The Sacred Valley Peru is a green and fertile valley in the Andes, with the Urubamba River running between the mountains. You can visit Inca sites such as Moray and Pisac, see the salt ponds of Maras, walk around local markets and stay in smaller towns such as Urubamba. It is easy to combine the valley with both Cusco and Machu Picchu. Most travelers visit the Sacred Valley from Cusco, but my route went the other way. After Machu Picchu, the train took me back to Ollantaytambo and from there I continued to Urubamba. Moray and Maras came next, followed by Pisac and finally Cusco. After the busy days around Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley felt very relaxing. Green hills, mountains, colorful local clothing and good Peruvian food gave this part of the trip a different feel from Cusco.
If you visit Machu Picchu before the Sacred Valley, check where your return train ends. Continuing from Ollantaytambo into the valley can be more practical than traveling all the way back to Cusco first.
Where is the Sacred Valley in Peru?
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is also known as the Urubamba Valley. It lies north of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes and follows the Urubamba River through an area that has been used for agriculture for centuries. The fertile land was important to the Incas, and today you still see terraces, archaeological sites and farming villages throughout the valley. Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo are some of the better known towns. The landscape feels different from Cusco. Parts of the valley are lower, greener and a little warmer, although you are still high in the Andes. Along the road you regularly get wide views over fields, mountains and the river below.
Getting around the Sacred Valley Peru
Getting around the Sacred Valley was easier than expected. Transport on this trip was a mix of train, hotel pick up, taxis, local buses, a private driver and a colectivo. You can use whatever works best for each part of the route. After Machu Picchu, PeruRail brought me from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo. My accommodation arranged a pick up at the station and drove me to Urubamba for the first night. From Urubamba, a taxi took me to the bus station and the journey continued by local bus to Pisac. It took around one and a half hours on my trip and was an easy way to travel between the two towns.
For Moray and Maras, a private driver was more practical because both places could be visited in the same afternoon. I also used a taxi for the Pisac ruins. Private transport costs more than the local bus, but sometimes it saves enough time to make it worth it. The colectivo from Pisac back to Cusco was a little more adventurous. It turned out that the driver was not operating legally and because of police checks we had to take a long detour through the countryside. The route was beautiful, but next time I would choose an official colectivo or registered taxi.
Mix local transport with taxis or a private driver. Buses work well between the main towns, while a driver can save time for places that are more difficult to combine.
For longer connections around Peru, you can compare routes through 12Go. If the Sacred Valley is part of a longer road trip, you can also compare rental cars through Discover Cars. I did not need a rental car for this part of my trip.
Places to visit in Sacred Valley Peru
There are plenty of things to do in the Sacred Valley, but my trip focused on Urubamba, Moray, Maras and Pisac. These places fitted naturally into the route from Machu Picchu back to Cusco.
1. Urubamba and Niños del Arco Iris
The first night was near Urubamba at Las Casitas del Arco Iris. The accommodation supports the Niños del Arco Iris Foundation, which provides education, health care and nutrition for children and families from communities in the Sacred Valley.
The project was one of the reasons for staying here. During my visit there were classrooms, a computer room and facilities for medical and dental care. Unfortunately, it was Saturday, so the school was closed and there was no normal school day to see. The bungalow was comfortable and surrounded by a nice garden. After Machu Picchu the day before, taking some time to relax here was very welcome.
Later that afternoon, I walked to Urubamba for lunch. The walk took about 30 minutes and my legs were still hurting from Machu Picchu, which made it feel a little longer. Lunch was at El Huacatay, a small restaurant in Urubamba where I had a vegetable curry in the garden. Peruvian food had already become one of my favorite parts of the trip. Urubamba was also a good place to take things a little slower between Machu Picchu, Moray and Pisac.
2. Moray Inca ruins
Moray looks very different from many of the other Inca sites around Cusco. Deep circular terraces go down into the ground and from above they look a little like a theater. The different levels create changes in temperature and growing conditions. It is thought that the Incas used Moray to experiment with crops and microclimates, although the exact purpose is not completely known. After visiting several archaeological sites around Cusco, it was interesting to see something with such a different shape and possible purpose. Moray can be included in the Boleto Turístico del Cusco, depending on which ticket you choose. Check the official COSITUC information and look at all the sites you plan to visit in Cusco and the Sacred Valley before choosing your ticket.
3. Salinas de Maras
Moray and Maras are easy to combine on the same day. A private driver took me to both places in one afternoon and also stopped at a few viewpoints along the way. At Salinas de Maras, thousands of small salt ponds cover one side of the valley. Salty spring water runs through small channels into the ponds, where the water evaporates and leaves the salt behind.
Salt has been collected here since pre Inca times and production continues today. During my visit it was still possible to walk between the salt ponds and see the channels close up. Visitor access has changed since then, so check the latest rules before you go. The views around Maras were just as memorable. With a private driver it was easy to stop for a moment when another wide view over the Sacred Valley appeared.
Maras is separate from the Boleto Turístico, so check the entrance arrangements when planning your visit.
4. Pisac Market
By coincidence, my day in Pisac was a Sunday, which turned out to be perfect timing. Sunday is the main market day and people from Quechua communities in the surrounding highlands come into town with fruit, vegetables and other products.
