The Sacred Valley
Let's begin with my second home! I fell in love with the Sacred Valley the first time I visited Peru in May of 2010.
It was my childhood dream to see Machu Picchu. Quite frankly, it was the first time I had ever travelled anywhere on a plane!
Upon entering to the Valley, after having exiting Cusco's boundary's, I stood breathless and in complete awe, as I witness what I call my life long dream. I could only have imagined the incredibly beautiful landscapes, along with the majestic mountain ranges, but here they resided, in all of their glory.
Simply put, breathtaking. My eyes filled with wonder. The snow covered Apus, the little villages, the fields...
I felt like I was returning home after being away for so long.
When I stepped in Machu Picchu, my friend instantly smirked and teased as he watched the tears rolling down my checks.
It was just ''wow''! Even today, I can't explain all the strong emotions I felt.
After years of living in the valley, I still find myself gazing the countryside in complete wonder every day. While I do miss the sea and the closeness of the water, I have no regrets waking up each morning in such a stunning setting,
*** Note that for each site description below, I put a dollar sign or free entry.
You can buy a Boleto Turistico (there are more than one option) that include more than 1 site to visit for a day or more.
I also added a family icon when I beleive that you can do those activities when you have children.
Moreover, you can click on the pictures to see on Google Map the location of the sites or underline words in the text.
Ollantaytambo
If you truly want to enjoy this charming village, I suggest you spend at least 2 days there. This is by far my favorite village in all the Valley. You can easily spend at least half a day enjoying walking in the beautiful little streets with their water canals.
The main attraction is of course the big fortress at the end of the village
(part of the boleto turistico). Unfortunately, a part has been closed. Depending of course on your physical health and if you decide to go all the way up the mountain for the view (add at least 45 minutes), you should have enough of 2 hours and a half to visit. Note that if you visit during the rainy season, they might close or restrict certain parts.
Pinkuylluna is an archaeological site often overlooked by visitors. In my opinion, however, it is worth the detour because it offers a sublime view of the fortress and the town of Ollantaytambo. This site is like a ''Inca warehouses'' that is beautifully preserved. On the face seen in profile in the cliffs of the mountain, you can see the creator God, Wiracocha who protects the village. I have climbed up to his crown but you can go higher in the mountain if you want. Note that the entrance is free, but sometimes there's
You can also see in Ollantaytambo a ''secret site'', the Quellorakay Ruins, hidden south from town.
The ruins offer a great view, interesting architecture, and more private spaces to explore.
Personally, I highly recommend visiting Quellorakay Ruins because it is a quieter place, provides a wonderful view of the river and mountains, and shows you a great part of Inca history.
a person at the gate that will invite you to sign the ''logbook'' and to make a donation.
Ñaupa Iglesia,
Perolniyoc Waterfall & Hidden Inca Site
Between Ollantaytambo and Urubamba, you can spend 1 day (if you are in a better shape than I am) to enjoy those 2 sites really close from each other. First, Ñaupa Iglesia, an ancient sacred ruin, which may actually predate the Inca dynasty. Some say it's a dimensional gate, a portal to another world, like Aramu Muru, near lake Titicaca. It's not a really popular site but usually, it's mostly small groups that are doing a spiritual retreat that will go there. From the road, you will walk 5 minutes along the train track before assending in the mountain. It may take you around 20 minutes to go up if you take it easy.
This hidden gem hike in the Sacred Valley is a must if you have time and you love to hike in the mountains. Be prepared for a long, but picturesque day. The Inca ruins actually sit on top of the cliffs that house the Perolniyoc waterfall. The trek up to the ruins will leave you breathless, as they sit around 3657 meters with an ascent of over 1020 meters. Up there, you have an amazing view!
