Cuzco

Sacred Valley: Definitive guide

Without a doubt, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is one of the most important attractions after Machu Picchu and the Rainbow Mountain, if you still did not dare to visit this wonderful tourist destination, we are sure that with our guide you will be completely convinced to visit it.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, is located 15 kilometers north of the city of Cusco, which is the true cultural cradle of the Incas, proof of them are its numerous archaeological sites.

Losing the rest of the Sacred Valley and heading directly to Machu Picchu would be a serious mistake!

The first thing you need to know before visiting the Sacred Valley is:

It is that you will need a Tourist Ticket, to access the main tourist attractions of the Valley of the Incas and Cusco (with some exceptions such as Maras). The full ticket (Cusco and The Sacred Valley) is priced at S / 130 soles ($ 45USD approx.) And is valid for 10 days.

Keep in mind that is preferable to purchase the FULL TICKET it is cheaper than paying for an entrance to each site separately.

The ticket can be purchased in some places in Cusco or at the entrance of most places, if you want to avoid long lines or setbacks, you can reserve it in advance.

The second and even more important is: Do you feel altitude sickness in the Valley?

Upon arrival in the city of Cusco; You will feel the effects of the altitude, because it is at 3,399 meters above sea level and if you come from a place that is located closer to the sea level, you will feel this discomfort with more intensity. However, the Sacred Valley is located at 2,799 masl Ollantaytambo is located at 2,792 meters above sea ??level and Pisac at 2,972 meters above sea level.

This is good news for you; the height is lower in the Sacred Valley, so if the altitude becomes a problem in your trip, a good idea is to leave Cusco and go to the Sacred Valley. Finally we recommend you avoid any demanding physical activity; like trekking during the first day, and even the second day in height; in addition to drinking a lot of water or coca infusions (Mate de coca) or getting medicines for altitude sickness from pharmacies, if necessary.

What to do?

The first thing you have to take into account, to visit is: establish the best itinerary in the Sacred Valley, we recommend you decide where you will sleep, before heading to Machu Picchu , Cusco or Ollantaytambo? Believe us, this will save you a lot of unnecessary travel!

It’s easy to stay there for several days, even all week, because it’s a great place to take a break. But like most travelers, they have little time to visit the Valley.

We suggest you visit the Sacred Valley in 1 day, below we will mention what this visit will be like:

Start with Pisac to visit its typical market and its archaeological zones.
Continue to Chinchero to discover its textile art and stroll through this beautiful town.
Head towards Ollantaytambo, there you can have lunch before visiting the ruins, you could even spend the night before heading to Machu Picchu the next day.
If you sleep in Cusco, go through Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, on your way back to Cusco.

You can also visit the Sacred Valley on an organized tour. If you don’t have much time, your best option is to take a tour of the Sacred Valley, with a travel agency, to be able to see everything you want without worrying about transportation.

You can consult this tour with us through the following links

How to get to the Sacred Valley?

Most likely, you will leave Cusco to visit the Sacred Valley, since there are 2 direct roads that connect them.

The first is the path that connects the towns of Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.
The second way is to leave from the Alejandro Velazco Astete Airport in Cusco, which is the closest to the Sacred Valley.

In addition to a guided tour, there are 3 ways to get around:

Taking Bus: There are several departures a day for Pisac and Urubamba; the ticket costs around S / 5 soles, and it is a good way to save money, but in our experience it is too long; Well, you have to wait until the bus is full enough for the trip to start; They are usually very old and maintenance free. But, for less than 5 soles, you can’t expect much more
Shared Transportation (Collective): For us, this is the best way you can travel! It is about shared cars or trucks. They leave Puputi or Pavitos street in Cusco. You also have to wait for the car to fill up, but it is never a long time since they are considerably smaller than a bus. The price is still very affordable and the vehicles are in much better condition.

Taxis: Probably the most convenient method because it stops wherever you want; the time you need awaits you, etc. Even many drivers who know the region well, end up becoming makeshift guides. If this is the option you choose, we ask that please! Don’t take a street taxi. Ask your hotel or hostel to get a trustworthy taxi that offers good service. It is important that you always set the price and conditions in advance (if you have to wait somewhere and for how long), before getting into the taxi.