the most important architectural complexes of the Inca Empire, we wondered if it would be an anticlimactic disappointment?

Turns out we had nothing to worry about. Over the course of another long day in a van (once again in the last row 😕), we visited numerous sites featuring fascinating innovations by the Incas.

Our first stop was the ruins of Chinchero, a settlement that the Incas took over and expanded for use by the royal family before the Spanish arrived. The development is massive, covering over 100 acres, and highlights those terraces that seem to be everywhere in this part of the world.

Speaking of terraces, what we saw at Moray, the second location on our tour, was a remarkable example of Incan ingenuity. These amphitheater-like circles were actually laboratories to help them determine which...

At the end of Part 1 we had just arrived at 7 a.m. with our guide to explore Circuit 1 of Machu Picchu. This one provides the iconic views like the one above, but doesn’t allow entry into the interior of the ancient complex. That would be happening with our tickets for Circuit 2 at 1 p.m.

Machu Picchu’s altitude is around 8,000 feet above sea level, less than what we are used to in Cuenca. Still, the ascent was somewhat steep and challenging. While climbing we got a preview of what we were about to witness.

And suddenly there it was. The view was everything we could have ever hoped for. Photos cannot properly capture the magnificence of not only the site itself but the surrounding mountains. Breathtaking!

As we were taking it all in, our guide caught us completely off guard by saying, “My next tour isn’t until 11 o’clock. When we’re finished here I’ll talk to someone and see if we can go ahead and do Circuit 3 if you'd like.”

Well, sure!

So o...

Machu Picchu was the crown jewel of our three-week Peru adventure. Because of its status as a top bucket list destination, attendance is strictly controlled and reservations must be made at least two months in advance.

For those brave (or unorganized) enough to try it, a limited number of same-day tickets are sold, but we were told people line up in the middle of the night in hopes of getting one.

There are three different routes to experience the Inca citadel:

• Circuit 1 (Panoramic). Offers iconic views of the site from above.
• Circuit 2 (Classic). Here you enter the city and explore many of its main archaeological features.
• Circuit 3 (Royalty). Concentrates on the lower terraces, including temples and royal residences.

When we booked our 2-day, one-night trip, Wondrous Expeditions (the company we used) informed us only Circuit 1 was available. We were disappointed that we wouldn’t get to actually walk into the interior of Machu Picchu, but said, “Oh well, it is what it is. Le...