The Sacred Valley

View over the Valle Sagrado. Image © Andrys Basten

A few km's north of Cuzco stretches out the beautiful valley of the Urubamba river. It is called Valle Sagrado, Sacred Valley, because it was a sacred place for the Inca's. From here the Inca civilisation took place. Although the valley used to be sacred for the Inca's, it is still kind of sacred, for the local people who respect the valley and its history, and for the visitors who will be overwhelmed by the atmospheric touch and a unique mix of culture and nature.

Fertile plains in the Valle Sagrado. Image © Jack Ritter

The valley is situated at about 2900 m in the Andes, but you can already feel the influence of the nearby Amazon basin. It has a warmer, pleasant climate and it is more humid than nearby Cuzco. The Valle Sagrado is the heart of the Inca civilisation. Many Inca ruins can be found here, like the famous ones at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and most villages and towns still have an authentic Indian touch, with colourful people, markets and fiestas. If you have seen enough culture and history, you can still take an exciting river-running trip down the river Urubamba.

Sunday market in Pisac. Image © Thierry Jans

The Urubamba river was very important for the Inca's. The valley is extremely fertile and the Inca's even partly canalised the river for irrigation. The Inca's also constructed sophisticated terraces along the steep mountains to grow their crops. These terraces are still in use and even now they are quite efficient. Reminiscence of the canalisation can still be found. The valley must have been a very important source of food, and the soft climate made it possible to harvest a rich variety of fruit and vegetables.

Inca ruins Pisac
Inca ruins in the Valle Sagrado near Pisac. Image © RTW2VT

At the end of the valley after Ollantaytambo, the valley becomes steep and narrow, and cultivation is no longer possible. Cloudforests take the place of villages and terraces. Many visitors take the so-called Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a walk of several days through nature along the narrow paved roads the Inca constructed to connect all parts of their empire to their capital, Cuzco. Of course it is also possible to take the bus or train to Machu Picchu.

The Urubamba river