Halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu are the Salineras de Maras (Maras Salt Mines) — an ancient patchwork of terraced pools filled with mineral-rich water that cascades down the side of the Qaqawiñay mountain.
Where is Palcoyo Mountain, a lesser-known but equally captivating alternative to Rainbow Mountain? If you’re checking out Peru for a vacation, you’ve obviously seen pictures of the Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca. It’s that otherworldly kaleidoscopic mountainside just a few hours outside Cusco.
The Inti Raymi Festival in Peru may be the closest one can come in the 21st century to experiencing the real culture of an ancient society.