Things To Do In The Sacred Valley
OVERVIEW OF THE SACRED VALLEY
Originally the entire sacred valley was home to the pre-Inca Wari culture, years later it became an extremely important place for the Inca culture who used many points of the same valley to establish themselves as populations. The most representative ones that today are still visited by thousands of travelers are the traditional villages of Pisaq, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras and Moray.
What stands out from these villages at first sight is the organizational difference that existed between the Inca and colonial constructions, while the Inca constructions are located in the high part of the mountains on the contrary the colonial remains and current villages are located at the base of the mountain near the river that crosses the entire valley. Visiting each of the archaeological centers and handicraft villages has become one of the best things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru that you can experience this 2024.
Getting here is really easy, you can do it in 2 ways:
- Hire the services of a travel agency, there are companies that provide daily departures in shared groups or privately, in order to customize the experience you must make a reservation in advance.
- Hire a transportation service only, in this situation you must know which places you want to visit to properly plan the route.
Its location is strategic for travelers arriving for the first time to the city of Cusco, being at a lower altitude than the city (2980 meters above sea level) is a very nice place for acclimatization. Its weather varies according to the season:
- Dry season: During May to October it enjoys a more stable climate due to the dry season in which the temperature can be between 20°C and 25° C. There is a clear sky but at night the cold is stronger. Some of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru during this season are paragliding, ceremonies to mother earth, hiking trails and natural viewpoints.
dry season in cusco
- Rainy season: Occurs during November and April, the weather can change and the rains are more frequent during the day, the temperature you can feel in this season is between 18°C to 23°C but during the night the cold is less perceptible. During this season there are things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru such as rafting, visiting natural areas and delighting celebrations such as the popular carnivals.
rainny season
So if you are looking for the top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru, you should know that the best time to visit the Sacred Valley in 2024 is during the months of June, July and August.
THINGS TO DO IN THE SACRED VALLEY PERU
1. COCHAHUASI SANCTUARY
Although not many travelers know it, Cochahuasi is a wildlife oriented sanctuary located between Cusco and Pisac, for 17 years it has been rescuing wild species that have been put in danger of extinction, during this process of rescue, care and return to their natural habitat they live inside the sanctuary so they are visited by many tourists who are interested in nature and for them it was one of the best things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru.
Among the animals that were rescued are condors, vicuñas, pumas and more, you can take your time to visit as there are short and extensive tours, if you are a nature lover, this place will certainly be in your top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru.
enjoy of cochawasi visit
2. INFINITE COLORS IN THE PISAC MARKET
There is an experience that has undoubtedly become one of the top things to do in Sacred Valley Peru. Located in the town of Pisac, the handicraft market is one of the main experiences and attractions for visitors who visit this destination in search of culture and history.
Although it is small, what stands out at first glance is the tradition that surrounds each of its streets, you can not leave the Sacred Valley without visiting its colorful stalls as well as tasting its delicious empanadas made in one of the oldest colonial ovens there. Getting here is very easy, you can do it together with the 1 day tour from Cusco, this is the first point of visit within the tour, the second option is that you do it privately by transport (In both cases Auri Peru can help you to organize it if you wish).
explore pisaq market
3. VIEW FROM THE TARAY VIEWPOINT
For all travelers who come to know the city of Cusco and then head to Machu Picchu certainly one of the top things to do in the sacred valley Peru is to enjoy some free time in the viewpoint of Taray, which is the gateway to visit the magical and traditional villages that are in the vast valley.
Getting here is really easy, it is located on the road before arriving at Pisac from Cusco. in the shared tours you always pass by this place and you will enjoy the views that it offers you besides getting the best shots during the morning.
Friends Enjoying the Taray Viewpoint
4. ADRENALINE OF KAYAKING IN PIURAY
It takes about 1 hour to get here and for adventure lovers it has become one of the top things to do in Sacred Valley Peru and it is done frequently during the high season.
It is always best to book this activity in advance as there are always limited spaces for participants. Our guides specialists in adventure tourism accompany you during the tour and give you a model explanation so that the rest of the time you can delight it on your own.
Travelers Kayaking in the Piuray Lagoon
5. TRADITIONAL VISIT TO THE TOWN OF CHINCHERO
One of the most traditional villages of the Sacred Valley, with its buildings made since colonial times, it keeps in its interior traditions that have been inherited for many generations. The town of Chinchero is one of the traditional Andean towns where you can enjoy the weather, history and collect the best photos. Its handicraft market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (the latter is the main day where most of the stalls are serving travelers).