On your way up to the ruins of Raqaypata, you can make a pit stop at the beautiful waterfall which is about mid way. I really enjoyed the walk through the trees along the little river. If you make it all the way up to the ruins, after visiting the ruins, experienced hikers can continue this hike to the Sun Gate of Ollantaytambo. Personnally, I'm not in good shape enough to do it and I'm not really a fan of sleeping in a tent, but you can camp at the Sun Gate and see the sunrinse, and then go down to Ollantaytambo after. If you are a nature lover but don't want to go all the way up to the ruins, you can only walk to the waterfall, which might take you around an hour to go (like I did)... it's really worth the detour! Depending on the age of your children... I'm not sure I would recommand to go to the ruins with them.
Urubamba
Urubamba was one of the most important agricultural centers during the Inca Empire, supplying food to the population of Cusco. It's not a big touristic place, but the luxurious resort hotels entice many travelers. Staying overnight in Urubamba is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty of the Sacred Valley at a slower pace. Many travelers only pass through Urubamba to stop in town for lunch but it's a mistake. If you have extra time, walk to the town plaza, it's really charming, there's a beautiful church and little shops. Also, the producer's market on Wednesdays is really nice to see. Producers from all over the valley are coming to sell their fruits, vegetables, furniture, clothes, animals... It's big!
We don't have big archeological sites to visit like in Ollantaytambo or Cusco, but we have nice little things to visit like the Chullpas, which are funerary towers located on the heights of the village. This small archaeological site is nothing remarkable, but you will enjoy a very beautiful view of the valley. It's a short walk of about 45 minutes to go up if you take your time so if you are travelling with kids or you are not in a great shape, it's a nice little excursion you can do.
The architectural complex commonly known as The Palace of the Inca Huayna Cápac, the eleventh Inca of the Empire, is an easy site to access from Mariscal street, and you can admire a different type of constructions made up of towers, large walls and areas of worship. Visiting the Huayna Cápac Palace is like going back in time and feeling like you are part of the history of the Incas. Easy to walk to with your children, this small site won't take you more than 30 minutes to enjoy.
You can also check on the main road, on the other side of the terminal terrestre, there's a big park where many events and festivals are held throught the year. You might be there during one of them!
Maras
Now, before continuing on the main road to Pisac, lets go up the city of Urubamba towards Cusco. Around 15 minutes away from Urubamba, you will see on your right, the village of Maras. The village itself doesn't have much to see exept a beautiful landsacape and its main attraction : the salineras - a salt mine. Over 3 000 ponds all connected through an impressive underground network of canals that fill these pools with salt water. Over time, the intense sun will slowly evaporate the water leaving behind the salt that is later extracted through ancestral techniques by local family members.
In the first picture, you can see me in the middle of it. I even stuck out my tongue to taste the salt. Unfortunately for you, this picture was taken in 2010, the first time I went. Over the years, with the influx of tourists and ''designations'' by UNESCO or others, many sites have been restricted, like Moray (next site below). After or before taking your pictures, you can stop at the little ''museum shop'' (for lack of a better word) where they will explain to you, for free, the process of the different kinds of salt and you can buy a variety of really good mixtes of salts and herbs.
In the erea
If you want to do other things than just visiting archeological sites, and you have time to enjoy something else, in the erea of
Maras - Chinchero - Huaypo, you can do other activities like Kayak, ATV and horseback riding and enjoy the view!
Moray
The Maras salt mine and the concentric terraces of Moray are examples of Incan ingenuity. The sites are near neighbors in a remote region that’s not served by public transportation. For this reason, Maras and Moray ruins are often bundled together on a Sacred Valley tour. It is believed that the Moray terraces once served as an elaborate agricultural laboratory for the Inca; each terrace having a unique microclimate. Is it true? As we say in Canada : ''Only God knows and the devil has doubts.'' Personally, wherever I go, I don't like to have a guide. Yes, they learn stuff in school... but is it really true what they have learned? I prefer to visit the sites alone and let myself be impressed by them.
Things that are sure though that I can tell you is that Moray : is part of the Boleto Turistico ; it has an Inca irrigation system - a series of channels fed by water from a reservoir located higher in the mountains; it has a temperature difference from top to bottom ranged at 12 degrees Celsius; the sun hit each terrace at different angles and intensities... kind of impressive facts no? And, as mentionned in the Maras section, you can't go at the bottom anymore like I did in 2010 (picture on the right), but there are a long (picture up in 2018) and short circuit around it that you can walk. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and a half to do so.
