The Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) stretches along the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. At an altitude of 2,800–2,900 m (lower than Cusco!), it offers fertile farmland, spectacular Inca ruins, and — thanks to the lower altitude — gentler acclimatization.
★★★ Ollantaytambo
The living Inca town at the entrance to the Sacred Valley is one of the few places where the Incas successfully resisted the Spaniards. The massive terraces of the fortress rise steeply above the town, crowned by six huge monoliths of pink granite. The stones come from a quarry on the other side of the valley — 6 km away and 1,000 meters lower. How did the Incas transport 50-ton stones across a river and a mountain?
Below the fortress, the townscape itself is a sight: The streets still follow the original Inca layout, and water flows through 600-year-old Inca channels. Ollantaytambo is one of the main departure points for the train to Machu Picchu.
Included in the Boleto Turístico. Ruins: daily 7:00–18:00.
★★★ Salinas de Maras
One of Peru's most photogenic motifs: Over 3,000 salt ponds cascade down the mountainside like a mosaic, filled with pink, white, and brown salt. Since Inca times, salt has been extracted here from a natural thermal spring — the local community still operates the terraces today. The salt from Maras is a popular gourmet souvenir.
10 PEN entrance. Daily 7:00‗18:00. By taxi or tour from Urubamba.
★★★ Moray
The enigmatic circular agricultural terraces of Moray look like a natural amphitheater — but they are a masterpiece of Inca agricultural technology. The concentric circles create microclimates: The temperature difference between the top and bottom terrace is up to 15°C! The Incas likely used Moray as an agricultural experiment station to adapt crops to different altitudes.
Included in the Boleto Turístico. Daily 7:00‗18:00. Often visited in combination with Maras.
★★ Pisac
Pisac combines two highlights: The Inca ruins high above the valley with spectacular terraces and one of the largest Inca cemeteries — and the market in the town below, which becomes the largest traditional market in the Sacred Valley on Sundays. Here you will find textiles, ceramics, alpaca wool, and jewelry directly from the artisans.
Ruins: Included in the Boleto Turístico. Market: Sun (large), Tue+Thu (smaller). By Colectivo from Cusco (1h, 4 PEN).
