In the Sacred Valley of the Incas are scattered beautiful colonial towns that were created, and today show their mestizaje in architecture, art and living culture. There are the towns of Chinchero and its weavers, Pisac and its craft fair, Urubamba and its cosmopolitanism, Ollantaytambo, with its fortress and its living Inca people. And Maras Moray with its dazzling salt mines, in these territories of the Sacred Valley, various communities have created rural tourism products and experiential tourism that amaze locals and strangers. Each one of them is a world in itself, and together, they make up an unprecedented way of getting to know the most traditional region of the South American Andes.
Ollantaytambo is known mainly for its fortress, as it was one of the important sites in the Inca resistance against the Spanish.
But beyond the historical interest of the archaeological site or the magnificent view it offers of the city, Ollantaytambo is a charming Inca village, whose visit deserves at least a full day, if you have a little time available in your itinerary.
By the way, if you plan to visit Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo is on the way from Cusco, and you could even spend the night before continuing on to Aguas Calientes!
If you are a lover of good beer, you should definitely pay a visit to the Sacred Valley Brewery.
Located less than 10 minutes by bus from Ollantaytambo, at the entrance of the village of Pachar, the Cervecería del Valle is one of the best craft breweries in the country and its products have won numerous international awards.
But the place not only offers good beers, but also, on the last Saturday of every month, they hold a party to benefit a local NGO.
By attending, you will be cooperating with this cause, while enjoying the local atmosphere and a delicious beer under the starry sky of the valley.
Besides being home to the brewery, the small village of Pachar is the gateway to the Ñaupa Iglesia, an Inca sanctuary with free entrance and practically no tourists.
It is very easy to get there, the walk is relatively short (45 to 60 min) and during the journey you can enjoy the view of the fields and small houses. The place was built in terraces, so take your time to climb, remember that with the altitude it is easy to get tired quickly!
It is also possible to take a cab from Ollantaytambo, so that it drops you off as close as possible and you only have to walk a short distance along the path along the tracks, although I personally find the hike from the entrance of Pachar much more beautiful and motivating.
Pisac is an Inca town built in the 15th century and one of the Sacred Valley's must-see sites.
You will be amazed by the imposing mosaic of almost 3000 wells, which have been used since the time of the Incas, by local families, to extract salt by evaporation.
It is fascinating to see the dance of the reflections with every movement of the sun. No doubt you will be able to take sublime pictures. It is definitely my favorite place in the whole region for being an absolutely unique place. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to see in the Sacred Valley!
After the salt pans, the terraces of Moray may not offer the same visual impact, but their great charm lies more in the functioning and efficiency of the structure than in the landscape they create.
It is nothing less than an advanced agricultural research center from Inca times, composed of magnificent circular terraces, whose function was to create 20 different microclimates (there is a 3°C difference between each level!).
This is how the Incas managed to cultivate around 150 different types of corn and potatoes.
The sites of Maras and Moray are easy to combine in a visit to the Sacred Valley, because they are located only 7 km from each other; but, unlike Maras, a tourist ticket is necessary to visit Moray.
Former resting place of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, the village of Chinchero is recognized, today, mainly for the quality of its textiles.
This is the ideal place to attend a demonstration of the manufacture of textiles, weaving, dyeing and other traditional Inca techniques. Take advantage of it, it's free!
Ah! And don't forget to take a look at the market, there you will find the colorful wool clothing and carpets, typical, totally handmade, at extremely attractive prices.
But don't think that textiles are all that Chinchero has to offer.
It is also a very nice place to take a stroll among small cobblestone streets, contemplating the main square and the church of Our Lady of Montserrat, which were built in the seventeenth century on the ruins of an ancient Inca palace.
Urubamba was one of the most important agricultural centers during the time of the Inca Empire and, today, although it does not have so many sites of historical interest, it is literally a must-see in the Sacred Valley.
And not only because it is a place of forced transit between the different sites, which has undoubtedly stimulated its growth, but also because you can find very good restaurants, comfortable hotels and yoga and wellness centers, both within the city and in its surroundings.
If you have a little time, I recommend that you go to Yucay from Urubamba, as it is only a 30-minute walk away. This small rural town is the place where Huayna Capac settled, enchanted by the good climate.
Agricultural terraces and centuries-old aqueducts, still in operation, surround the charming mix of colonial and Inca buildings.
There are 1, 2 and 3 day rafting programs on the Urubamba River.
Special attention should be paid to the water level, as it changes greatly depending on the season, which of course directly influences the level of difficulty. For beginners it is best to try it during the dry season, as the wet season reaches level 2 and even 4.
It is possible to book the rafting tour directly here. It includes pick up from the hotel, a 2.30 rafting trip on the rapids, accompanied by an expert guide, and a well-deserved lunch, after taking a nice hot shower or visiting the sauna, at the Cusipata river camp.