Chinchero
Chinchero is between Urubamba and Cusco at an altitude of 3780 meters - higher than Cusco. When you drive through it, it doesn't look like much and except the main site where the tourists go, there's really nothing to see. There are some little shops because tourism drives a large part of the local economy, and many textile centers where you will learn about the traditional process of manufacturing, sewing, and dyeing used by local master women weavers in all kinds of garments. When you arrive at the site, you will see where they held the big Sunday market and a beautiful street in stairs to go all the way up to the church and the archeological site.
After ascending the stairs, next to the church (which was built on Inca walls), you will see an impressive network of Inca platforms. Take your time to go all the way down, you will see many impressive stone enclosures. First time I went, I didn't know and only stayed on the part above next to the church.
This site is included in the Boleto Turistico and 1 hour and a half for the visit should be enough... depending how fast you go. I have to tell you that the first mistake people do, and the one I made too in 2010, is to want to visit as many
places as possible in the 10 days of the trip. If you are reading this and it's your first trip, let me tell you : allow yourself time and don't plan ahead everything! You don't know how the altitude might affect you, how long it will take you to get where you are going... you never know what could happen. Even if you don't visit them all, I suggest you go with the flow and you take time to enjoy the landscape, the shape of the stones, the energy...
The 3 first times I went, I didn't notice at the bottom (next to the snack stands) on the left the small wood sign... For all of you who like walking in the mountains, I suggest you do this one, the view is amazing. But, it's a long walk! I suggest you bring not only water but snacks too. For this hike to the beautiful waterfall, you have 2 options : the easy one or the hardest one... I took the easy one and it took me 5 hours... I was tired and my legs hurting. But, it was
worth the pain even if the picture doesn't give justice to the beauty of the waterfall. Option #1 : starting at this sign, you go down to see the waterfall (I think the entrance is 5 soles) and then you have to climb back up. Which is around 6 kms and you go up half of the way. Option #2 : After seeing the waterfall, you keep going down. Which means you will have circled the big mountain and end up Urquillos, a little village close to Urubamba. This option is a bit longer, but easier because you keep going down the mountain. When you get
to Urquillos, you can take a moto taxi to go to the main road (la pista principale) and from there the collectivo back to Urubamba. When I did it, I took my time and I stayed maybe just 10 minutes at the waterfall. It's really tall and if you decide to continu down, you will follow the river for a while. Personally, I wouldn't recommand you go with kids.
The Sirenachayoc & Arin Waterfalls
Here are 2 nice waterfalls you can walk to on a family day picnic. They have a pleasant viewpoint that allows you to appreciate their fall from the mountain and they are very easy to access compare to Poc Poc. They are both situated between the amazing scenic view on the road from Urubamba to Pisac. You can first stop in the village of Arin. There's not much to see in this village, but it's the home of many hotels and retreat centers. The hike up will take you at least an hour where you have a beautiful view of the valley. When I was there, there were actually a wedding party taking pictures.
Like in the middle of an enchanted forest, the Sirenachayoq waterfall is a new tourist attraction in the Lamay district. The entrance to the waterfall is a 5
minutes drive past the town of Lamay. At the entrance, you'll have to pay only 2 soles per person. The path advances under the shade of large and small trees such as eucalyptus, then it crosses the river using small wooden bridges. The path is laid out for walking in the first 10 minutes and then begins to slope upward, which takes an average of 20 minutes to reach the Sirenachayoc waterfall. This walk is easier and shorter than the Arin Waterfall. Fun Fact! Due to the name of this waterfall, which means "Where there are mermaids", according to local residents, it may not be advisable to go alone, for the sake of the visitor and even more so in the summer months.
You can buy a boleto turistico - circuito 3, which include Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray (valid for 2 days).
Between Urubamba and Pisac, you can visit 2 museums on the way : Museo de Cultura Viva in Yucay and Inkariy, between Arin and Calca. As mentionned, I'm not a big fan about museums, so I didn't visit them and can't give you an opinion about them.
