The Sacred Valley runs between Pisac and Ollantaytambo along the Urubamba River, 60 km of highland terrain that was the Inca’s agricultural heartland.
Pisac at the eastern end has a hilltop fortress-and-ritual complex with some of the best-preserved agricultural terraces in Peru, plus a Sunday market pulling in weavers from Chinchero, Patacancha and Willoc. Ollantaytambo at the western end is a working Inca town where the original street grid is still in daily use.
In between: Moray’s circular terraces (an Inca agronomic experiment with microclimates — temperature varies by 10°C across the ring levels), and the Maras salt pans (3,000 individual evaporation pools still worked by local families).
The valley sits at 2,800 metres — about 600 lower than Cusco — which makes it the standard acclimatisation base before Machu Picchu. Pleasant climate, lower elevation, better sleep.
Peruways runs guided day tours of the valley with English-speaking driver-guides and lunch in Urubamba. Visit Peruways to book.
