Sacred Valley Of the Inca: The Best Travel Guide

Just a few minutes from the city, there is an area called the Sacred Valley due to its strategic location. The Incas called this territory “Sacred” because of the fertility of its lands to produce fruits and vegetables.

Where is the Sacred Valley?

The Sacred Valley is located in the northern area of Cusco. It includes towns such as Pisac, Maras, Moray, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. In terms of time, it is located almost 1 hour from the city center, in a region lower in elevation than Cusco.

What is the climate of the Sacred Valley like?

The Sacred Valley, being at a lower elevation than Cusco, is also warmer. You could say that in some areas, the heat increases. For example, in Pisac the weather feels a bit warmer, but not as hot as in Urubamba.

How to get to the Sacred Valley?

There are different ways to reach the Sacred Valley:

Rent a private car: For many travelers, it is very comfortable to rent a car that gives them the flexibility to move around on their own schedule. At the airport, it is possible to hire car services, and with this transport, you can reach every corner of the Sacred Valley.

One-day tour: Many local agencies offer one-day tours through the Sacred Valley. This is a popular itinerary that visits the main places of the area such as Pisac, Urubamba, Maras, Moray, and Ollantaytambo. This tour is highly recommended to acclimatize in Cusco.

Public colectivos: Very close to the city center, there is Pavitos Street, where many colectivos offer transportation services to places such as Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. If you want to go to Pisac or Calca, you can take the cars that leave from Puputi Street.

What to visit in the Sacred Valley?

The Sacred Valley is very diverse in terms of what you can visit, do, or see. To give you an idea, we will separate the activities into segments.

Archaeological Sites

This area of the Sacred Valley is very famous for the variety of archaeological centers scattered along the way in every little town. These hold with them the great ancestral past of the Incas. Here are some you can visit:

Pisac – Archaeological site

The Pisac archaeological park is located only 45 minutes from Cusco. This masterpiece of engineering rests on the mountain of Apu Inti Huatana. It is known as an astronomical observatory, where there is even an Inca clock.

It is believed that it was a control point due to its strategic location high on the mountain. Because of the magnificence of its ruins, it is also considered an important Inca jewel. This archaeological complex is divided into two areas: the ancient one located at the top and the main square. In addition, you can see a kind of Inca cemetery.

Maras – Salt ponds

In the district of Maras, you can find natural salt ponds where locals harvest the famous pink salt. This place is very Instagrammable and popular among travelers, as from its panoramic viewpoint you can see how the salt pools lie on the mountain.

Moray – The ancient Inca laboratory

Moray is an archaeological site known as the Inca laboratory. It has circular terraces ranging from small to large. In this place, it is believed that the Incas carried out a kind of agricultural “experiments.”

Ollantaytambo – The living Inca town

Ollantaytambo is one of the most picturesque towns in the Sacred Valley. Located about an hour and a half from Cusco, this place holds a true jewel of Inca architecture: the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex.

This was an administrative center of the Inca Empire, called a fortress because of the grandeur of its monuments. Due to the organization found in the place, it is possible to deduce the great urban planning of the region. This citadel is made up of urban sectors, palaces, temples, observation points, terraces, and storage buildings known as qolqas, among others.

Chinchero – The colorful textile town

At 45 minutes from Cusco is the town of Chinchero. It is known for its colorful Alpaca and baby Alpaca textiles. The excellent quality of its weavings highlights the good breeding of Alpacas and baby Alpacas.

Likewise, in the town you can find the Chinchero archaeological center, where you can observe terraces, Inca canals, as well as the remains of three shrines called Titiqaqa, Pumaqaqa, and Chincana, which are huge limestone rock outcrops carefully carved by the ancient Peruvians.

Activities in the Sacred Valley

Throughout this area we can find various fun activities, mainly to enjoy an unforgettable day. Among the best and most popular are:

Rafting in the Urubamba River

An adventure activity that includes the extreme sport of rafting in one of Cusco’s most emblematic rivers, the Urubamba River. This activity is very popular among travelers who have a free day to enjoy to the fullest.

Day hikes

In places like Ollantaytambo, you can find the Perolniyoc waterfalls, which can be visited in a single day of walking. Likewise, you can visit the Sirenacocha waterfalls in Lamay. Other places of interest are Intipunku or Sun Gate, Ñaupa Iglesia, among others.

Restaurants and pubs

The Sacred Valley is also famous for the variety of food and drink you can find. For example, there are restaurants that go from Peruvian food to Japanese food. In addition, you can find good craft breweries with great reputation.

Horseback riding

For a day out of the ordinary, it is possible to go horseback riding. Horses have an average cost of 30–40 soles per hour or per minutes.

Hotels in the Sacred Valley

Without a doubt, spending the night in the Sacred Valley is a great option! Whether you have hikes the next day such as the Inca Trail, or day tours that start from there, you will find great options in the Sacred Valley.

Andenes del Inca – Our Hotel in Ollantaytambo

Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, our hotel offers cozy rooms with stunning views of the Ollantaytambo ruins, just steps from the train station to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a warm atmosphere, traditional Peruvian cuisine, and personalized service to make your stay unforgettable.

See room

Other hotels in the Sacred Valley:

What to bing for the Sacred Valley Tour?

• Warm jacket and rain jacket
• Hat
• Water
• Sun protection
• Insect repellent
• Some money for souvenirs
• Money in soles to purchase boleto turístico y entrance to salt mine
• Original passport

If you are a student, take your student ID card (only works for the 10 day boleto turístico)

Travel advise

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is common among travelers; however, the Sacred Valley is located at a lower altitude than Cusco, so it should not cause major problems. One tip to help avoid altitude sickness is the use of coca leaves. Because of their properties, coca has long been used to fight altitude sickness, helping to relieve general discomfort and other symptoms. Thanks to its popularity in alleviating these issues, the consumption of coca has become very common.

Money

In some areas of the Sacred Valley, phone signal is not reliable, so you cannot fully rely on using credit cards. We recommend carrying some cash in Soles for small purchases such as water, etc.

Luggage Restrictions for the Train to Machu Picchu

It is possible to bring luggage to Machu Picchu from the Ollantaytambo station, as long as it is carry-on size with a maximum weight of 8 kilos.

If you bring larger suitcases, you will need to pay an additional fee on the train.

So, there are many options on what to do, see or even stay in the Sacred Valley! Take the chance and enjoy the best day of your life full of history and great memories!