Also, if you like thrilling experiences and ''adrenaline rush'' we also have in the region
white water rafting tours in the Urubamba river,
ziplining, rock climbing and also bungee jumping. If that is something you would like to experience
in our beautiful region, we can make it happen for you!
Urco
Urco was an important archaeological site that was continuously occupied in the Inca culture. It stands out for its impressive stepped pyramid, beautiful terrace that, it's tower and a huaca (object that represents something revered that the Incas believed had supernatural properties) known as Wiracocha Urqo. This is a huaca made of carved stone with a channel that carries water and reaches a figure that looks like the head of a puma or a snake.
Complejo Arqueologico de Unu Urco is about 20 minutes from Urubamba and it's free to visit. It's a relatively small site so you won't need more than 30 minutes to visit. The ruins of Urco serve as the background for the Water Festival (Unu Urco) which is celebrated on October 1st each year.
Ancasmarka
Centro Arqueológico de Ancasmarka is about 30 minutes North of Calca at 5198 metre high in the mountain where you have a beautiful panoramic view of Calca. There are hundreds of these circular structures, which are believed to have been used as food storage units. At the entrance, there are some residents selling alpaca clothing as well as various handicrafts and sometimes potatoes from their fields. Up there, you have an incredible viewpoint of the valley. To truly appreciate the energy of this place, pack a picnic and enjoy the view.
Machuqolqa
At approximately 30 minutes from Urubamba and 10 minutes from Chinchero, you can stop at the Racchi Mirador, a beautiful point of you where you can admire the landscape and the village of Yucay down in the Valley. Like in many tourist places, you will see there
lots of vendors. But, if you look up in the mountain, at 3850 meters of altitude, you will see the archaeological site called Machu Qolqa. In Quechua, Machu means ''Old'' and Qolqa means ''deposit or warehouse.'' This ‘’old deposit’’ is a nice place to visit too and it will
only take you 15 to 20 minutes to walk there from the mirador. Up there, you can once again admire the architecture and an
amazing view of the snow-capped mountains of Pumahuanca, Chicon and Wakaywillke.
Pisac
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We are now completing our tour of the Sacred Valley with Pisac. A bit like Ollantaytambo, Pisac has cute cobblestone streets where you can be the witness of the traditional rural life and Incan architecture. If you are planning on stocking up on souvenirs, then this is the place where you’ll have most choice. Nice thing to know too maybe for some of you, unlike any other town in the Valley, Pisac has more than 1 vegan and vegetarian restaurants to choose from. As a vegetarian, I can tell you it's hard to eat well in Peru.
Interesting fact about Pisac, it has bit of a reputation as being a hobo - hippy town. Why? Because Pisac is the host of a lot of expacts who like to do plants medicine (they often have the peace and love look from the 60’s) and tourists who want to experiment Ayahuasca or do retreats. You have to know that the Valley attracts lots of people who like to take hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms… and not just for a spiritual purpose…
The big attraction of Pisac is of course the ruins and terraces in the mountain (part of your boleto turistico). The stonework is phenomenal and it got sumptuous vertiginous views of the Sacred Valley. The great thing about Pisac archeological complex is that it is spread out over a wide area so I recommend planning on spending at least 4 hours there to take the time to enjoy it. The entire archaeological site is surrounded by numerous agricultural terraces that blend harmoniously with the landscape.
Important: Take your time to look around! Most people who visit these ruins will limit themselves at the first visible part you see from the entrance, probably for lack of time or because they are with a guide. But when you are in this part, you have to take a small back trail that will lead you all the way to the top of the mountain where you will have an amazing view (picture above). On your way down, you will go through a small cavern in the mountain and the trail will lead you to another part of the site with beautiful ruins (picture on the right). At the end of your visit, you will come back to the main entrance by the terraces.
As a final note, the Sacred Valley is an amazing place visit and depending on how much time you can spend with us, you will have to make choices. Be sure that according to your priorities and needs, we will help you to make the best personalized itinerary at the best price.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any question and you can see more pictures of the Valley in our gallery