If you like to soar, there are several activities you can do in the Sacred Valley, such as bungee jumping, slingshot, climbing in the via ferrata or tandem paragliding with a professional. Flights range from 10 to 20 minutes, and the distance is between 500 and 900 m.
There are also zip lines, for example, in Pachar, with cables 1 to 2 km long. The advantage of this activity is that it is more accessible to everyone... unless you suffer from vertigo, of course.
Little Cusco, in Quechua, Huchuy Qosqo, is an Inca archaeological site composed of several buildings of peculiar architecture and a complex irrigation system. It is nothing less than the most important archaeological site in the Urubamba Valley, after Ollantaytambo and Pisac!
With the great advantage that it is much less frequented than the previous ones, as you have to walk to get there.
There are several ways to get to Huchuy Qosqo:
From the town of Lamay: An (intense) climb of 2:30 hrs.
From the town of Calca: Take a cab that will leave you 10 min walk from the ruins.
From the community of Tauca (near Chinchero): a slightly longer trail (3 hrs. walking) but much less traveled and with magnificent scenery. Its highest point is the Piuray Lagoon at 4500 masl.
Personally I am a big fan of ATVs, and I can hardly imagine a more mystical place to enjoy an enchanting ride.
Imagine crossing the ancestral route of the Incas, riding between the high mountains and the chestnut quinoa fields, to contemplate the sun reflections on the salt mines of Maras and the great ingenuity behind the terraces of Moray...
Between Pisac and Urubamba, less than 10 min drive from Calca, is the Inkary Museum, one of the best museums in the region, and one of the must-sees of the Sacred Valley.
It is a very well designed museum that houses 10,000 historical pieces, with several pavilions dedicated to the Caral, Chavin, Paracas, Mochica, Nazca, Wari, Chimu-Lambayeque and Inca cultures. The exhibits are very complete and show the art, customs, beliefs and traditional costumes.
Calca is a town built by the Inca Wiracocha as a resting place in "Villa de Zamora", which was founded by the conqueror Pedro de Zamora. It has two plazas, a beautiful church, the Church of San Pedro Apostle, and some cobblestone streets.
It is best known as the starting point for excursions to Huchuy Qosqo (located only 8 km away), but it also has other attractions, such as:
-The thermal baths of Minas Moqo (500 m from Calca): these are hot springs on the banks of the Vilcanota River that are said to have healing properties. They are located a few minutes walk from the main square.
-Machacancha hot springs (7 km from Calca): these are hot springs located at an altitude of 3050 masl, to which many therapeutic properties are attributed. The water is at a temperature of around 40°C, and is clear and odorless.
It is undeniable that the Sacred Valley has a very particular energy.
Is it because of its enveloping golden light, or because of its high mountains?
I don't know, but it is a recurring comment among those who visit the region, and so it is not surprising that many spiritual retreat centers have opened their doors in the region, offering yoga, meditation, etc. And what better place to reconnect with oneself and with nature?
There are also several luxury hotels with spas that offer a privileged place to relax, definitely an unforgettable experience of an unforgettable trip to Peru!
From Chuqi K'iraw, cradle of gold in Quechua, Choquequirao is an Inca city located more than 3 thousand meters above sea level. The site has a structure very similar to that of Machu Picchu, but smaller.
Its great advantage is that it is much less frequented than Machu Picchu, because it is only accessible on foot, after a hike of at least 4 days. It is a real adventure!
The Sacred Valley is a huge playground for all outdoor enthusiasts, and trekking is one of the best activities to do in the Sacred Valley.
Besides the treks to Huchuy Qosqo and Choquequirao, the best known treks are certainly the ones to Machu Picchu:
Inca Trail Trek (4 days) - must be booked several months in advance!
Inca Trail Trek short version (2 days)
Salkantay Trek (5 days)
Inca Jungle Trek (4 days) - perfect if you like adrenaline!
Lares Trek (4 days)
You can also opt for day trips:
From Chichero to Urquillos (4 to 5 hours).
From Moray to Maras (half day)
Waterfalls and Ruins of Perolniyoq (1:30 hrs from Socma, which is 45 min by cab from Ollantaytambo)
The Sun Gate or Inti Punku (4 hours from Ollantaytambo)
This is, of course, the favorite activity to do in the Sacred Valley with children.
The Chocomuseo has a small exhibition and an introductory tour to the world of cocoa, in addition to offering chocolate workshops lasting approximately 2 hours.
Without a doubt, it is an excellent activity to do with the little ones, who will have fun making their own chocolate bar with different cocoa beans, besides being able to enjoy the delicious tastings.
But as I myself am living proof that adults will also be delighted with this activity.
And for those who want to take a little more of this experience home, there is also a store with plenty of chocolate products, many of which are prepared with local ingredients, definitely a great souvenir.
The Chocomuseo in Pisac (Calle Mariscal Castilla 381) and in Ollantaytambo (Plaza Ruinas).
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