The most theatrical section of the Andes is Peru's Sacred Valley, or the Urubamba Valley. The Machu Picchu to Cusco valley is a blend of history, culture, adventure, and nature, which your travellers would all want to experience. Adventure on treks, cultural enlightenment on visits to Inca villages of bygone centuries, or just unwind in the Sacred Valley, there is something for everyone.
In this Sacred Valley Peru travel guide, we’ll explore the best things to do, including tours, hikes, cultural experiences, and practical tips to make the most of your journey.
Why Visit the Sacred Valley of Peru?
Sacred Valley was the Inca capital, and their prized fertile land, stunning farm terracing, and religious beliefs were all located here. Nowadays, their ruins, vibrant markets, stunning views, and friendly inhabitants are visited by tourists. The valley is located below Cusco's altitude, making it an ideal base for acclimatization before continuing to Machu Picchu.
Top Things to Do in the Sacred Valley
1. Pisac: Ruins and Market
Pisac is famous for its stunning Inca ruins on a beautifully cultivated hill that surrounds farm terraces and temples. Ruins trailing behind you, go to the Pisac market, where local villagers sell handicrafts, weavings, and jewelry, a great place to buy some souvenirs.
2. Ollantaytambo: The Living Inca Town
Ollantaytambo is the best-preserved Inca town in Peru. This enormous stone citadel that exists here is a result of the Inca wars, and the original town structure remains. Ollantaytambo is also the entryway of Machu Picchu, and it is from here that one moves by train here itself.
3. Visit Moray and Maras Salt Mines
Moray tour is an Inca lesson in agricultural art. Ring and amphitheatre-form of terracing was used to try out crops in microclimates. Maras Salt Mines, a wonder of a thousand salt pools on a mountainside, a Sacred Valley special wonder, are optional.
4. Sacred Valley, Peru Hiking
For adventure travel, a backpacking trip down Peru's Sacred Valley is an educational sojourn along the Andes. Loop tour of Pisac and Chinchero for a day or multi-day treks to the Inca Trail are possibilities for backpackers with hill, ruins, and town village scenery in between. Many travellers also book Hiking in Sacred Valley Peru packages to enjoy authentic mountain treks with expert guides.
Day Trips and Tours from Cusco
Day Trips from Cusco
Where time is short, Cusco Sacred Valley day tours are ideal to fit more seeing in a day. All of these day tours include Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Maras Salt Mines, and history, culture, and scenery. Sacred Valley Tours from Cusco. Others who have more time will undertake Sacred Valley multi-day hikes from Cusco, as well as day trips to villages and markets close to them, and longer hikes. These are overnight with nicely-quality lodges or boutique hotels, the local flavour and luxury of a mix.
For the discerning traveller, luxury Sacred Valley tours provide personal guides, gourmet meals, and advanced excursions to archaeological sites in master-planned itineraries. Luxury Sacred Valley tours combine impeccable service with the valley's richness of culture for an experience found nowhere else.
Cultural Highlights of the Sacred Valley
- Chinchero: Chinchero is the "cradle of the rainbow," but recognition awaits its textile legacy and rainbow-hued Sunday market.
- Urubamba: Serene town in the mountains, Urubamba is a serene oasis with Andean cuisine restaurants, spas, and nature resorts.
- Andean Ceremonies: There is experience or participation in the Andean ceremonies, and tourists learn about the Incas' beliefs.
Alternative Experience: Qoricancha Expedition
No visit to the Sacred Valley of Peru is finished without reference to the Qoricancha Expedition. Qoricancha, or "Temple of the Sun", was the Inca sacred temple of Cusco. Treks taken today will most probably be a part of Qoricancha tours and Sacred Valley treks, explaining the Inca point of view, belief, and architectural style. To know the culture makes it only more rewarding to know the history of the valley.
Sacred Valley Travel Tips
- Altitude: While lower than Cusco, the Sacred Valley is still around 2,800 meters (9,200 feet). Acclimatize gradually and drink gradually too.
- Best Time to Visit: May to September dry season offers clear days and cool mountain scenery, perfect for trekking and Hiking in Sacred Valley Peru.
- Packing Tips: Comfortable walking shoes, a bad weather layering, sun cream, and a good camera are essentials.
- Overnight Stay: While a day trip for the rest of us, at least a night or two in the Sacred Valley, you can appreciate its tranquillity and stargazing.
Conclusion
Peru's Sacred Valley is not an add-on to the Machu Picchu tour, it's a destination that is packed with adventure, history, and cultural treasures of culture. From Peru Sacred Valley trekking tours to Luxury tours Sacred Valley, Andes visitors get the best of the Andes. Taking Sacred Valley day tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley multi-day tours in Cusco, or by enjoying Hiking in Sacred Valley Peru, your trip to this sacred valley will never be forgotten.
If you do get the opportunity to travel to Peru, welcome to this Sacred Valley Peru travel guide to the adventure of losing yourself in one of South America's most spiritual landscapes.
