Travel bucket list idea:
Cusco Region, Peru
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Towering snow-capped mountains, myriad Inca ruins, time-forgotten villages – the landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which lies some 15km north of Cusco, are magnificent. Spending time here is a must.
The best way to appreciate this beautiful place is by getting active. Hike to the Inca ruins at Pisac for astonishing views; white-water raft on the Urubamba past the vast fortress at Ollantaytambo, horseback ride, mountain bike or zip-line over the valley; stay in a hotel room stapled to the side of a vertiginous cliff.
There’s a wealth of excursions – easily organised from Cusco as a day trip or multi-day stay.
There are no Novoandino gourmet eateries in the Sacred Valley but most villages have simple café restaurants. In Pisac, Kula serve healthy and hearty veggie options.
The Parwa Restaurant in Lamay village about 15 minutes’ drive from Pisac and 30 minutes’ drive from Ollantaytambo, serves authentic Quechua Andean food and is run by an indigenous cooperative.
There are no Novoandino gourmet eateries in the Sacred Valley but most villages have simple café restaurants. In Pisac, Kula serve healthy and hearty veggie options.
The Parwa Restaurant in Lamay village about 15 minutes’ drive from Pisac and 30 minutes’ drive from Ollantaytambo, serves authentic Quechua Andean food and is run by an indigenous cooperative.
The upper Sacred Valley is easy to reach from Cusco – lying just 15km north. Taxis from the city are inexpensive and myriad Cusco agencies offer archaeology or light adventure trips.
The best day hike is from Pisac village (45 mins from Cusco) to the ruins, a six-hour walk which is great for views, acclimatisation and which is clearly signposted. The best spot for white-water rafting is the stretch of Class III rapids between Ollantaytambo and Chilca.
All-inclusive day excursions from Cusco typically leave around 8am, returning after dark.
You can mountain bike pretty much anywhere, but the route between the Inca terraces at Moray and Chinchero village (via the hilltop ruins at Machu Colca) is particularly spectacular and can be cycled in a day.
If you have time, it’s well worth staying over in the valley. Urubamba, Pisac and Ollantaytambo villages have plenty of places to stay from backpacker to luxury. Or try the (Ed: terrifying) Skylodge Suites…
You can take the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo rather than Cusco; all services also leave from the village so there’s no need to double-back.
Activities are good all year round. However, the best months to visit the Sacred Valley are April to October, when there is less chance of rain, and skies are generally blue; especially in August and September, though it can be cold at this time. June is also a good month, when there is the Inti Raymi festival.
White-water rafting is best May-September. The Urubamba river is too rough at other times; even for advanced rafting.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Cusco Region, Peru
The heart of the old Inca empire has a wealth of Inca ruins, Spanish treasures and historic architecture to explore.
Peru
A land of spectacular deserts, high mountains and rainforests that teem with wildlife, Peru is also home to an array of dramatically situated pre-Colombian ruins, including Machu Picchu.
