Machu Picchu is the crown jewel of the Inca Empire. It is believed to have been built by Pachacuti, the legendary Inca figure who was responsible for the expansion of the Inca Empire in the 15th century. Archaeologists have determined that it was a country estate for Inca nobility because it is not designed in the form of a conventional city. Some also suppose that it was built to protect this nobility in the event of an attack. An educated look at the placement and direction of the ruins would also indicate that they were built to accommodate a variety of sacred landscape features and in consideration of the sun’s position throughout the seasons.
There are several ways to visit Machu Picchu. If you are adventurous (and fit!) you can embark on a 4 day hike along the Inca Trail. Those who want a bit of the outdoors, but can’t spare the time, can hop on the trail at km 104 and still participate in the glorious experience of walking through the gates at sunrise. If you prefer a less vigorous route you can take the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and shuttle to the ruins. Don´t miss the walk to Huayna Pichu. The view of Machu Picchu and the rest of the valley from there is quite unique.
One of the best views of Machu Picchu can be found from Putukusi mountain, above Aguas Calientes. According to locals and shamans, Putukusi is filled with spiritual energy that can be very powerful. However, this is not the only reason that this hike is for the strong-hearted: it is a very steep climb involving a variety of wooden ladders. Follow the railroad towards Machu Picchu and watch for a sign on your right to begin the climb.
This video is a candid view of one couple’s experience on the 4-day trek along the Inca Trail:
Peruvian food is the latest international culinary trend. This phenomenon has led to the increasingly popular ‘Novoandino’ style of fusion cuisine, first inspired by Bernardo Roca Rey and Don Cucho la Rosa in the early ‘90s. It is no wonder that the rest of the world is catching on, given the eclectic mix of cultures (Spain, Africa, China and Japan) that have contributed to the history of Peruvian food.
Chef Pio Vasquez de Velazco is the owner of El Huacatay, one of Urubamba’s best restaurants, known for its Novoandino menu. Pio offers informal cooking classes to OTR travelers who are interested in learning his culinary secrets. Contact Pio at elhuacatay@yahoo.es to organize a lesson.
The increasing popularity of Peru on the international travel map has had devastating effects on the Inca Trail. An overflow of careless tourists has led to pollution and crowds resulting in a government imposition of permits to hike the trail. It is not surprising that the new hidden gems are the less-developed trails in the Sacred Valley. Find out details about Alternative Treks in the Sacred Valley.
Pablo Seminario is well known throughout the Sacred Valley and around the world for his works of art. Born in the town of Piura in the North of Peru, Pablo eventually settled in Urubamba with his wife Marilú. Seminario’s pre-columbian styles reflect his efforts to revive the Andean culture. Although you will find his plates, mugs and décor in a variety of hotels in Southern Peru, over 90% of his work is exported internationally. The patterns of these high quality pieces are charming and unique adding a rustic touch to any urban home. Visit the Seminario’s workshop and gallery (which is also their home) in the town of Urubamba. You will have to opportunity to watch a short video on the history of pottery in Peru and visit the unique gallery of artifacts that are on display. Best of all, you will have the opportunity to buy all sorts of great souvenirs. If you’re not prepared to lug them all the way home, they will be happy to package and send them for you. A small store is also located at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.
The sacred site of Pisac, resting high on a mountain slope overlooking the valley (about 5km from Cusco), is well known for its ancient Inca temple built with outstanding stonework. Its architecture provides insight to the spiritual connection between the earth and the sky. Pisac’s chicana, the four-sided cross which is found at all sacred Inca sites, is formed from a stone that is placed outside the temple’s courtyard. At a certain time of day, the chacana stone’s shadow projects the perfect form of the sacred symbol. In the center of the Temple of the Sun is a large stone set in a formation of smaller stones resembling a sundial, referred to as the hitching post to the sun or Intihuatana.
It is possible to hike to Pisac from Cusco, but you’ll want to make sure you have enough energy for the hike up the hillside to the Temples so you may be best to go with a taxi. If you aren’t familiar with Inca culture it is best to go with a guide who can explain the significance of the ruins. Be sure to have your driver or guide drop you off at the higher parking lot so that you can wander down the hill to take in the views. You can then get picked up at the lower lot.
