Sacred Valley - Sacred Land of the Andes
Inca fortresses, living Andean markets, and Peru's finest luxury lodges - set within the fertile valley the Incas themselves called sacred.
The Sacred Valley: Agricultural and Spiritual Heart of the Inca Empire
The Sacred Valley of the Incas - Willkamayu in Quechua, meaning 'Sacred River' - stretches roughly 60 kilometers along the Urubamba River between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, at an elevation of 2,800 to 3,000 meters - noticeably lower and warmer than Cusco, making it an ideal setting for acclimatization and for growing the coca, maize, and other crops that once sustained the Inca Empire.
The valley was the Inca Empire's most sacred and productive agricultural region, its fertile floor and dramatic terraces producing ceremonial crops reserved for Inca nobility and priests. Today, it combines extraordinary archaeological heritage - Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero - with living Andean communities, luxury boutique lodges, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Peru.
At Epic Andean, our Sacred Valley experiences are designed around the conviction that the valley deserves far more than a rushed day trip from Cusco. We arrange multi-day stays in the finest lodges, private guided visits to archaeological sites at dawn, horseback rides through farmland, and immersive encounters with the communities still cultivating the valley's ancient terraces.
Location
Elevation
River
Key Sites
From Cusco
Hotels
Best for
Cusco Region · 30–90 km north of Cusco city
2,800–3,100 m above sea level (gentler than Cusco)
Urubamba River (Willkamayu) flows the full length
Pisac · Ollantaytambo · Moray · Maras · Chinchero
45 min to Pisac · 1.5h to Ollantaytambo
Sol y Luna · Inkaterra Urubamba · Belmond Rio Sagrado
Acclimatization · culture · archaeology · luxury · trekking
Key Destinations in the Sacred Valley
Pisac - Market and Inca Citadel
Pisac anchors the eastern end of the Sacred Valley and offers two exceptional experiences in one location. The colorful weekly market - held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays - fills the town square with Andean crafts, fresh produce, and traditional highland life. Above the town, a dramatic Inca citadel climbs the mountainside in a series of temples, palaces, and agricultural terraces, offering sweeping views across the entire valley. Epic Andean combines both in a single private guided visit.
Ollantaytambo - Living Inca Town
Ollantaytambo is the only surviving example in Peru of an Inca town still inhabited in its original layout - a grid of streets and channeled water courses unchanged since the 15th century. Its massive ceremonial terraces and Temple of the Sun were built using stone quarried from mountains kilometers away across the valley, transported and set in place by thousands of workers in one of the Inca Empire's greatest engineering achievements. Ollantaytambo is also the departure point for all trains to Machu Picchu, making it the natural gateway at the valley's western end.
Just outside the village of Maras, thousands of terraced salt evaporation pools cascade down a hillside fed by a single saltwater spring - still actively harvested by local families using methods unchanged for centuries. Nearby, the circular agricultural terraces of Moray descend in concentric rings 30 meters into a natural depression, believed to have functioned as an Inca agricultural research laboratory, using the different microclimates created by the terraces to experiment with growing crops at different altitudes simultaneously.
Luxury Hotels in Sacred Valley: Our Recommended Properties
The Sacred Valley is home to some of Peru's most distinctive luxury properties - riverside resorts, restored colonial haciendas, and wellness retreats set against dramatic Andean scenery. Epic Andean partners with the valley's finest hotels, selecting each property for its location, service quality, and the authentic sense of place it brings to your stay.
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
Tambo del Inka occupies a privileged riverside setting in the Sacred Valley, offering sweeping views of the Andes and direct access to Machu Picchu via its private train station. The resort is celebrated for its exceptional service, its award‑winning Hawa Restaurant showcasing refined Andean cuisine, and its world‑class spa inspired by ancestral traditions. With its blend of contemporary design and cultural resonance, Tambo del Inka consistently ranks among Peru’s most iconic luxury resorts.
Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness occupies a restored 17th‑century colonial hacienda along the Vilcanota River, blending historic charm with serene luxury. The property is celebrated for its exceptional service, elegant rooms that combine colonial art with contemporary design, and its renowned wellness center offering holistic treatments inspired by ancestral traditions. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley and close to Ollantaytambo station en route to Machu Picchu, Aranwa consistently ranks among Peru’s most distinctive retreats.
Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Rio Sagrado occupies a privileged riverside setting along the Urubamba River, immersing guests in the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley. Inspired by traditional Andean villages, its stone pathways, lush gardens, and serene terraces evoke harmony with local life and landscape. The hotel is celebrated for its exceptional service, refined farm‑to‑table cuisine, and riverside spa rituals. With sweeping views of fields and mountain slopes, Rio Sagrado consistently ranks among Peru’s most enchanting retreats between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba rests in a privileged hillside setting in the Sacred Valley, surrounded by sweeping views of the Andes and fields of corn. Designed in contemporary colonial style, the property blends spacious architecture with the brand’s signature nature‑luxury philosophy. Guests enjoy exceptional service, refined farm‑to‑table cuisine sourced from the hotel’s own organic gardens, and immersive experiences that connect them with local culture and landscapes. Consistently ranked among Peru’s most distinctive retreats, Hacienda Urubamba offers an authentic gateway to Machu Picchu.
Sacred Valley Journeys with Epic Andean
Discover the Sacred Valley with Epic Andean: a timeless Andean landscape blending Inca heritage, colonial villages, and breathtaking natural beauty. From terraced fields and riverside towns to vibrant markets and ancient temples, the valley offers travelers an intimate immersion into Peru's living traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the Sacred Valley
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