This is Part 1 of my video series: “The Moonstone Trek: My
Journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu.” In 2017, I went to Peru to learn about its
history and culture. As part of that visit, I undertook a trek from the ancient
capital of the Incas to their famous “lost city” in the Andean cloud forest. My
route followed an Inca road system once used by royal chaskis (runners) who
carried information and goods across the largest pre-Columbian empire in the
Americas. For five days, I traveled by bus,
train, and foot over mountains and rivers that range from 7,000 to more than
15,000 feet above sea level. Along the way, I explored archaeological sites, visited
market towns and rural villages, and admired breathtaking views of glacier-capped
mountains and the brilliant Milky Way. Join me on this enchanting journey down
one of the lesser-known branches of the Inca Trail and discover the geography,
architecture, and people of this great land.
In this episode, we explore the colorful markets of
Izcuchaca and Huaracondo. Along the way, I also make a stop at the Inca ruins known as Quillarumiyoc (the Moonstone of the Andes); that visit is documented in my video here.
