The Sacred Valley of the Incas, “Valle Sagrado” in Spanish, is the stretch of the Peruvian Andes just outside Cusco. It is the agricultural heart of the former Inca state and a required stop between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
The valley runs from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. Pisac is famous for its Sunday market and the hilltop terraced ruins above the town; buy textiles below, climb the slope above. The combination of market and ruins in one visit is efficient.
Ollantaytambo at the other end has the valley’s best-preserved Inca-era urban grid in the lower town, plus a terraced fortress rising above the plaza. Walking the lower streets is the easiest way to feel what an Inca town felt like, structurally.
The valley also works for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, with trails leading through villages and across ridges. Flora and fauna are rich at this elevation, with the ecosystem changing as you climb.
Peruways runs transfers and tours through the valley at Peruways.
Treat the Sacred Valley as its own destination, not just a drive-through on the way to Machu Picchu. The two-day plan is better than the half-day.
