Valle Sagrado de los Incas and the Urubamba River landscape

Valle Sagrado de los Incas stretches along the Urubamba River near Urubamba in Peru, where Inca terraces, villages and peaks share a single Andean valley.

Valle Sagrado de los Incas, known in English as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, forms an Andean corridor along the Urubamba River north of Cusco where agriculture, stone terraces and village life occupy the same dramatic landscape.Sacred Valley of the Incas The valley lies in the Cusco Region of Peru at elevations that sit below the city of Cusco, with Urubamba among its principal settlements.Urubamba as a main town

Along the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo

Geographically, Valle Sagrado de los Incas follows the course of the Urubamba River between the villages of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, forming a west–east or southeast–northwest band of fertile land framed by high ridges.between Pisac and Ollantaytambo The river is also known locally as Vilcanota or Willkamayu, names that echo its role as a “sacred river” in Inca times.Urubamba or Vilcanota River

The valley occupies inter?Andean terrain north of the former Inca capital at Cusco, with an average elevation of around 2,800 m (9,186 ft), lower than the city itself.average elevation of the valley Steep slopes rise from the valley floor, carrying terraces, scattered hamlets and patches of woodland, while the river cuts a winding line that visitors see repeatedly from roads and paths on both banks.

An Inca heartland of terraces, maize fields and stonework

Historically, Valle Sagrado de los Incas formed a core agricultural zone of the Inca Empire, where the combination of fertile soils, stepped terraces and varied ecological levels supported intensive cultivation.important agricultural centre The valley was particularly important for maize production, associated with large?kernel varieties that supplied the imperial heartland around Cusco.maize production in the valley

Archaeological remains line the valley and its side slopes, including the extensive terraces and hilltop constructions around Pisac, the fortress?like complex at Ollantaytambo and the circular terrace depressions of Moray in the broader Sacred Valley area.key sites such as Pisac and Moray These structures sit above present?day fields of maize, potatoes and other crops, so a journey through the valley passes from stonework of imperial times to working agricultural plots within short distances.

Villages, markets and Andean peaks around Urubamba

Urubamba stands as one of the principal towns of Valle Sagrado de los Incas, together with Pisac and Ollantaytambo, forming a chain of settlements along the river.Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo Traditional villages such as Chinchero, Maras, Calca and Yucay lie on adjacent slopes and plateaus, bringing together Quechua?speaking communities, craft markets and access points to archaeological sites.villages including Urubamba and Maras

The valley landscape around Urubamba combines cultivated terraces, clusters of eucalyptus and native vegetation, and distant snowy summits of the Vilcanota range, which form a backdrop behind the lower green hills.Vilcanota mountains above the valley Paths and minor roads lead from river level up to viewpoints, while the main road and railway lines use the valley floor as a corridor towards Machu Picchu, giving Valle Sagrado de los Incas a dual character as both lived?in agricultural region and route to highland sanctuaries.

Visiting Valle Sagrado de los Incas: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Valle Sagrado de los Incas lies north of Cusco in the Cusco Region of Peru, following the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, with Urubamba as one of its main towns.
• The terrain combines a valley floor and steep slopes with terraces, meaning that visits to hilltop ruins or viewpoints involve walking on gradients and stairways at high altitude.
• The broader valley is reached over mountain roads from Cusco, and once inside it, local roads and tracks link villages such as Pisac, Urubamba, Chinchero, Maras and Ollantaytambo.
• The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Peruvian sol.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Valle Sagrado de los Incas

Where is Valle Sagrado de los Incas?

Valle Sagrado de los Incas is a valley in the Andes of Peru in the Cusco Region, running along the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo north of Cusco.location in the Cusco Region

What can visitors expect on a visit to the valley?

A visit combines river scenery, agricultural terraces, Inca archaeological sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and traditional villages including Urubamba, Chinchero and Maras connected by valley and mountain roads.villages and sites in the valley

What makes Valle Sagrado de los Incas distinctive?

The valley is distinctive for its combination of fertile agricultural land, extensive Inca terraces and stone complexes, and its role as the main corridor linking Cusco with Machu Picchu through the Urubamba River landscape.corridor towards Machu Picchu