Travel Guide

The area mainly between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, northwest of Cusco, has been called “The Sacred Valley of the Incas”, irrigated by the Vilcanota River, which later changed its name to Urubamba.

Since pre-Hispanic times it became the appropriate place for the foundation of towns, being the Incas who took best advantage of the beauty and goodness of this land to settle along both banks of the river building in stone urban centers, palaces, fortresses, temples, religious centers, shrines and places of ritual transcendence typical of the Andean mysticism.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE

Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Urubamba (2,871 masl) is 78 km northwest of Cusco on the road to Pisac (1 hour and 25 minutes by car) or 57 km (45 minutes by car) from Cusco on the road to Chinchero.

Its altitude is 2,800 m.a.s.l., which gives it a milder climate. As happens in the lands located at this altitude, its climate is marked by two seasons: rainy and dry. The wet season occurs between November and April. Then a downpour can be unleashed in seconds and, unfortunately, not always enjoy a blue sky. But the rainy season also has its advantages, because the hills are covered with a deep green and temperatures are usually mild. During the dry season the colors of the sky are bright, but the air is usually so dry that the skin seems to break. The night is usually very cold and it can freeze in the early morning.

The starry sky is a true spectacle during this season. The Sacred Valley is, climatically speaking, an ideal place. This was recognized by the ancient Peruvians who came here to be cured. Despite the high temperatures and the vegetation, the valley is free of mosquitoes due to its altitude. In addition, it is difficult to suffocate, as there is always a cool breeze blowing.

BACKGROUND:

Yucay, the name by which the Sacred Valley was known, was a privileged place in pre-Hispanic times: the Incas and their descendants had lands there.

These possessions were recognized by the Spanish authorities, who gave royal grants to the Inca nobility, allowing them to enjoy the wealth of one of the most fertile valleys in Peru. The palace of Sayri Túpac in Yucay remains as a testimony of those times.

The valley was populated with terraces that served for the cultivation of one of the most precious products and of greater ritual value: corn.

ACCESS ROADS:

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is one of the major tourist attractions of the Andean region for its impressive landscape, its imposing snow-capped mountains, its pleasant climate, its fertile lands with abundant water, its megalithic cultural evidences and because it offers diverse possibilities for the practice of adventure tourism.

It is accessed from the city of Cusco by road or rail.

TOURIST VALUE:

The Sacred Valley has become one of the most important tourist centers in the country. In addition to having an unparalleled historical wealth – expressed in a multitude of archaeological remains and colonial monuments scattered throughout the valley -, the Urubamba region offers endless possibilities for tourists: hiking, hot springs, rafting or kayaking on the river, paragliding or hang gliding, horseback riding, mountaineering, etc..

In recent years, participatory tourism programs have been developed, inviting travelers to work on a platform or collect salt from a salt mine. The Sacred Valley is also home to two of Cusco’s most important handicraft markets: Pisac and Chinchero.

Despite the fact that in recent years the tourist infrastructure in the area has grown significantly, and today there is an important offer of lodgings and restaurants, the valley has managed to preserve its charming natural peace.

THE TRAVEL:

• Pisaq
• Urubamba
• Town of Chinchero (3 772 masl)
• Town of Maras
• Town of Yucay
• Salt mines of Maras
• Archaeological Ensemble of Moray
• Archaeological Site of Ollantaytambo
• Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

WHEN TO TRAVEL:

The best time to visit is April-May or September-October, the high season is from June to August. The rainy season, from October onwards, is cheaper and quite pleasant.