What was once owned and run by Inca Pachacutec, the Inca in charge of the Inca expansion and the construction of the citadel, Machu Picchu, is now an archaeological site that often leaves visitors in awe. Ollantaytambo was a religious hub, an agricultural village and a military fortress (that was fully booked during the Spanish conquest). If you are headed to meet the wonder of the world, you must definitely make this popular stop. 

Located a mighty 3,600 metres above sea level close to the mysterious Incan ruins at Moray in the Sacred Valley, it takes a little effort to visit the second Peruvian restaurant of Virgilio Martínez. Mil is an Andean microcosm of Lima’s iconic Central. But instead of using ingredients from across the nation, it strictly sources from the ecosystem surrounding the restaurant. Anthropologists on staff foster relations with tight-knit indigenous communities and together they plant, nurture and harvest sustainable tuber crops, maize, legumes, cacao and Andean herbs, as well as care for a small on-site orchard. Guest can also visit Mil’s tiny cacao lab then enjoy its fruits for dessert.

To this day, Moray is one of the most captivating examples of the many innovations and adaptations made in agriculture by the Incas. Moray is an ancient archaeological site known for its impressive round terraces, which are known as andenes. Incas made these stair-step-like terraces to create different microclimates, allowing them to study the growth of crops under distinct conditions. 

Hidden among the hills of the Sacred Valley are over 3,000 salt mines used since the Incas were in charge. The thousands of shallow pools compile saltwater from a nearby stream. Eventually, evaporation occurs and crystallized salt is left behind. Explore the salt mines and the traditional methods of salt harvesting, and soak in the landscape: the contrasting white patchwork of salt mines that clashes with the Andean greens and browns. Every time we visit this other-worldly site, we take more than a few varieties of salt shakers home.