Sacred Valley of the Incas

Type:

CULTURAL

Code:

IPTVS01

Visited Destinations:

Cusco

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The beautiful Vilcanota/ Urubamba valley is popularly called El Valle Sagrado, or the Sacred Valley, of the Incas. It is about 15km north of Cusco as the condor flies. The climate is pleasant because of the elevation (600m lower than Cuzco), and there is much to do visit Inca ruins, bargain in Indian markets, stroll though Andean villages or go river running down the Urubamba. Rafting is one of the Sacred Valley’s most pleasant activities, and this option is described under Activities in Cusco earlier in this chapter. The most important points of interest in the valley are the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, both of which require the Boleto Turístico for admission. Other sites can also be visited. Limited accommodations are available in the towns of Pisac, Calca, Yucay, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.Various tour companies in Cuzco visit in the Pisac and Ollantaytambo sites on half and full day guided bus tours of the Sacred Valley, but if you have a few days, taking local buses and staying in the valley itself is rewarding.

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Itinerary

Pisac.

Pisac is 32km from Cusco by paved road and is the most convenient starting point for a visit to the Sacred Valley. There are two Pisac one is the colonial and modern village lying beside the river, and the other is an Inca fortress on a mountain spur about 600m above. There is a telephone near the bridge into town if you need to make a call.

Ollantaytambo.

This is the end of the road as far as the Sacred Valley is concerned. Like Pisac Ollantaytambo is a major Inca site at which you use the Boleto Turístico, you can buy a single entry ticket to Ollantaytambo at the ruins. The site a massive fortress is one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest. Below the ruins is the village of Ollantaytambo, build on traditional Inca foundations and the best surviving example of Inca city planning.

Urubamba.

Chinchero. 

It is located at 30 km from the city of Cusco by asphalted road.
It is a town of Incan origin located at 28 km, 45 minutes approximately, to the north of Cusco by an asphalted road that ascends at 3,762 m.a.s.l. It is guarded by the Chicón snow-capped mountain and its name would derive from the Quechua word sinchi that means "brave man".

The town of Chinchero, in where the stone is the main protagonist, is strategically located at the intersection of three roads that connect Cusco, Yucay and Pumamarca. At the time of Tahuantinsuyo, it was located on the road that led directly to Machu Picchu. This route started on the Carminca block (current block of Santa Ana), continued through the side of Senca hill, passed near the Piuray lagoon and nearby Chinchero it continued up to Maras.

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