Pisac is bustling on Sundays when its artisan market takes place in the central square. Hundreds of vendors descend from the remote villages of the Sacred Valley in their typical dress to hock their goods. Although there are good deals to be had (bargaining is expected), it has become quite touristy. A smaller version takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Known as ‘the land of the rainbow’ for the frequent rainbow citings in the area, Chinchero today is known for its outstanding textiles and agricultural fair held on Sundays. This small town is located about 30km from Cusco at a plateau of 12,400 feet (so bring your woolies for the early morning), part way between the highlands and the Sacred Valley. The market, located in the lower part of town, along Calle Manco II, is worth seeing because it demonstrates the ‘trueque’, which is the barter system used in the traditional markets. There is also a tourist market where you can buy artisan crafts (if you weren’t prepared to bring home a cow as a souvenir).
If you’ve seen enough markets in Peru, there is another great reason to visit Chinchero. The local community remains quite traditional, living in an old pre-hispanic settlement and maintaining the Quechuan traditions and attire. It is said that Inca Tupac Yupanqui chose Chinchero as his place of residence. The palaces were later burned down as a means of keeping the invading Spaniards at bay. The main plaza is outstanding with large Inca walls and a beautiful colonial church. The Incan terraces, although not as spectacular as those of Pisac or Ollantaytambo, provide beautiful landscape to this charming village.
Although the market is only held on Sundays, the shops in town sell high quality weavings at reasonable prices. On Tuesdays and Thursdays you will often find a few sellers in the main square who have their products on display as well.
You do not need a guide to visit Chinchero. Your best option is to hire a taxi or take a bus from the Terminal Terrestre in Urubamba (50 minutes) or Tullumayo in Cusco (90 minutes). Despite its lower profile, Chinchero’s market requires tourists to pay for entry with the boleto turistico. It can be avoided by taking the back route in, but the money you pay goes towards maintaining tourist sites in Peru, so you may as well just enter with the rest of the tourists.
Maras is becoming increasingly popular on the travel trail for its salineras, or salt mines. Located on a hillside are thousands of small pools created from natural, subterranean spring water. As the water evaporates, the salt in the pools slowly solidifies to create a pile of salt, which is then processed for use and consumption. This salt was produced during Inca times and is still being produced today by descendants of the Inca. Although it may not sound like an interesting attraction, the site of a salt mine is quite unique to see with its stark white ‘snow-like’ terrain contrasting the Andean landscapes of the Sacred Valley. The best time to visit the Salineras is at sunset when the reflection glistens off the salt’s bright white surface.
Moray is a bit reminiscent of the Nasca Lines, with three sets of concentric terraces built into the earth like a stack of bowls. It is presumed to have been an Inca agricultural laboratory, built to take advantage of a variety of microclimates for crop growth. This site is a classic example of Inca agricultural ingenuity. Viewing Moray in person does make you think twice about Erik von Daniken’s extra-terrestrial theories in his book, Chariots of the Gods.
Moray and Maras are located near one another and make a great day excursion. Hire a taxi / tour guide from Cusco or Urubamba to visit both, or hop on a colectivo, get off at Maras and hike (8km) to Moray.
Framed by the sacred mountains of Veronica and Alankoma, and the magnificent Fortress with its Inca terraces, Ollantaytambo gives you a rare view of life under Inca rule. Wander through the narrow, cobble-stoned streets and imagine what life was like in the era of the Inca Empire.
Begin your day at the Fortress ruins (an early start will help you beat the crowds), which tower high above this quaint little town (entry requires the boleto turistico). Climb the imposing stepped terraces (16 in total!) to the Temple of the Sun. It is best to explore these ruins with a guide who can point out, and explain the significance of, the formidable Inca architecture that is displayed. Have your guide take you through the Valley of the Patacancha by the Baños de la Ñusta on your descent to see this ceremonial bathing place. By the time you reach the bottom, artisans will have set up shop in the parking lot beneath the terraces. If nothing catches your eye then consider stopping into nearby Kusicoyllor for a delicious breakfast or lunch.
Continue on to the CATTCO Museum [Patacalle s/n – two blocks northwest of the main plaza; open daily from 9am – 7pm; entrance free with suggested donation; www.catcco.org] where you will find interesting exhibits and descriptions of what was once the private estate of Inca Pachacuti. The museum provides great information, and serves as the local visitor center, however the majority of the exhibits are in Spanish. Keep an eye out for the wooden paddles that have English explanations on them.
