Early in the morning, you will set out for the district of Chincheros, a place which is famous for the extraordinary beauty and quality of its textiles, and for its Sunday fair, where local people dress in traditional colorful outfits and travel down from their villages to trade their goods. After walking along its traditional alleyways, you will visit the weaver's workshop of Nilda Callañaupa, who 28 years ago decided to bring together like-minded women who shared her passion for weaving, and in time was able to motivate younger women who had lost interest in weaving to learn from their elders and connect once more with this ancestral art. This initiative became the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales de Cusco (Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco), a strong organization dedicated not only to the preservation, but also the commercialization of beautiful, high quality textiles.
You will resume your journey by visiting Salinas de Maras (Salt Pans of Maras). The sight of this still-operating salt mine, in use since Incan times, will amaze you--the stark white of its steeply descending salt pans juxtaposed against the green of the surrounding mountain slopes. Your journey will continue on until you reach the archeological site of Moray. Used as an agricultural testing ground, the site's system of circular terraces descends 490 feet (150m) from where you will be standing, serving as a perfect testament to the level of advancement achieved by the Incas, who excelled at building masterful constructions in harmony with nature.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once fiercely guarded by a massive fortress. Discover the large archeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions.
Time permitting you will get a chance to mingle with the locals at a typical Peruvian Andes establishment, either at a "chichería" (establishment for the brewing and sale of chicha, the famous traditional Andean drink made of germinated corn) or a bakery with still-functioning traditional ovens.
Stay the night in Valle Sagrado.