It is not only a place to get souvenirs or tourist things, you can also get fresh fruits and ingredients to prepare a delicacy, everything is possible in this town and visiting it is one of the things to do in the sacred valley Peru that you can enjoy this 2024.
Couple Appreciating Handicrafts in the Village of Chinchero
6. THE POC POC WATERFALL
Something that many travelers do not know is that if you continue the path that begins on the platforms of Chinchero you can reach the Poc Poc waterfall, this walk enters the list of things to do in the sacred valley Peru that you will remember for a lifetime.
Man Standing at the Base of Poc Poc Waterfall
It is an impressive waterfall that comes from the Huaypo lagoon which is located very close to Chinchero. The impressive thing about this waterfall is the height, almost 30 meters, which makes it one of the highest in addition to being one of the main attractions of the area. For those who love hiking, it is an ideal option that they choose constantly as a different activity.
| “Time travel is possible, you just have to learn the history” |
7. HIKE TO URQUILLOS
If you continue the trail from the Poc Poc waterfall you will find a unique trail in which nature has managed to become part of the daily sight of the people who live here, this trail will take you to the village of Urquillos which is known for its extensive areas of corn cultivation and the presence of a clay that has healing properties.
The natural areas that you enjoy during the hike are impressive, it is a new way to travel through the Sacred Valley. This hike is one of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru that has become quite popular among nature lovers.
Hiker Hiking the Urquillos Hike
8. MARAS, AN INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACE
One of the places that should definitely enter your top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru is undoubtedly the salt mines of Maras which are currently one of the most Instagrammable places in the entire region of Cusco. They are a set of salt ponds where salt has been cultivated in an artisanal way for commercial and domestic use for more than 400 years by the local population living nearby.
Get a little of its precious salt will make the trip really worthwhile, the price to enter for this 2024 is s/20.00 soles per person and gives us full access to the viewpoint and approach the pools where a guide will explain the origin and importance it has, do not miss the opportunity to have one of the best photos on your visit to the Sacred Valley.
Couple Visiting the Natural Salt Flats of Maras
9. MORAY, THE CIRCULAR TERRACES OF CUSCO
It is the perfect complement to your visit to the salt flats of Maras, the terraces of Moray are a set of platforms located in the sector of Moray that has a similar shape to the Roman amphitheater which gives it a great relationship but in reality it is not so, it was a center of experimentation for seeds and for agricultural purposes.
It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole region and visiting it represents one of the best things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru.
Woman Appreciating the Circular Terraces of Moray
10. HORSEBACK RIDING IN THE SACRED VALLEY
It doesn’t matter if you are not the best at riding a horse or you don’t know it, we are sure you will love this activity that is part of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru. There are many places where you can find this activity but undoubtedly the best is from the Chalan hacienda near Urubamba where you can get tours on the back of one of the horses in the area (short route) or even to the sector of Maras (long route), everything will depend on what you want to do and according to that an activity is put together for you.
Travelers Enjoying Horseback Riding in the Sacred Valley
11. ADRENALINE IN THE WATERS OF THE URUBAMBA RIVER, RAFTING
The Sacred Valley is characterized not only for being a historical place but also for containing one of the largest rivers in the whole region of Cusco. The Urubamba River allows one of the most adrenaline-filled activities like rafting to take place, remember that there are many categories in which you can participate (Class 2 to 4). Depending on which one you choose, the starting point varies because there are places where the current is much stronger and places where it is less intense. But for all nature lovers it represents one of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru is one of the things you should do anyway.
Adventurers Enjoying Rafting in the Urubamba River
12. TASTE THE DELICIOUS CRAFT BEER IN THE SACRED VALLEY
Did you know that beer has a 4 thousand year old origin? The artisans of the Sacred Valley conducted several tests to finally be able to offer you a unique experience, an incredible tasting of craft beer made with natural ingredients from the Sacred Valley itself. In the middle of 2024 we can know that in each city there is a main brewery, in the same way it works in the Sacred Valley where there is a factory that provides the main craft beer. It is located in the sector of Pachar, very close to Ollantaytambo so visiting it is part of your experience. If you like to try new flavors, this is definitely one of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru that you will love.
Delight an Artisanal Beer
13. A NIGHT ABOVE THE CLOUDS, SKY LODGE
One of the most peculiar hotels in the Sacred Valley, it stands out particularly because its rooms are literally suspended at the end of a mountain 400 meters high; they are glass capsules that give guests a unique view of the entire vast valley. Spending a night here is undoubtedly considered a unique adventure, since in order to ascend you must take the Via Ferrata and descend using the Zip Line, these activities are already included in the price of the night.
