The Sacred Valley of the Incas in Cusco, Peru – Well worth a visit on your own or with a guide

The Sacred Valley of the Incas in Cusco, Peru is a scenic valley where a river flows through mountain chains on either side. At various points along the valley, you can see the snow capped peaks of the two of the most sacred nevados of the region – Salkantay (20,574 feet), and Ausangate (20,900 feet). The Incas worshipped these mountain deities, called apukanas, as well as the sun and the moon. Today, especially when you get outside the urbanized areas, it becomes clear why the Incas called this place a Sacred Valley.

View of snow-capped peak on the way to Lares

The Sacred Valley of the Incas runs from Cusco to Aguas Calientes – the town at the base of Macchu Picchu. You can travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by car, but only trains go to Aguas Calientes. The Sacred Valley features imposing mountains on either side, and a rushing river – Rio Urubamba – in the center.

The route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo takes about 2 hours by car or bus. It is 45 minutes from Cusco to Pisac; 30 minutes from Pisac to Calca; 30 minutes from Calca to Urubamba; and 20 minutes from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo. You could easily see the whole valley in a day, but each town along the way is worth a stop, both for the town itself and for the daytrips. The road is well-served by public transportation, although most tourists use private cars or guides hired in Cusco. I highly recommend using public transportation, as it is the best way to see the people and traditions of the Valley with your own eyes.

The first stop in the Sacred Vally is Pisac, which has amazing ruins, a beautiful market, and is a great starting point for a trip up to Kinsa Cccocha. You can easily go up to the three lagoons of Kinsa Ccocha and back in a day – starting from either Pisac or Cusco.

Calca has the best Internet access of the Valley towns, outside of Cusco, and serves as a starting point for a trip up to Lares. Lares could be a day trip if you leave very early, but staying the night in Lares is also a good option. This is also a trip you can do on your own, or with a tour guide.

In Urubamba, it starts to get warmer, and is a nice place to spend a day relaxing. It also is the starting place for a visit to the Salineras de Maras – the salt mines. These salt mines are just 30 minutes from Urubamba.

Ollantaytambo is a beautiful ancient city, with Incan walls throughout the town, and hosts fascinating ruins. It is a small town that is a joy to walk around and is the base for people traveling to Macchu Picchu, via train or via the Inca Trail. Ollantaytambo is a quaint town with ruins as well as a historic center with traditional chicherias and restaurants.

The family at the entrance to the ruins at Ollantaytambo

Ancient streets in Ollantaytambo

Aguas Calientes is true to its name and has hot springs that are great for relaxing after hiking up to Macchu Picchu.

There is so much to see in the Peruvian Andes, and the Sacred Valley is right at the center of it all. If you are adventurous, speak some Spanish, and want a great experience, you can do it all by yourself – either with a rental car, taxis, colectivos (shared taxis), or buses. Needless to say, traveling around the Sacred Valley on public transportation will be much cheaper than using tour guides.