Word: cuzco
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PERU DAY TRIPS SLOW TRAIN FROM CUZCO...
...village, along with the ruins of the same name, lies above Peru's Urubamba River, halfway between the city of Cuzco and the far better-known ruins of Machu Picchu. It is among the few remaining communities still laid out as the Incas planned: by night its residents sleep behind inward-slanting stone doorframes characteristic of Incan design; by day they farm corn and potatoes on the immense terraces their forebears carved out of the Andean slopes...
...20th century doesn't arrive until after lunch, when the tourists show up like clockwork, each group spending about two hours. Typically, they ignore the town and climb the ruins instead, returning to their hotel in Cuzco to rest before rushing off to see Machu Picchu on the last day of what is usually a three-day tour. All the while they complain of the altitude sickness that often comes with the area's 13,000-ft. elevation. They have seen the famous ruins, but they are probably missing what is still alive in the Sacred Valley of the Inca...
...better way to take in these breathtaking sights and absorb the rich culture is to stretch your visit to this aerie in the Peruvian Andes. Cuzco is worth a few nights' stay. A good choice there is the Hotel Monasterio, a newly converted Franciscan monastery. Chants echo through the interior courtyards at breakfast, and guests can stroll through the archways and choose between a monkish cell or plusher accommodations...
...absorb the natural scale and human achievement on display here, travelers must slow down. Staying in the valley offers a more relaxed, more contemplative trip than staying in Cuzco for the entire visit. Indeed, time flows at a different rate along the Urubamba River, and getting in the groove will bring greater appreciation for the valley. Trips based out of several hotels in the town of Urubamba are beginning to gain favor among visitors. One spot, the Posada del Inca, offers beautiful gardens, resident llamas and views of peaks. Hikes and horseback rides are available, along with the traditional stops...