What is the Sacred Valley of the Incas?

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, as its name implies, is a beautiful valley that was of great importance during the Inca period mainly due to its fertile lands and its proximity to Cusco, the capital of the Tahuantinsuyo empire. In this valley the Incas built important temples and cities such as Pisac, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo. They also adapted important agricultural centers such as the famous circular platforms of Moray. At the end of the valley, even the Inca Pachacutec ordered the construction of one of the most important sacred cities in the entire empire: Machu Picchu. Currently there are Andean towns with a lot of tradition and history.

What towns make up the Sacred Valley?

If you are lucky enough to travel to Cusco and Machu Picchu, you will inevitably meet some of the towns that make up this valley: Pisac, Chinchero, Maras, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. There are other towns but those mentioned are the most touristy. These towns are a few kilometers from Cusco and are a must for visitors who want to reach Machupicchu.

Well, the valley is made up of these towns, which are located in different geographical areas, so they have a particular climate. The Incas valued the diversity of these fertile lands, which is why they built their main temples, cities and agricultural centers there. As a sample of it there are the current archaeological sites of Pisac, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo as well as the circular platforms of Moray. Although it is a bit far from these towns, Machu Picchu could also be considered to be part of the valley.

Map of the Sacred Valley of the Incas

What is it famous for?

The valley is famous mainly for the constructions that the Incas built there: the archaeological site of Pisac, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo. Likewise, this fertile valley is popular for the beautiful landscapes that can be seen there: from high mountains adorned with lagoons to immense agricultural areas next to the Vilcanota River, considered sacred by the Incas. Finally, today the valley is also famous for the adventure sports that tourists can practice there. This thanks to the diverse geography that exists in the valley. Machu Picchu, located at one end of the valley, is undoubtedly the most popular attraction in the entire valley.

Pisac

Pisac is the town of the Sacred Valley located closest to the city of Cusco (only 30 kilometers away). This cozy town is famous for its traditional market that on Sundays offers different crafts at very good prices for tourists. However, its main attraction is the Inca archaeological site located at the top of the town. This ancient citadel is shaped like a partridge (Pisaq is a Quechua word that means partridge).

• How to get? With public transport from the terminal on ‘Puputi’ street (the ticket costs 3 USD per person, approximately).
• What places to see? The artisan market (on Sundays) and the archaeological site of Pisac (every day).
• How much? The Cusco Tourist Ticket includes Pisac and other places (cost of approximately 22 USD per person).
• How high is it? It is located 2,974 meters above sea level (9,757 ft).
• How’s the weather? It has a mild climate pleasant to the visitor. The temperature varies from 2ºC. (35.6ºF.) Minimum; up to 21ºC. (69.8ºF.) Maximum.

Chinchero

Chinchero is a traditional town located at the top of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, at 3,762 meters above sea level (12,342 ft). Its climate is colder than the pleasant heat of the other villages in the valley. This place is famous for the characteristic red and black clothing of its inhabitants. Likewise, there are several textile centers where tourists can see how alpaca garments are made in a traditional way. On the other hand, in Chinchero you will find the ruins of the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui. On Sundays there is a traditional market where you can breathe the living culture of this popular town.

• How to get? With public transport from the terminal on ‘Pavitos’ street (the ticket costs 3 USD per person, approximately).
• What places to see? The archaeological site of Chinchero and the textile centers. On Sundays there is a very colorful market.
• How much? The Cusco Tourist Ticket includes the archaeological site of Chinchero and other places (cost of approximately 22 USD per person).
• How high is it? It is at 3,754 meters above sea level (12,316 ft).
• How’s the weather? The coldest town in the valley. Its temperature varies from 0ºC. minimum (32ºF). up to 18ºC. (64.4ºF). at most.

Maras

The town of Maras is one of the most traditional towns in the valley. This small community was an important point during the colony. Today, it preserves many of the traditions of rural towns far from the city. There you can still see the colonial church of San Francisco. However, its main tourist attractions are, without a doubt, the Maras salt mines (a set of natural salt pools formed hundreds of years ago) and the circular Inca terraces of Moray (a set of amphitheater-shaped platforms). Unlike the rest of the villages in the valley, Maras has a cold climate as it is surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains.

• How to get? The safest way to go is with a tour package that includes transportation. If you are going on your own you must make a stop in Chinchero and, from there, take a taxi to Maras.
• What places to see? The salt mines of Maras, the circular platforms of Moray and the colonial church of San Francisco.
• How much? The Maras and Moray tour lasts half a day and has an approximate cost of 40 USD per person.
• How high is it? It is 3,300 meters above sea level (10,826 ft).
• How’s the weather? It has one of the coldest climates in the valley (only Chinchero has a colder climate). The maximum temperature during the day can reach 21ºC. (69.8ºF).

Urubamba

Urubamba is the largest and most developed town in the Sacred Valley. It is the capital of the province of the same name where most of the other towns are located. The town was an important agricultural center for the Incas. Today, it is famous for its cornfields that produce the so-called ‘largest corn in Peru’. Although there is no important archaeological site in Urubamba, most tourists come there to stay in luxurious hotels, enjoy a delicious lunch in its various restaurants, and practice adventure sports.

• How to get? With public transport from the terminal on ‘Pavitos’ street (the ticket costs 4 USD per person, approximately).
• What places to see? The streets of the town. If you hire a tourist package, you can practice adventure sports in this town (canoeing, mountain climbing and paragliding).
• How much? Visiting the town is free. Restaurants and hotels have different costs.
• How high is it? It is located at 2,871 meters above sea level (9,419 ft).
• How’s the weather? The climate is warm temperate that can be pleasant to tourists. The maximum temperature can reach 23ºC. (73.4ºF). while the minimum can reach 6ºC. (42.8ºF).

Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is one of the most famous towns in the valley. Its great tourist attraction is its archaeological site famous for housing masterfully polished walls like in Machu Picchu. The vast majority of visitors who want to go to Machu Picchu make a stop in Ollantaytambo to board the train. The streets of this town combine Inca walls with colonial and modern buildings. There are various tourist services such as restaurants, cafes and lodgings. In this town there are also museums, Inca ruins in its mountains (such as the archaeological site of Pinkuylluna) and, above all, a lot of history.

• How to get? With public transport from the terminal on ‘Pavitos’ street (the ticket costs 4 USD per person, approximately).
• What places to see? The archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, the archaeological site of Pinkuylluna and the beautiful streets of the town.
• How much? The Cusco Tourist Ticket includes the archaeological site of Chinchero and other places (cost of approximately 22 USD per person).
• How high is it? It is located at 2,792 meters above sea level (9,160 ft)
• How’s the weather? It has a hot climate in the day, with strong winds and cold at night. The maximum temperature reaches 23ºC. (73.4ºF). The minimum can drop to 4ºC. (39.2ºF).

Can I do adventure sports?

• Cycling – One of the adventure sports most practiced by tourists in the valley is the descent by bicycle through the Malaga pass, one of the highest points located at 4,350 meters above sea level (14,271 ft) to the town of Ollantaytambo , at 2,850 meters (9,350 ft). The tour has an approximate cost of 120 dollars.
• Hikes – The geographical diversity of the valley is very suitable for mountain routes such as the Inca Trail (starts from a point near Ollantaytambo) or the Lares Trek (route that begins in the town of Lares). One of the tours most requested by young people is the Inca Jungle (4-day adventure tour to Machu Picchu), which combines hiking with other sports such as cycling or rafting. The Inca Jungle has an approximate cost of 200 dollars.
• Rafting – The Vilcanota River runs through several towns in the valley such as Pisac, Urubamba and Machu Picchu. This river is used by tourists to practice canoeing at different levels, depending on the time of year. During the rainy season (January, February and March) it can be practiced at the most experienced levels. During the dry season (May, June and July) it can be practiced for the most beginner levels. The approximate price is $ 75 per person.
• Zipline – Canopy is another of the adventure sports preferred by tourists. Due to the high mountains and plains in the valley, the high speed descents are filled with beautiful views. There are several ropes of different lengths to carry out this adventure near the town of Maras and in other towns of Cusco. The cost for this service is approximately US $ 60.
• Paragliding – One of the most extreme sports that the valley offers is paragliding over the beautiful landscapes. This activity is practiced in the high mountains of Chinchero. The launch depends on the good weather so it is important to be patient. There are specialized instructors in this activity. The tour packages have an approximate cost of 150 US dollars.
• Mountain climbing – Via ferrata is also one of the most popular sports in the valley. It takes place in the stone mountains of the town of Yanahuara, located between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. There are different levels of promotion. This sport, like the others, can only be done through a tourist package that includes all the safety implements such as ropes, harness, helmets, gloves, etc. The price is approximately $ 60.

How much does it cost to visit the Sacred Valley?

Most tourists visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas through a 1-day (14-hour) tour that includes the towns and archaeological sites of Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. The approximate cost of this service is approximately $ 70 per person. The service includes everything you need for the visit: transportation, entrance fees, tour guide and a buffet lunch.

Another of the most popular alternatives in the valley is the half-day tour to the salt mines of Maras and the circular platforms of Moray. This service has an approximate cost of $ 50 per person. Likewise, there are other alternatives for these tourist attractions such as a visit to Maras – Moray by ATV. This service has an approximate cost of $ 65 per person.

Of course it is also possible to visit the villages and tourist attractions of the valley on your own (without a tour package). For this you can rent a private transport or simply use public transport (minivans leave for the valley in Pavitos and Puputi streets in Cusco). To get tickets to the archaeological sites, you must buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which has an approximate cost of 23 dollars per person.

Where to stay?

Urubamba is the town with the largest offer of hotels. There the visitor can choose from simple services to luxurious 5-star hotels. Many tourists choose to stay there instead of the city of Cusco to better deal with the symptoms of altitude sickness. Reservations can be made online. Here are some suggestions:

• Tambo del Inka Hotel (5 stars).
• Hotel Casa Andina (5 stars).
• Sacred Dreams Lodge Hotel (4 stars).
• Agustos Urubamba Hotel (4 stars).
• Hotel Lodge Wayqey (4 stars).

Where to eat?

In most towns in the valley such as Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo there are good quality tourist restaurants. Of course it is also possible to eat at very cheap prices in the markets of each place. Anywhere it is a pleasure to taste Peruvian food, considered one of the best in the world. Here are some suggestions:

• Restaurant Kaia (Urubamba).
• Kampu Restaurant (Urubamba).
• Tunupa Restaurant (Urubamba).
• Chuspa Restaurant (Ollantaytambo).
• Sunshine Café (Ollantaytambo).
• Spoon of Palo Restaurant (Pisac).

When to go?

Any day of the year is a good time to discover the treasures that the Sacred Valley of the Incas hides. According to visitors who have already visited the valley, the best time to go is during the dry season: April, May, June, July, August and September. In those months the sun is warmer during the day, there is less chance of rain but it is colder at night. If you come in October, November, December, January, February and March; you will encounter a rainier climate.

Images of the towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas

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