The Sacred Valley of the Incas, between Cusco and Machu Picchu, is Peru’s outdoor-adventure heartland — mountain terrain, Inca ruins, Quechua villages, and the Urubamba river running through the middle of it. Hikers, mountain bikers, rafters, and horseback riders all have good terrain here, often inside the same day. When you’re ready to pair the valley with Machu Picchu, book your entry through peruways.com.
1. Trekking the Inca Trail
The classic four-day Inca Trail runs from km 82 near Ollantaytambo to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, crossing two 4,000-meter passes and stopping at a string of ruins — Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñay Wayna. Permits are capped at 500 people a day (including crew) and sell out months ahead; secure yours early through peruways.com.
2. Mountain Biking in the Sacred Valley
The valley’s terrain runs from fast fire-road descents to technical singletrack along old Inca paths. The Moray-to-Maras-to-Ollantaytambo descent is the usual target — about 1,000 meters of drop with the salt pans and circular terraces of Moray on the way. Operators rent dual-suspension bikes and run shuttle support, so the climb is optional.
3. Rafting on the Urubamba River
The Urubamba runs class II–III between Pisac and Ollantaytambo for most of the year, which is accessible for first-timers but still enough for continuous whitewater. Half-day runs leave from Cusipata and Chuquicahuana, with longer multi-day trips lower down the river for experienced paddlers.
4. Exploring Maras and Moray
The Maras salt pans — about 3,000 shallow terraced evaporation pools worked by local families since Inca times — and the Moray agricultural terraces are the valley’s quietest big draws. The two sites are 20 minutes apart and pair naturally with a short hike or a bike descent between them.
5. Ziplining Across the Sacred Valley
The multi-line zipline circuit at Cola de Mono and Natura Vive runs six cables over the valley, with the longest reaching around 700 meters and speeds up to 60 km/h. Natura Vive also operates the Skylodge glass pods bolted onto the cliff for an overnight.
6. Horseback Riding in the Andes
Half-day horseback rides out of Chinchero or above Urubamba cover high-pampa terrain the trucks can’t reach — remote Inca sites, Quechua herding settlements, and viewpoints over the valley. Local Peruvian paso horses are sure-footed on the stone-paved paths.
Plan Your Outdoor Adventure in the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley handles everything from four-day treks to afternoon rides out of a Urubamba lodge. When you’re planning the trip, book your Machu Picchu entry through peruways.com so the citadel day fits cleanly around the rest.
