In 1442, the Incas were flourishing, namely under the command of Pachacutec. It was he who formed the Inca Empire of Tahuantinsuyo (Chinchaysuyo, Antisuyo, Contisuyo y Collasuyo) which would soon become the largest empire to ever reign in pre-Columbian America. During this period the Sacred Valley was a source of food for the Incas because of its incredible ecological floors at different altitudes. Its main crops were white corn, potatoes, coca, fruit, and vegetables, which continue being grown to date.
It was called the Sacred Valley because it contains some of the best lands in the region and was not a part of the Empire but the property of the Emperor or Inca himself.
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What can you see in Sacred Valley?
There are several well-preserved Inca archeological sites to visit and its dramatic landscapes are home to Quechua communities that offer unique opportunities to interact with the local culture. It is home to animals that were of great importance during the Inca Empire. We can name these 2: Llamas and Alpacas.
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Llama:
The llama is a South American relative of the camel, though the llama does not have a hump. (Their wild relatives are guanacos and vicuñas). Llamas were the Incas’ most important domestic animals, providing food, clothing and acting as beasts of burden. Typically, they are saddled with loads of 50 to 75 pounds.
They were also often sacrificed in large numbers to the gods.
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Alpaca:
The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a species of South American camelid descended from the vicuña. It is similar to, and often confused with, the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas.
Related to the vicuña, llama, and guanaco the alpaca is a rare and precious animal thought to be a cross between llamas and vicuñas some 6000 years ago.
They were treasured by the ancient Inca civilization, the fine fleeces were reserved for Inca royalty. Together with their close relatives, the llamas, alpacas provided clothing, food, fuel and, no doubt, companionship as domesticated animals high in the altiplano of Peru, Chile and Bolivia.
Villages and attractions of the Sacred Valley:
Pisac:
Pisaq is a picturesque town with colonial and mestizo characteristics. The term Pisac might come from the word in Quechua P´isaqa which is the name of a bird that exists in this area. Other Quechua experts support the theory that the word comes from the name Cristóbal Pisaq Topo who used to live in the area.
Pisac Inca Ruins: It is located 3.5km from the town of Pisac at an altitude of 3347 m.a.s.l.
It takes up an entire mountain made up of different neighborhoods or squares, the main one being Intihuatana, which is admired for the architectural skill with which its constructions were built.
The complex is also famous for the colossal terraces that circle the mountains.
Weather:
In Pisac, the wet season is overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is cool year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 2° y 21°C (32°F to 64°F).
The best times of year to visit Pisac for warm-weather activities are from early May to early October.
Pisac is divided into 2 parts, the archeological, which is the ancient part located on the high side of the valley, and the contemporary, which dates from colonial times, located at the low side of the valley itself.
Pisac Market: The colorful Pisac market offers all sorts of handicrafts featuring textiles, jewelry, and ceramic goods.
Sunday is the most festive market day as people from the highland native communities come in their best traditional dress to sell or trade their products. It is fun to explore the typical food section of the market on Sundays, where you will find all types of native Andean potatoes, and exotic fruit brought from the nearby rainforest.
Ollantaytambo:
Ollantaytambo is 58 km from Pisac and is about an hour’s drive through the Sacred Valley. It is 2,700 m.a.s.l (8,856 feet). Ollantaytambo is the starting point for the Inca Trail. From here the only way of getting to Machu Picchu is on foot or by train. The town is the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with a maze of cobblestone streets and irrigation channels.
Weather:
In Ollantaytambo, temperatures are pleasant all year round! Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 11° to 22°C. The best times of year to visit Pisac for warm-weather activities are from early May to early October.
Ollantaytambo Inca Ruins:
The archeological site of Ollantaytambo is another monumental work of Inca architecture. It was built on two mountains in a strategic location overlooking the entire valley. It was a military, religious, administrative and agricultural complex. The entrance is by a gate called Punku Punku.
Ollantaytambo fortress, located in the same town, was erected during the Tahuantinsuyo era and has outstanding buildings such as Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and its monoliths, such as Mañaracay, Incahuatana and Baños de la Princesa (Bath of the Princess).
The town: Ollantaytambo is the only Inca town that remains almost intact and houses still serve as homes where their descendants live. The design of the city, its axles, its urban structure, the beauty of the volumes and their play of light and shade attract visitors.
