View of the salt terraces of Maras (Salineras de Maras)

7 Best Things To See in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas (or Valle Sagrado in Spanish) is a popular tourist destination in Peru because of its proximity to Machu Picchu . Many Inca Trail hikers use this region to acclimate before embarking on one of the world’s most famous hikes. From ancient ruins to vibrant communities and all with a breathtaking backdrop, get the most out of your time with my travel guide to the Sacred Valley of the Incas!

The Sacred Valley is 60 km stretch of fertile farmland which combined with Cusco and Machu Picchu formed the heart of the Inca Empire. Bordered by breathtaking, rolling mountains and dotted with colourful, weaving villages, there is plenty to see and do in the Sacred Valley. In this travel guide, I cover 7 of the best things to see in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

A tourist looks out at a range of mountains on the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

More like this: Preparing for the Inca Trail

Travel Guide: The Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas (aka Urubamba Valley) is a valley stretching 60 km in the Peruvian Andes. It is located about 20 km north of Cusco. The Urubamba River (aka Vilcanota River) is a prominent feature in the valley. The Incas believed that this long, winding river mirrored the Milky Way. This is how the Sacred Valley got its name. The Urubamba also acted as the water source for the huge variety of crops cultivated by the Incas. This allowed the Valley to become a major agricultural center for the Inca Empire.

View of lush, rolling mountains with the Villanova river near the start of the classic Inca Trail which part of the Sacred Valley. — Urubamba River (aka Vilcanota River) along the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Hikers resting by the Urubamba River on the Inca Trail. — Inca Trail hikers resting beside the Urubamba River (aka Vilcanota River)

Tip: For the adventure seekers, there are opportunities available to go white water rafting on the Urubamba. Check Get Your Guide for the best rated tours.

My personal highlights from the Sacred Valley…

Salineras de Maras

Wide view of the salt terraces at Maras in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Maras is a town located about 40 km north of Cusco. It is known for its salt evaporation ponds. These ponds have been in use to harvest pink salt since before the Incas came into power in the region.

A lady looks out from the middle of the Salt Terraces (Salineras) of Maras. — *The Thrill of Pursuit* looking out from the salt terraces in Maras.

About 3,000 terraces have been carved into the side of the Qaqawiñay Mountain. A salt water source located from within the mountain trickles (quite literally) into each terrace. Once all the terraces have been filled with saline solution, the co-op who maintains the salt terraces block the water source. This allows the salt water to evaporate under the intense solar radiation common in high altitude areas. Once the water evaporates, the salt crystals that are left behind are then mined from the terraces. Each salt terrace is owned by residents of two nearby communities. Salt terrace owners need to be members of a salt co-operative.

Salt terrace owners tending to their salt terraces in Maras in Peru's Sacred Valley. — Owners tending to their salt terraces in Maras.

Ccaccaccollo Community and its Women’s Weaving Co-op

There are a handful of weaving co-ops in small communities throughout the Sacred Valley. I highly recommend supporting one of them during your visit.

Peruvian women demonstrating traditional weaving techniques in the Sacred Valley. — Women demonstrating traditional Inca weaving techniques at the Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op.

When tourism began to boom in the Sacred Valley during the 1990s, sacred Andean traditions, which survived the Spanish Conquest, disappeared in many parts of the Sacred Valley. This was because many young people abandoned their indigenous roots fearing discrimination from jobs in hospitality and tourism. Many people also relocated to tourist hubs like Cusco to become street sellers or to beg for money. The popularity of Machu Picchu inadvertently created an economic imbalance in the small communities of the Sacred Valley.

Women demonstrating traditional Inca weaving techniques at the Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op. — Peruvian woman using a loom to demonstrate traditional weaving techniques.

In the early 2000s, weaving co-ops began to form in communities around the Sacred Valley. Local women relearned the weaving techniques of their ancestors and started to sell their artisanal alpaca clothing and home linens. These weaving co-ops enable women to supplement their household income (their husbands work as porters and cooks on the Inca Trail during high tourism season).

