If Machu Picchu is the reason most people travel to Peru, the Sacred Valley is where the journey starts to make sense.
Stretching between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley follows the Urubamba River through an Andean landscape of farmland, traditional villages, and some of the most important Inca archaeological sites in Peru. It’s not just a scenic route, but a living region where history, culture, and daily life still overlap.
Around every bend, the Sacred Valley reveals another incredible vista, interspersed by small villages where many of the traditions passed down from the Incas are still woven into daily life.
Travelling through the valley, what stands out isn’t just what you see, but how naturally it all fits together. You’ll see ancient terraces still in use, towns built on Inca foundations, and communities that continue traditions passed down for generations.
What to see: Pisac archaeological site and artisan market
Why visit: One of the most accessible and impressive introductions to Inca engineering and Andean culture
Pisac is often the first major stop when travelling from Cusco into the Sacred Valley, and it immediately shifts your perspective.
High above the town, the ruins stretch across the mountainside in sweeping terraces, ceremonial spaces, and agricultural zones carved directly into the ridge. It’s one of those sites where the scale only really lands when you’re standing there. When looking down over the valley and realising how deliberately the Incas worked with this landscape.
The walk through the ruins also gives a sense of how connected everything was: farming, religion, and daily life all layered into one system.
Back in the town, the pace changes again. Pisac’s market is one of the most well-known in the valley, but it still feels rooted in daily life rather than purely tourism. You’ll find textiles, ceramics, and produce brought in from surrounding communities.
Weaving is especially important here. Techniques using natural dyes and alpaca wool are still widely practiced, with patterns that carry meaning tied to identity, ancestry, and place.
Standing at Pisac, I couldn’t get over the scale of these agricultural terraces climbing high up the mountainside. Built by the Incas more than 500 years ago, they’re a remarkable reminder of just how advanced this civilisation was.
After the quiet of the ruins, the Pisac Markets were a real shift. They were busy, colourful, and full of life, with locals selling everything from textiles to fresh produce.
Ollantaytambo is where the Sacred Valley stops feeling like a backdrop of history and instead feels like a living, working continuation of it.
The town itself still follows the original Inca urban grid. Stone foundations, narrow streets, and functioning water channels date back centuries and are still part of everyday life. It’s a slightly surreal experience at first. You turn a corner and realise the wall beside you has been there since long before modern Peru existed.
Above the town, the fortress rises in enormous terraces built into the mountainside. It once served both ceremonial and military purposes and remains one of the most important surviving Inca structures in the country.
Ollantaytambo is also a key logistical hub as the place where most travellers board the train to Machu Picchu, following the Urubamba River deeper into the Andes.
The scale of Ollantaytambo really hit me on the climb. These terraces are enormous. Once a retreat for Inca nobility during the Spanish advance, the site rises to a military zone at the top where soldiers kept watch over the valley below.
From the terraces, you can look across the valley and spot the old Inca storehouses carved into the cliffs. These were used to store crops and feed the town, with narrow openings designed to help move air and keep produce preserved.
What to see: Circular terraces carved into the earth
Why visit: A unique example of Inca agricultural science and environmental control
Moray feels almost abstract compared to the rest of the valley.
Set into a natural depression, a series of perfectly formed circular terraces descend into the earth, each level creating a different microclimate. The most widely accepted theory is that this was used as an agricultural testing ground for Incas to experiment with crops at different altitudes and conditions.
Standing there, it’s the quiet precision that stands out. Nothing feels overly dramatic, yet it somehow leaves a lasting impression because it catches you off guard.
What to see: Thousands of salt pools cascading down the hillside
Why visit: A pre-Inca tradition still operated by local families
A short drive from Moray brings you to one of the most visually striking sites in the Sacred Valley.
The salt pans of Maras spill down the mountainside in thousands of shallow pools, each one carefully maintained by local families. Salt is still harvested here using traditional methods, as it has been for centuries.
What makes it particularly interesting is how functional it remains. This isn’t a reconstructed heritage site. It’s an active production landscape that still plays a role in local livelihoods today.
What to see: Mountain scenery, local dining, boutique stays
Why visit: The most comfortable and central base for exploring the valley
Urubamba sits roughly in the middle of the Sacred Valley and offers a noticeably slower pace than Cusco or Pisac.
Surrounded by farmland and mountain views, it’s often used as a base for travellers who want to stay a little longer in the region without constantly moving hotels. It’s also home to some of the valley’s more refined lodges and restaurants, making it a comfortable place to pause between exploration days.
Up at the lookout above Urubamba, it’s one of those views that makes you think about how much has happened in this valley.
Winding through the Sacred Valley and arriving at Aguas Calientes by train is the perfect way to begin your Machu Picchu adventure.
What to see: Train journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Why visit: One of the most scenic rail journeys in South America
From Ollantaytambo, the train follows the Urubamba River deeper into the Andes, gradually shifting from open valley landscapes into narrower, more dramatic terrain.
It’s less about a single highlight and more about the transition, with farmland giving way to cloud forest, wide horizons narrowing into steep river walls. It builds anticipation in a way that feels very intentional.
For many travellers, this journey becomes one of the standout moments of the entire Peru trip. Read more about Machu Picchu here.
The Sacred Valley is often treated as a stop between Cusco and Machu Picchu, but it’s much more than a place to pass through.
This is where Peru’s history feels most alive — in the ancient ruins scattered across the hillsides, the traditional farming terraces still in use today, and the small towns where culture continues to shape everyday life.
Lower in altitude than Cusco, the valley is also the perfect place to acclimatise before heading deeper into the Andes. Instead of rushing through, many travellers find themselves wanting to slow down here before heading to higher altitudes.
Markets in towns like Pisac offer some of the best shopping in Peru for handcrafted textiles, woven goods, ceramics, and locally made souvenirs, with many techniques passed down through generations.
Whether you’re looking to slow down and acclimatise, explore local culture, or simply spend more time in one of Peru’s most beautiful regions, we can help design a journey that fits your style of travel. Get in touch to start planning your Peru adventure.
Me: trying to be a serious traveller. Also me: couldn’t resist cuddling a llama.
A Pilbara local with extensive global travel experience, Hayley combines deep regional knowledge of Western Australia with a broad perspective. Her sharp attention to detail and proactiveness makes her a vital member of our team.
Expedition Partners (formerly Flower Travel) specialise in expedition style travel by small ship cruise and private rail journeys.
PH: 1300 654 861
Monday-Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm
contact@expeditionpartners.com.au