Traditional colorful clothing, local produce and busy streets gave Pisac a nice atmosphere. There were also plenty of stalls with woven products, ponchos, bags, ceramics, jewelry and alpaca items. Pisac became one of my favorite places for souvenir shopping in Peru. Take some time to look around because there is a lot of choice and not every stall sells exactly the same things.There were also smaller shops run by local artists. At AYNI, I bought an Inca style necklace made by a local jewelry artist. Buying something directly from a small shop like this is always more personal than leaving all the souvenir shopping until the end of the trip.
Buy the Peruvian souvenirs you really like in Pisac or Cusco. I found the choice much better here than later in Lima. You can also check my souvenir travel blogs for more inspiration.
5. Pisac Inca ruins
The Pisac archaeological site lies high above the town and was another place covered by my Boleto Turístico. A taxi up to the site saved time and another long uphill walk. There are terraces, old Inca buildings and wide views across the Sacred Valley. What interested me most was the old cemetery in the mountain opposite the archaeological site. You can see many small holes in the rock where the tombs were made. I learned that the dead were placed in a fetal position with food and valuable objects for the afterlife. This was something I had not seen at the other Inca sites on the trip.
After around two hours at the ruins, it was time to head back down to Pisac. By then there had been plenty of Inca history in Cusco, Machu Picchu, Moray and Pisac, and I was starting to look forward to a completely different part of Peru.
Where to stay and eat in Pisac
In Pisac, I stayed at Pisac Inca Guest House, a small guesthouse run by two local sisters. My room was on the first floor with a nice view toward the mountains. The guesthouse was slightly outside the center, but the walk into town only took a few minutes. Loved this place!
Pisac had more cafés and restaurants than expected. Several foreigners had settled here and opened small businesses alongside the local restaurants and shops. For breakfast or coffee, Sofra Culinary Cafe is a good option, while SolSeed works well for a slower brunch or lunch. For dinner, La Ruta – Restaurante gourmet Pisac is close to the main square, while Q’UMAS Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant is another option for Peruvian food with vegetarian and vegan choices. These places were not part of my original trip, but they are spots I would check out if I returned to Pisac.
For accommodation around Urubamba and Pisac, you can compare options through Booking.com
Practical tips for visiting Sacred Valley Peru
Sacred Valley Peru altitude
The altitude changes throughout the Sacred Valley. Urubamba is around 2,870 meters above sea level, which is lower than Cusco at around 3,400 meters. That can make parts of the valley feel a little easier, but some archaeological sites are higher again. Bring water, use sunscreen and take your time when walking uphill.
How many days in the Sacred Valley?
Two nights worked well for this route. There was enough time for Urubamba, Moray and Maras followed by Pisac, without returning to Cusco in between. Three nights gives you more time if you also want to explore Ollantaytambo properly or prefer slower travel days. On my trip, Ollantaytambo was mainly the train connection with Machu Picchu. A day trip from Cusco is possible, but staying overnight gives you more time for the towns, food and markets as well as the archaeological sites.
Boleto Turístico del Cusco
If you are visiting archaeological sites in both Cusco and the Sacred Valley, check the Boleto Turístico del Cusco before buying separate entrance tickets. Moray and Pisac can be included, depending on which ticket you choose. It is useful to decide this while planning your complete route rather than looking at one archaeological site at a time.
Independent Travel or a Tour?
The Sacred Valley is easy enough to explore independently if you are comfortable using local transport. A private driver is useful when you want more freedom or need to combine places that are less convenient by bus. A tour can be easier when you have only one day or simply do not want to organize transport yourself. Traveling independently gives you more freedom to decide how long you want to stay somewhere.
More places in the Sacred Valley Peru
Ollantaytambo and Chinchero are also popular places to visit in the Sacred Valley. Ollantaytambo was part of my route because of the train connection with Machu Picchu, but I did not spend enough time there to give you proper travel tips about the town. Chinchero was not part of my trip. If you have more time, both can be added to a Sacred Valley Peru itinerary, but the places above are the ones I experienced myself.
FAQs about Sacred Valley Peru
Is Sacred Valley Peru worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you are already traveling between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The valley gives you a mix of Inca sites, smaller towns, markets, mountain views and good food, and staying overnight makes the trip less rushed than a day tour.
How do you visit the Sacred Valley from Cusco?
You can travel from Cusco by local bus, colectivo, taxi, private driver or organized tour. My route went in the opposite direction, starting from Ollantaytambo after Machu Picchu and ending back in Cusco via Pisac.
Is it better to visit the Sacred Valley before or after Machu Picchu?
Both options work. Visiting after Machu Picchu fitted my itinerary well because the train already brought me back to Ollantaytambo. From there, it was easy to continue through the valley instead of returning to Cusco first.
Let Me Inspire You Takeaways
The Sacred Valley Peru was a nice change after Machu Picchu. There was still plenty of Inca history, but also markets, good food, green mountains and some time to slow down. Continuing from Ollantaytambo worked very well for my Peru route. Moray, Maras and Pisac were the main stops, while Urubamba gave me a comfortable break in between. After Pisac, my head was full of Inca history. A few final days in Cusco were waiting, and after that I was ready for the coast.
Continue to Cusco and the Peruvian coast
From Pisac, I traveled back to Cusco for my final days in the Andes. Coming back to a city I already knew was easy and there was no need to fill every day with sightseeing. After Cusco, the trip continued to Lima and the Peruvian coast. After mountains, terraces and many Inca sites, I was ready for a completely different part of Peru. Continue with my Lima travel blog for the next part of the trip, or compare your onward transport through 12Go and flights or hotels through Booking.
