Sacred Valley

A Wealth of Archaeological Treasures

Agriculture in the valley more» «less

Agriculture in the valley Agriculture in the valley An hour's journey across the mountains from the Inca capital of Cuzco will bring you to the warmer, more verdant environs of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stretching from Pisac in the east to Ollantaytambo in the west, this fertile agricultural valley is peppered with fascinating archaeological sites and picturesque villages. The Vilcanota or Urubamba River (also known as the Willkamayu, or sacred river, in Quechua) flows through it and glacial peaks stand sentinel over its lush fields.

The Incas prized the Sacred Valley for its pleasant climate, fruitful land and strategic location. It was one of the empire's principal farming areas, said to produce the best corn in all of Peru, and to this day it continues to supply the city of Cuzco with grains, fruits and vegetables. The Incas used the valley as a gateway to the Amazon and built palaces, fortresses and temples here, the most famous and awe-inspiring of these being the ruins at Ollantaytambo and Pisac. They conceived of the river as a mirror image of the Milky Way, in fact, and assigned great ceremonial importance to the region as a whole.

Today, the Sacred Valley is every bit as alluring as it was in Inca times, and its status as one of Peru's top tourist destinations is testament to this. On top of first-class archaeological sites and idyllic scenery, it offers tourists a variety of outdoor activities (such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and rafting), premier handicraft markets, and fine lodging and dining. Lower in altitude than Cuzco by about 1,000 ft, the valley is a great place to spend a day or two acclimatizing to the thinner mountain air before heading to the Inca capital city.

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Av. Hermanos Ayar s/n, Urb. Las Orquideas, Machu Picchu
Review Score 7.6
Constantly innovating and improving its services and facilities to achieve the full satisfaction of its guests, the Hostal de Turistas C...
from USD 33 per night
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Barrio las Orquideas D-8, Machu Picchu
Review Score 8.0
Located a few minutes from the Machu Picchu train station, handicraft markets, and thermal springs, the Green Nature hotel offers comfor...
from USD 52 per night
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Calle Mz. G Lt. 8, Urb. La Cantuta, Urubamba
Review Score 8.0
Hostal El Maizal's country-style bungalows with terra cotta roofs and exposed wooden beams possess a charmingly warm and relaxing atmosp...
from USD 35 per night
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Huayna Capac s/n, Chichubamba, Urubamba
Review Score 9.0
Located in the hamlet of Chichubamba at the outskirts of Urubamba, El Huerto Paraiso is a rural hotel set in Spanish colonial-style buil...
from USD 26 per night
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Av . Pachacutec Mz. 19 Lt. 9, Machu Picchu
Review Score 7.8
Taypikala Boutique Machu Picchu is a modern and luxurious hotel located in Aguas Calientes, the town below the ruins of Machu Picchu. I...
from USD 139 per night
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Av. Pachacutec 150, Machu Picchu
Review Score 7.0
Located in the upper part of Avenida Pachacutec, just a stone's throw away from the entrance to the hot springs, Hostal Imperio de los I...
from USD 22 per night
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Av. Pachacutec 109, Machu Picchu
Review Score 10.0
Smart, chic and people-friendly, the El MaPi Hotel unites creative design with day-to-day practicality. Its eye-catching yet unpretenti...
from USD 200 per night
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Calle Colla Raymi #104, Machu Picchu
Review Score 8.1
Gringo Bill's Hotel offers cozy accommodations with personality right on the main square of Aguas Calientes. Catering to travelers seek...
from USD 75 per night
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Lí­nea Férrea Km. 110, Machu Picchu
Review Score 9.0
Escape to your own private Andean paradise of lush gardens, whitewashed cottages and intimate terraces in the shadow of Machu Picchu. A...
from USD 548 per night
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Av. Imperio de los Incas s/n, Machu Picchu
Review Score 10.0
The Hostal Varayoc is a simple budget hotel very conveniently located near the train station and the place where buses depart for Machu ...
from USD 40 per night
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This is a zero-star hotel.
Probably due to the type of accommodation, this hotel or vacation rental has not been evaluated by existing star rating systems. The stars for this property are therefore awarded by Pacarama based on its expertise and knowledge of the hotel market in Peru and Chile.
Prices are per night per room