An artisanal chess set from Peru where the chess pieces are Incas versus Conquistadors. — A chess set I picked up during my visit to the Cuyo Chico community. Each chess piece is made individually by hand using traditional ceramics process.

I also stopped by the Cuyo Chico community for a pottery demonstration. Families from the Cuyo Chico community created a business out of their knowledge of the traditional adobe ceramic craft. During my visit, I learned about the ceramics process as well as the traditional brick-making methods used for homes throughout the Sacred Valley.

A chess set where the chess pieces are all individual handmade using traditional ceramics process. — In my chess set, I have the Spanish Conquistadors versus…

A chess set where the chess pieces depict the Spanish Conquistadors vs the Incas. — In my chess set, I have the Spanish Conquistadors versus…

Parwa Community Restaurant

The Huchuy Qosqo community owns the Parwa Community Restaurant. The restaurant uses organic ingredients directly from its gardens and serves traditional Peruvian flavours. All proceeds from the restaurant goes towards sustainable community projects benefitting the Huchuy Qosqo community.

As explained in the previous section, the tourism boom in the Sacred Valley inadvertently created an economic imbalance in small, remote communities. The Parwa Restaurant provides employment opportunities in hospitality for the young people of the Huchuy Qosqo community.

The gardens of the Parwa Community Restaurant.

Personal note: Travel is now more accessible than ever. Popular tourist sites like Machu Picchu are receiving record number of visitors which have adverse effects to the environment, local populations and, sometimes, the sites themselves. I try to be cognitive of how my love of travel affects the locals and their home and I will always advocate supporting local artisans and businesses.

There are impressive Inca ruins to be found in the Sacred Valley besides Machu Picchu. During my trip to the region, there was a planned mass protest in Cusco where major roadways were expected to be blocked off for a day. That day happened to coincide with my planned visit to the Sacred Valley. Hence, I didn’t make it to the any of these ruins ☹️

No travel guide to the Sacred Valley is complete without mentioning the major Inca ruins in the region. I will list the ones I wish I saw here…

Sacsayhuaman

Located on the outskirts of Cusco, Sacsayhuaman (sounds like “sexy woman” when pronounced properly) is a citadel. Just like in Machu Picchu and Cusco, the giant stone walls found on site are built without any mortar but are so precisely cut and fitted that the buildings can withstand earthquakes.

Peruvians celebrate two festivals at Sacsayhuaman: (1) Inti Raymi – the annual Inca festival of the winter solstice and new year on June 24th, and (2) Warachikuy – an Inca ceremony where young men could receive the official status of an adult man after testing their skills and valour on the third Sunday of September.

Sacsayhuaman along with the city of Cusco are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sacsayhuaman ruins in Peru. — Photo by Tolvo on WikiCommons

Ollantaytambo

Often serving as the gateway for those doing the classic Inca Trail trek, Ollantaytambo (aka Ollanta) is a town and Inca archeological site. Many of Ollantaytambo’s streets, aqueducts, and structures are just as functional as they were in the 1500s earning it the nickname “The Last Living Inca City”. Those en route to Machu Picchu will be given a preview of the Incas’ sophisticated engineering style in Ollanta.

Pisac

Pisac is a village in the Sacred Valley that is known for its Inca ruins. The Incas had built agricultural terraces that enabled the production of surplus food. This surplus wouldn’t otherwise be possible at altitudes over 11,000 feet above sea level. These terraces are still in use today.

Pisac is also popular for its huge market traditionally held on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The market is where local artisans sell their products. The market has become so popular with tourists that it has taken over the Plaza de Armas every day of the week.

Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Moray

Moray is home to the most unique Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley. The Moray ruins are terraces formed in the shape of concentric circles. The depth, design, and orientation of the circles with respect to the sun and wind creates a temperature difference of as much as 15 °C (27 °F) between the top and bottom terraces. It is believed that the Incas used these terraces as an agricultural laboratory. A day trip covering both Moray and Maras is doable as they are close to each other.