The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a valley of the Urubamba River. The valley starts 15 km north of Cusco and stretches about 100 km between two then important Incan cities – the Cusco City and Machu Picchu. The place had a special meaning to the Incas as the sacred river of Urubamba represented a reflection of the cosmic Milky Way in their mythology.
The Urubamba River originates in mountains of the Puno region and its upstream is called Willkanuta, which means the “House of the Sun” in Aymara native language, it was later hispanized to Vilcanota. The river then flows north-west for 724 km and it changes its name to Urubamba in the Convencion province. Sometimes, you can also hear the river is called Willcamayu which is its Quechua name.
The valley was highly appreciated by the Incas also because of its geographical and weather qualities. It was one of the main production places because of fertility of its soil. The valley is a place where the best Peruvian corn is cultivated!
The Sacred Valley possesses an idyllic atmosphere inviting everybody to visit it and stay there. There can found several excellent Incan archaeological complexes such as Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero or Moray as well as nearby pre-Incan salt mines of Salineras, etc.
Also, there are numerous marvelous colonial villages, many of them have been involved in rural and experience tourism projects offering visitors quite different experience.
The valley was a personal possession of the Inca´s rulers!
During the 15th century, the Inca ruler Pachacutec forged a vast empire in South America, stretching from what is now southern Colombia to central Chile, covering much of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina. This formidable empire, known as the "Tahuantinsuyo" or "Empire of the Four Quarters of the World," extended over 4,000 kilometers from north to south and was interconnected by an impressive road network that reached 40,000 kilometers in length.
The epicenter of this empire was in the Andean region of Peru, more than 3,000 meters above sea level, in the city of Cusco. This metropolis, considered the capital and court of the Incas, was located in an area of great strategic and cultural significance: the Sacred Valley. This fertile territory, traversed by the Vilcanota-Urubamba River, stood out for its extraordinary agricultural wealth and the majestic Inca fortresses. Likewise, this river originates in the glaciers of the Vilcanota mountain range and takes the name Urubamba as it descends towards the Amazonian jungles. On its journey, it connects two of the mountains most revered by the Incas: Ausangate and Salkantay.
The river's flow is fed by the waters coming from the melting of the peak of the mountain “Veronica”, considered the "wife" of Salkantay. On a promontory surrounded by the Urubamba River and connected to Salkantay, the Incas built the impressive ceremonial citadel of Machu Picchu. This place was not only a royal residence of the first emperors but also an important spiritual center dedicated to the worship of the sacred mountains that surround it.
The Sacred Valley offers a unique and exciting experience for visitors. Its spectacular geography makes it the perfect setting for a variety of adventure sports, such as mountain biking, rafting on the Urubamba River, trekking through snowy valleys, thrilling zip-lining and much more.
If you plan to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the most common tours usually last one day and cover the main tourist attractions of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. However, there are also options for two day tours that include a more detailed visit to these places. If you prefer to organize your own one day tour, it is recommended to start in Pisac, continue to Urubamba, and finish in Ollantaytambo. On another day, you can visit Chinchero, Moray and the impressive salt mines of Maras.
To visit the archaeological sites, you will need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which costs approximately 70 soles ($23). There is also the option of purchasing a partial ticket if you plan to focus only on the sites of the Sacred Valley. Transportation, whether public or private, is accessible and easy to find. Additionally, we provide you with a map of Cusco and the Sacred Valley that will be very helpful for planning your adventure in these wonderful destinations.
There are many routes that lead to Machu Picchu, but none compare to the iconic Inca Trail, considered the most famous trail in the Americas. After flying from Lima, the capital of Peru, you will arrive in Cusco, where a four day adventure awaits you, walking along a trail surrounded by forests, shrouded in mist, and with ancient stone steps that will guide you through ruins of fortifications and Inca cities, while you marvel at spectacular views.Also among the most visited tours are:
To visit Machu Picchu, we recommend securing your entrance in advance by booking the Machu Picchu Ticket, which will guarantee that you enjoy an unforgettable vacation without any setbacks.
