Sacred Valley of the Incas

Located in the high Peruvian Andes around an hour’s drive from Cusco is the truly wonderful Sacred Valley of the Inca’s. The valley has many wonderful attractions that would attract the tourist. When planning your trip to Peru you must include this wonderful place as part of your tour.

Therefore, what is it that attracts people to the Sacred Valley, what will you see and what is the best time to go, and these questions we will answer here in this article.

The Sacred Valley of the Inca’s is one of the most naturally beautiful places that you will ever visit. The high Andean mountains covered in snow, the valleys with raging rivers. In Inca times, the Inca’s spread themselves in the valley between Pisaq and Ollantaytambo and for 300 years before that the Tahuantinsuyo culture flourished in the area other cultures created agricultural canals and terraces, still in use today. In Inca times, the valley was used to feed the Inca Capital of Cusco. It was here in the town of Ollantaytambo that the Inca King Manco Inca held off the Spanish for around fifty years. The area is dedicated to growing corn and if you get a chance, try the large, tender tasty, grain with a piece of the local cheese, a great midmorning snack sold everywhere in the Sacred Valley.

There are many fascinating towns to discover on your luxury travel to Sacred Valley, starting with Pisaq, the first town you will encounter in the valley. About a ten-minute drive from the town of Pisaq are the impressive Pisaq Ruins on top and down the side of the mountain, this ruin is a truly magnificent sight and is definitely not to be missed. With impressive agricultural terracing from the south and east of the complex with graceful curves that hug the mountain the ruins are a remarkable sight either from the top of the mountain or from the town below. Included at the site are a ceremonial center, temples, working water channels and ceremonial baths, these ruins are amazing to explore on your own, but if you wish a guided tour will give you the additional benefit of the history of the ruins and the Inca’s.

Back in the town of Pisaq is the famous Pisaq Market, Local people descend from the mountain villages to sell their wares and the Plaza de Armas is full of colorful rugs, jumpers and many other handicrafts all waiting to be purchased. In addition, the local people sell their produce and the photo opportunities are many, there are also many great little restaurants close to the plaza to enjoy lunch, but if you want to try the local food the market have ovens where you can taste the empanadas freshly made and hot from the ovens.

Moving on from Pisaq on your Sacred Valley luxury tour is the town of Urubamba, not really noted for its history, but Urubamba is used as a base for people wanting to visit the Valley and Machu Picchu. Urubamba has many beautiful hotels and restaurants and the climate is sunny most of the year. In addition, there are many companies that offer horseback riding to the surrounding mountains, a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the Sacred Valley.

Further along the road is the grand Inca town of Ollantaytambo, where many start the famous Inca Trail. In addition, here there is the train station to Machu Picchu, which makes the town a starting point for many travelers. However, the most impressive thing about Ollantaytambo without a doubt is the Inca Ruins. Ollanta (as it is known by the locals) is dominated by the ruins and the view of the valley from the top is quite incredible. The ruins include a ceremonial center at the top, terracing and was constructed from stone bought from six kilometers away, the Incas diverted the Urubamba river to bring the stones to the site. Again, with a guided tour you will learn the history of the ruins and about the fierce battles that took place here. The town of Ollantaytambo itself is a magnificent example of Inca architecture and the town planning is the best surviving anywhere in Peru. The streets of Ollantaytambo are an impressive maize of babbling irrigation channels and cobblestoned streets giving an impression of stepping back in time. Ollantaytambo is always full of tourists in the morning with full tourist buses but later in the afternoon is calmer and more pleasant time to visit, with many good little restaurants and bars to enjoy a few drinks and lunch.

There are many other small towns in the Valley with other interesting sites to see, the valley has a great climate all year round making it pleasant place to spend a few days, the quality and quantity of hotels grows every year giving an endless choice to the traveler.

Normally the Sacred Valley is the stepping-stone to get to Machu Picchu. Recently awarded one of the Seven Wonders of the World Machu Picchu is one of the most visited sites in South America. Thousands flock to the Inca citadel every year and what is the best time to go to Machu Picchu? There is no bad time to visit Cusco, The Sacred Valley of the Inca’s and Machu Picchu, so book your tour today.

Peru has many wonders waiting for you to be discovered. Here in Cusco Peru Travel, our speciality is to make your trip an outstanding experience, fill-in this form and let your tailor-made luxury Peru vacation begin.