Sacred Valley Valley

Address: Sacred Valley, Cusco region, Peru

Hours: Open 24 hours (individual sites and ruins have opening times)

Admission: Varies by site and tour; many archaeological sites require entry tickets

The Sacred Valley is the broad valley of the Urubamba River in the Peruvian Andes northwest of the city of Cusco, known for its concentration of Inca archaeological sites and agricultural terraces. It was a primary food-producing and administrative region during the Inca period.

The valley contains several well-preserved Inca sites and living towns that draw visitors for archaeology and landscapes. Highlights include the terraced ruins and markets of Pisac, the fortress and living Inca town of Ollantaytambo, and the contemporary market and colonial center at Urubamba. Other notable features visited on day tours are the circular agricultural terraces at Moray and the salt pans at Maras.

Historically the area was developed and intensively farmed by the Inca as a source of maize and other crops for Cusco and the royal household. After the Spanish conquest the valley continued as an agricultural and transport corridor; many Inca constructions were adapted or overlaid by later colonial and rural settlement patterns.

Geographically the valley follows the Urubamba River through the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes in Cusco Department, with towns and sites spread along the river corridor northwest of Cusco city. The landscape alternates steep hillsides with broad cultivated terraces and small river plains.

• Best time to visit: Best visited during the dry season from May to September when trails and roads are more reliable and views are clearer.
• Altitude caution: Altitude ranges are significant and commonly exceed 2,500 metres, so allow time to acclimatize if arriving from lower elevations.
• Access: Access is typically by road from the city of Cusco; many visitors combine site visits with train connections to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.

What to See#

• Major towns and sites: Large archaeological and cultural sites clustered along the Urubamba (Vilcanota) River including major Inca centers, colonial towns and agricultural terraces in microclimates that supported intensive cultivation.
• Peripheral sites: A network of smaller sites and landscapes such as the circular terraces at Moray and the salt pans of Maras that lie within the valley and are commonly visited on day trips.

The Sacred Valley is accessed from Cusco by road following the valley northwest toward Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. Regular colectivo taxis and tourist buses depart Cusco for Pisac and Ollantaytambo (journeys vary, roughly 1-2 hours depending on destination). Trains run from the Ollantaytambo area toward Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu (operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail), making Ollantaytambo a common rail access point.

• Buy the Cusco Region tourist ticket (Boleto Turístico) if you plan to visit several archaeological sites in the valley-this often saves time and money compared with buying multiple single admissions.
• Start early at the major sites (Ollantaytambo, Pisac) to avoid mid-morning tour-bus arrivals; many of the best terraces and ruins are far quieter first thing.
• Add the nearby Maras salt pans and the Moray terraces to your itinerary-both are a short drive from the main valley route and offer contrasting landscapes that many travelers skip when rushing between the big ruins.