The Sacred Valley

Peru

South America Travel Guide

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Ollantaytambo Ruins in the Sacred Valley, Peru

© holgs / Getty Images

Why visit The Sacred Valley

Tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills, the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado (the Sacred Valley), is about 15km north of Cuzco as the condor flies, via a narrow road of hairpin turns. It's worth exploring this peaceful, fetching corner of the Andes with colonial towns and isolated weaving villages. Star attractions are the markets and the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but it's also packed with other Inca sites. Its myriad trekking routes are deservedly gaining in popularity. Adrenaline activities range from rafting to rock climbing.

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Peru Uncovered: A Journey from Coast to Andes

14 days / 13 nights

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  1. 1 Embarking on a 10-hour luxury train ride through the Andes and over the Altiplano
  2. 2 Watching llamas and vicuñas graze at the foothills of volcanic mountains
  3. 3 Finding the sacred in the Sacred Valley, where intricate engineering reflects Incan ingenuity
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