Pisac

A fascinating place near Cusco. It is usually the first place that tourists visit on the way up the Sacred Valley.

Most tourists try to get there on Sunday. The Sunday Market is world reknown, but it’s not the only day of the week. The market at Pisac is open all week.

The market isn’t the only attraction. High above the town there are fascinating ruins. You can get a van up to the top, explore the ruins and come down the hill on foot. It’s a tiring descent, but you are passed by locals, running like mountain goats UP the same path that’s making you breathless coming down.

The town is far below

Most people go up earlyish in the morning, have a refreshment, explore the market stalls, and head off down the valley to Urubamba or Ollantaytambo for lunch.The Pisac ruins are not as impressive as Machu Picchu, and the workmanship isn’t the same, but if you go, you’ll be glad you did.

The market covers the whole plaza

 

One of the family stalls, this selling ceramics

 

Many stalls with all manner of handcrafts

 

A close up of some of the woven shawls, wall hangings, mats and rugs

 

Not only for the tourist. Fruit and veges, evrything from onions to medicinal herbs can be found

 

No Peruvian market would be complete without the panpipes

Bargaining is the order of the day. If you don’t, you’ll pay through the nose. And, careful with the ceramics, some of them you wouldn’t take home as a present for mother, many have highly erotic themes. You can wander around leisurely and see things like naturally freeze dried potatoes, all the different corn varieties, or if you’re brave enough try some fried guinea-pig. It’s something I have never done, really they look more like roadkill.

NB: The photo of the ruins and the family stall are mine. The others the source for credit is long gone.