What Is the Sacred Valley?
The Sacred Valley (Valle Sagrado) of the Incas follows the Urubamba River for approximately 60 kilometres between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, sitting at an average altitude of 2,800 metres — some 600 metres lower than Cusco. This lower altitude made the valley the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire, producing maize that would not grow at Cusco's elevation. The Incas considered the Urubamba River (which they called Willkamayu, or Sacred River) the earthly reflection of the Milky Way — hence the sacred in its name.
Pisac: Market and Ruins
The town of Pisac, 30 kilometres from Cusco, is most famous for its Sunday market — one of the largest and most authentic in the Andes, where local Quechua communities sell textiles, ceramics, and produce. The market is best visited early (7–9am) before the tour bus crowds arrive. Above the town, the Pisac Inca ruins are among the most impressive in the Sacred Valley — a citadel of temples, agricultural terraces, and residential compounds spread across a dramatic ridge. The Temple of the Sun at Pisac is architecturally among the finest examples of Inca stonework outside Machu Picchu. Allow 3 hours for the ruins; combined with the market, a full Pisac day is very well spent.
Ollantaytambo: The Living Inca Town
Ollantaytambo is the Sacred Valley's most significant archaeological site and, uniquely, a town that has been continuously inhabited since Inca times — many streets still follow the original Inca urban grid, and local families live in houses built on Inca foundations. The Ollantaytambo fortress is extraordinary — a steep cascade of agricultural terraces protecting a temple complex at the summit, with the legendary Inca stonework (including the partially completed Temple of the Sun) visible at close range. Ollantaytambo is also the departure point for trains to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, making it a practical overnight base for Machu Picchu visits that avoids the altitude of Cusco.
Moray and the Maras Salt Mines
Moray — a series of concentric circular agricultural terraces descending 30 metres into a natural depression — is one of the most visually striking Inca sites in the entire Valley. Archaeological evidence suggests it functioned as an agricultural research centre, with different microclimates at each level used to test crop cultivation conditions. The nearby Maras salt mines (Salineras de Maras) have been worked continuously since pre-Inca times — thousands of small salt pans, fed by a natural saline spring, step down a hillside above the Urubamba gorge. Both can be visited in a half-day from Cusco or Pisac.
Sacred Valley vs Machu Picchu: Do You Need Both?
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are often presented as alternatives, but this fundamentally misunderstands both. They complement each other — the Sacred Valley is the landscape and agricultural context from which Machu Picchu emerges. The valley's ruins (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray) are not inferior to Machu Picchu — they are different in character, less visited, and in some ways more accessible for genuine exploration. Most 7–10 day Peru itineraries allocate one day to the Sacred Valley; a more honest allocation is 2–3 days, with accommodation in Ollantaytambo for the train connection to Machu Picchu.
Getting Around the Valley
The easiest approach is a full-day Sacred Valley tour from Cusco ($25–45/person including guide and transport), which covers Pisac market, Moray, Maras, and Ollantaytambo. Independent travellers can reach Pisac by colectivo taxi from Cusco's Puputi Street for $3 (30 min), and Ollantaytambo by Peru Rail bus service or colectivo for $5. The road through the valley follows the Urubamba River and is straightforward to navigate.
Where to Stay
Ollantaytambo makes the best overnight base — directly on the train line for Machu Picchu, with a cluster of excellent boutique hotels in the old Inca town. El Albergue, located inside the train station, is one of the most atmospheric small hotels in Peru. Pisac has good guesthouse options at lower prices. For the most spectacular setting, several hacienda-style lodges in the valley itself (between the towns) offer extraordinary mountain views and direct access to the quieter valley landscapes.
