Machu Picchu may be one of Peru’s most incredible destinations, but you should definitely plan some time to explore the Sacred Valley while you’re in the neighborhood.
The Sacred Valley (Valle Sagrado) is a lush green valley which includes the Andean mountains and the valley surrounding the Urubamba River, about 15km north of Cusco, and which used to be the epicenter of the Inca Empire.
The Altitude is high in Cusco but lower in the Valley. If you’re concerned about altitude sickness, it may be better to stay overnight in the Valley first and once you’ve adjusted, head back to the higher city of Cusco.
You can discover the Sacred Valley on a full-day excursion from Cusco if you don’t have the time to stay in each place.
You’ll find many agencies offering the tour, I do recommend the one from Luxe Cusco Hostel which was really well organized and costs 50 or 90 soles, depending on the lunch you choose (the one at 50 soles is great).
During this day, you’ll make a quick stop in a textile shop where you will learn how the Andean people make impressive textiles using very old and traditional techniques in the Andes.
You’ll then travel to the scenic town of Pisac where you’ll visit the local market. The town was once where exchange transactions took place, when customers would exchange one good for another instead of using currency. You can purchase crafted products hand-made by the locals, as well as some that are clearly not hand-made but still nice. The town is especially known for its jewelry and silver.
The busiest days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but the stands are all open every day of the week. On Sunday, the main attraction is a mass celebrated in Quechua and conducted in Spanish.
Then, you’ll head over to the ruins of Pisac. You’ll see military, agricultural and religious buildings, all of which are spread over one large complex! Make sure to walk around the ‘Royal Sector’ of the site.
Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a buffet lunch at Urubamba town. The one we had at was great: the venue was really nice with sort of bungalows so you could eat outside in the garden. The buffet had Peruvian and international flavors, with cold starters and salads, hot dishes and various deserts. I think I tried everything because it all looked so good, and it was. You’ll only have to pay extra for drinks (little tip, they don’t mind if you bring your own water).
It’s now time to visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo and its main attraction, the Temple of the Sun. Built using massive stones, this temple was used as a fortress during the time of the Incan civil war.
The ruins are absolutely brilliant and provide some of the best stone work outside of Machu Picchu. Used as a royal residence by Emperor Pachacuti, the temple and fortress are of extremely high quality and should be on your visit list.
The Sacred Valley tour is a circuit of around 200km so buying a tour is much easier than trying to arrange it yourself using public transport and still works out very economical, unless you have a few days to stay in every town (which would be great).
These sites are part of the boleto turistico (see boleto turistico article).
Little tip: dress in layers! In the morning and evening, the valley gets as cold as in Cusco but during day time, it can get really hot. Also, bring a rain poncho as the weather is unpredictable.
Just meets World 