For adventure lovers this is one of the top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru, if you are one of them you will really love every second inside the Sky Lodge.
Couple Watching the Sunrise from the Skylodge
14. RECHARGE YOUR ENERGY IN A SPA
Not many travelers know that among the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru is to enjoy free time in a spa. Although the style is different from conventional spas because here they use organic oils, medicinal herbs and Andean techniques to reach that point of relaxation. Among the most important and distinguished spas you can choose from during your visit are Relais and Chateaux’s Sol y Luna, Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness and more.
Relaxing time at the Spa
A PLACE OF HISTORY, CULTURE AND LOTS OF FUN
“In the Sacred Valley you can find the largest corn that exists in all of Peru, it is 18 centimeters long and 7 centimeters in diameter. Tasting this delicacy along with Andean cheese is one of the best things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru that you will really love.”
15. TOWN OF OLLANTAYTAMBO
During your 2024 trip to the artisan village of Ollantaytambo will be an experience that you will enjoy 100% and remember for a lifetime. Walking through its traditional streets is one of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru where colorful stalls await your visit. What is representative at first sight is the difference of cultures, while the Inca constructions are located at the top of the mountain with a control and strategic purpose, the colonial buildings are at the base of the mountain.
What stands out of the whole archaeological center are the amount of terraces that you can see at a glance and when you go inside and ascend to the top you can discover the temple of the sun that is built by stones of an immense size that you would hardly believe that it was made by man, the most impressive thing is that the place of origin of these huge stones is literally in front of the mountain, a quarry used since Inca times.
Woman Walking the Streets of Ollantaytambo
16. GLAMPING IN URUBAMBA
We know that traditional accommodations are no longer an option for you during 2024 for this reason we offer a version of Glamping that takes place in many points. Spending a night here is part of the list of things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru as its facilities are oriented to provide glamor with experience of connection with nature, among the most popular we have Chaska Ocupi Urubamba that will make our night in the sacred valley something unique.
Glamping Service
17. ANDEAN SOUNDS
On the way to visit the archaeological center of Pisac you will find a space dedicated to the interpretation of Sonidos del Ande Center with Vicente Rayo. As part of the Andean cosmogony the interpretation of signals produced by onomatopoeic sounds has been very important in the agricultural projection so this place is intended to be a complete interpretation of how they are produced and what it means giving to understand to all travelers the great importance it has even with the passage of time. Although it is not very well known we know that this is one of the things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru that you will really appreciate since it can also be combined with clay therapy activities and llama therapy as a way of relaxation and disconnection from the routine.
Meet Vicente Rayo – Center for the Interpretation of Andean Sounds
18. TREK TO CACHICATA
In front of the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo you can find the quarry of Cachicata, a very important place lost in time. This remote place is the place from where most of the stones were removed and then moved and worked in order to build the Inca enclosures on the top of the mountain. For lovers of hiking this is one of the best things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru as it allows the more adventurous to enjoy an extensive hike to reach the top of the mountain where you can see a beautiful sun gate, for their finishes it is deduced that this place was very important within the Inca roads.
Hikers on the Cachicata Trek
19. START OF THE INCA TRAIL
Very close to the Ollantaytambo sector is located at kilometer 82 also known as Piscacucho, currently the starting point of the most important hike (Classic Inca Trail) for which adventurers walk for four days to finally reach the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Undoubtedly because of its popularity it has become one of the top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru. Remember that this activity must be done in the company of an authorized travel agency, not all companies can do it, plus you must book at least 5 months in advance.
Traveler Appreciating Archaeological Centers on the Inca Trail
20. ATV IN MARAS MORAY
It is the most daring and exciting way in which you can visit the circular terraces of Moray and the natural salt flats of Maras. An experience that takes place on four wheels along the way also visiting the natural lagoon of Piuray. For many it becomes one of the most unforgettable experiences of a lifetime, since you not only enjoy the destinations but also the incredible landscapes along the way, remember that being one of the top things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru you must make a reservation in advance and do it with a travel agency that is reliable.
maras moray atv ride
Remember that this place is the gateway to reach the world wonder of Machu Picchu but should not only be a place of passage, now know that there are many things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru. And Auri Peru has an infinite variety of options for you, contact us now and discover everything you can do during your stay, believe me it will be an experience you will never forget, you could even choose to add 1 more day to your trip.
“There are things in life that are worthwhile, such as traveling to Peru”