Moray:
It is located about 7 km southwest of Maras and 53 km from Cusco with an altitude of 3,385 m.a.s.l. At first sight, it looks like an amphitheater formed by many circular terraces. According to historians, these circular terraces are gigantic natural holes that were built and used by the Incas with their respective irrigation channels as an agricultural laboratory. Each circular terrace was used as an agricultural research station. It is believed that each terrace offered the Incas different climatic conditions for growing crops and remains something of a living museum.
Visiting hours:
The archeological complex of Moray welcomes visitors every day of the year, from 7 am to 5 pm.
Maras:
It is a town located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 40 kilometers north of Cusco. It is at an altitude of 3385 m.a.s.l.
There is an ancient custom still practiced, the use of pre-Inca salt ponds.
The salt mines:
They are very intriguing and worth a stop. There are more than 3000 small pools, each owned by individual families. Every three days during the dry season, people will fill their pools up with saltwater that flows from a natural spring. Once the water evaporates, the salt gradually solidifies.
These amazing constructions continue to provide the country and beyond with its pink salt which has been recommended by experts as a healthy option to flavor meals due to its curative properties.
Note: To get to the access points of the site, you need to pay 10 soles (about $3) for the entrance fee. Afterward, you can buy some of the Andean salt as a souvenir.
Chinchero:
Chinchero is located at an altitude of 3,762 m.a.s.l., 28 km from Cusco. The capital of the district that belongs to Urubamba province. It is one of the most representative towns of Cusco. This town is known for its archeology and artisans.
Chinchero is surrounded by these impressive snow-capped mountains: Salkantay, Veronica, and Soray.
Main attractions:
Chinchero is the center of weaving in Peru. It is home to the Interpretation Center of Andean Textiles. Local women entertain tourists with weaving demonstrations. The women show how they produce different colors for the wool they spin and weave. The women wear their traditional costumes and are happy to meet tourists.
Sunday Market: You’ll find a somewhat more authentic experience than at Pisac, although it also draws large crowds. Locals from the surrounding villages come to the market to sell and trade their products. You are more than welcome to enjoy this charming market while buying some products at really good prices.
In the Plaza de Armas, you can find an adobe colonial church built on top of Inca foundations and an Inca wall with ten trapezoidal niches. It was built around 1607 by the Spanish.
You’ll also see some Inca terracing in the surrounding area.
Inkayni Peru Tours additional notes:
The Sacred Valley has one of the best climates in the highland region. Its main crops were white corn, potatoes, coca, fruit, and vegetables, which continue being grown to date. Presently, lucuma, avocado, peach, and the best Peruvian grains of corn are added to the vast list of crops.
- The best and biggest corn grows in the Sacred Valley in a small town called Huayllabamba.
Inkayni Tips:
- The Sacred Valley of the Incas works perfectly on the altitude acclimatization process.
- Benefits of coca tea: you can prevent altitude sickness by drinking a cup of coca tea. Researchers believe that it is the presence of B vitamins and alkaloids that gives this herbal tea its effect on altitude sickness. This is because coca tea may help in improving the oxygen uptake and blood flow at high altitudes.
- Book a tour at least 2 or 3 days in advance!
The Sacred Valley Tour is one of the most popular and must-see tours in the Cusco region. Inkayni Peru Tours has designed a perfect tour to enjoy the Sacred Valley: Sacred Valley Tour – Private Service.
You will visit these 3 important places: Chinchero, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Come and join our ten-hour tour!
Itinerary:
- Inkayni Tours Peru will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and head to the high mountain village of Chinchero, famous for its weaving and spectacularly sited at high altitude (3,800m/12,500 ft.) We will visit a weaving house and have a demonstration of dyeing and weaving techniques as well as visiting the famous Chinchero market.
- From Chinchero, we descend to the base of the Sacred Valley and then onto Ollantaytambo, which features an impressive set of terraces leading from the village center.
- We have a buffet lunch in Urubamba before heading to Pisac – our final stop for the day.
- In Pisac, we will first the beautiful ruins, built with breathtaking audacity by the Incas and then descend to the market at Pisac before returning to Cusco, via the ruins at Sacsayhuaman. (If you are short of time this visit might be only concise).
Included:
- Private transportation (tourist bus).
- English-speaking Tour Guide.
Not included:
- Tourist Ticket for archeological sites (S/. 70 soles or USD 25 per person).
- Lunch in Urubamba (a town that is located between Pisac and Ollantaytambo).
What to bring:
- Tourist ticket (not included in the price).
- Sun hat.
- Sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 35 or higher.
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho.
- Water.
- Cameras and films.
“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
Ibn Battuta