Cusco, considered as the archeological capital of America, is an exquisite land that combines mountains, valleys and jungle. Machu Picchu is the most visited and known tourist destiny in the city, but it's definitely not the only one. For those tourists who are looking for a different experience, there is the Sacred Valley of Cusco, the center of Inca civilization between the 14th and 15th century, with its unique geographic and climatic characteristics.
Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas as well, it's located in the northwest of Cusco, about an hour drive from the city. This place is the valley of the Urubamba and Vilcanota River -a section of the previous one-; and it is surrounded by many archeological sites and small villages. Visitors who want to get a deep glimpse into the daily life of the indigenous residents, and those who want to get a feel of how ancient life felt like, this is the perfect place. Many villagers still live the same way their ancestors did before the Spanish conquest, by engaging in typical Andean activities such as working the land with ancient tools, and living off trade and barter. The dense forest surrounding the valley made it impossible for the Spanish conquistadors to pass through, thus letting their inhabitants live an uncontaminated life.
Incas were well versed in cosmology, and if you are also interested in the subject, Urubamba river is exactly what you are looking for. Incas were convinced that this river was connected to the constellations and the mountains, as if it were the linked counterpart to the Milky Way.
The Sacred Valley is a great starting point for your trip to Machu Picchu. If you like peace and want to enjoy the view without sacrificing comfort, choosing from the plethora of train options becomes a must. But if you love adventure, you should definitively take the Inca trails. These are an amazing web of pathways that wind through the mountains and rivers of the Urubamba river basin, and which let you enjoy not only spectacular views, but also the local flora and fauna. This route is considered one of the best treks in the world.
The regular Sacred Valley tour-day takes you to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and, some of them include the town of Moray.
Pisac
This town is located about 33 Km from the city of Cusco, and is famous for its market and ruins. It has two archeological quarters, an ancient one and another from the Spanish colonial times. Sunday market is its main attraction, not to be missed. Here you'll find beautiful handcrafts and artisan works from the community, some of which attract hundreds of visitors every day. Every Sunday, at 9:30 am, there is a traditional Mass in Quechua at the local church.
Ollantaytambo
Located 21 Km from the town of Urubamba, it contains several archeological sites such as the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Hall, the Incahuatana and the Princess Baths -Baños de la Princesa. You can also find here preserved areas, such as Hanan Hacaypata; some of which provide horseback tours and mountain bike tours.
Chinchero
At about 28 Km from Cusco city, Chinchero was considered Tupac Inca Yupanqui's royal house. Later on, it passed to be a colonial temple. It is visited by many tourists from around the world mainly due to its central attraction: the market. This is an important place for trade, barter, and experiencing real life exchange of Andean culture. The knit works of Chinchero are amongst the best in the world, and a visit to Cusco is never complete without a visit to this very special community who's managed to conserve their traditions throughout the centuries.
This article was written by a Peru Travel expert at Peru travel Now, available to help you custom design your exciting Peru Tours.
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