Once outside, tour through the neighborhood (which is in the form of a trapezoid with blocks creating a grid) and notice the canchas (communal housing blocks) and flowing streams (that served as irrigation ditches). Pottery has been made and exchanged in this area for thousands of years. Each of the surrounding communities has a reputation for a particular type of pottery. As traditional uses of pottery declined and with the disrupted access to clay imposed by the Agrarian reform, potters turned to other means of income such as porter jobs on the Inca Trail during the dry season. Today a renewed interest in local pottery has been ignited by tourism in the area. Keep your eyes open for potters selling their unique wares from their homes or in the streets of Ollantaytambo, and take in the day to day of Andean community life. Make your way past the southern end of the Plaza de Armas to the real market, where locals go to buy their produce.
Andean legend has it that millions of years ago, spiritual beings transmitted electro-magnetic energy from the universe to feed the civilizations of earth with spiritual energy. The Sacred Valley was known as the center of the four corners of the earth. Within the Sacred Valley there are approximately 95 Power Places which are sacred sites that connect to a particular constellation of stars. The Inca saw the Sacred Valley as a reflection of the Milky Way, making the region a literal ‘heaven on earth’.
Although increasingly populated, the Sacred Valley is far enough away from the lights and activity of Cusco, that you can experience the stars by standing outside your room on a clear night. For more organized viewing, head to Casa Andina which has its very own planetarium. Each night (weather permitting) there is a planetarium show and lecture about The Inca’s Sky.
The Sacred Valley offers something for everyone. If hiking the Andes doesn’t give you the rush you’re looking for, absorb the surrounding views while flowing along the Urubamba river in a raft; from high up on a horse while climbing above the Sacred Valley; or bouncing your way down a trail on a mountain bike. The Urubamba river offers rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV (depending on the time of year; April – November is the best time for rafting).
Terra Explorer can organize rafting trips on the Urubamba River as well as other parts of Peru. Single and multi-day trips are available. Horseback riding can be arranged through the stables at Sol y Luna.
The crystal waters of this lake can be seen on your left hand side as you make your way through the Sacred Valley to Urubamba (near Chinchero). This area, filled with a diverse range of birds and fish, is a great place for mountain biking and landscape photography. It is also known for a UFO citing in the 70’s, when several cars reportedly stalled simultaneously as a silver disk floated into the waters and disappeared.
Awanakancha –'weaving palace' in quechua- was created in 1997 by the Caparó family, in a private effort to give tourists the opportunity to appreciate these beautiful, gentle animals in their natural habitat. At the same time visitors can learn more about the dyeing, weaving and knitting of the fiber that comes from camelids such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Awanakancha also works with members of textile communities of the south of Peru, who exhibit their majestic traditional techniques to transform the original fiber into textiles of the highest quality. The place is very rustic: peaceful animals in open stables (you can feed them), weavers working in little huts with roofs made of straw, an original Inca terrace and natural water springs together with a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains.
The entrance is free, but it is advised to call before hand to make an appointment, for they sometimes have large groups who visit the premises and you’d have to wait for a guided tour (open everyday from 8am to 5pm).
www.awanakancha.com km.23 highway Cusco-Pisac
Phone: (51 84) 20-3287 / 962-3240
You can get there by taxi (not more than 100 soles round trip from Cusco`s main square). If you take a Sacred Valley Tour ask if they stop at Awanakancha.
This park is the result of the efforts of six Andean communities in the Sacred Valley of Cusco together with different International Aid Foundations, who have established a framework to protect, preserve and promote the bio-cultural heritage of the Andes.
The Parque de la Papa is located only 3km away from Pisaq (40km from Cusco), between 3200 and 5000 meters above sea level, the ideal altitude for the growing of potatoes.
Among their several projects you will find a processing centre for natural medicines and soaps, a network of local pharmacies, a registry of the park’s biological diversity, a video communal centre and the amazing agro-ecotourism project.
This particular project offers four trekking routes passing through breathtaking landscapes and lakes that cover an area of more than 9000 hectares. Local guides will share their culture and ecological lifestyle while leading these treks, thereby allowing you to experience their devotion for Pachamama (Mother Earth).
This is a true journey to the Andean roots and a unique experience of sustainable tourism. It is an opportunity to learn why, as they say, ‘everything that exists is sheltered and fed by Pachamama’.
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