Kayaking on Piuray lagoon

Piuray sits at 3,700 metres near Chinchero, a still-water lagoon ringed by hills and smallholdings. It supplies much of Cusco's water. Paddling there is not technically difficult — no current, no swell — but the altitude tells: the effort registers more than at sea level. The kayaks are stable and you go out with a guide, so no paddling experience is needed. What sets it apart is the quiet. There are no motorboats and no buildings around it: just the hills reflected in the water and, on clear days, the Urubamba range beyond.