Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Pisaq, Moray, Maras

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas lies 15 km north of the Inca capital of Cusco, at an altitude of 2,800 meters. It was the main hub for the extraction of natural wealth in the Inca Empire and one of the most important grain-producing areas in Peru.

The sacred Vilcanota River

The valley enjoys an excellent climate and fertile soil, and is fed by the waters of the Incas' sacred river, the Vilcanota (which in Quechua means sacred or wonderful): in the town of Urubamba, the Vilcanota is known as the Urubamba River.

Andenería: Inca agricultural terraces

In the Sacred Valley it's impossible not to admire the advanced farming techniques developed by the Incas, known as “andenería” (agricultural terracing): platforms made up of many small plots of land, arranged in steps on the hillsides where crops were sown. These lands were also places of worship for Pachamama (Mother Earth).

A must-see in the Cusco region

The Sacred Valley is a must-see for anyone visiting Peru, and has become one of the country's most important tourist hubs. The valley is home to numerous Inca ruins, such as Ollantaytambo, Pisaq and Moray, along with two of the most important craft markets in the Cusco region: Pisaq and Chinchero.

Ollantaytambo

Located at the western end of the Sacred Valley (about an hour and a half by bus from Cusco), Ollantaytambo is a town built on the original Inca-era foundations, and represents the finest example of urban planning from that period. The array of terraces rising around the town creates a breathtaking sight, as does the view over the surrounding valley. The archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo was a hub of major importance for agriculture, as well as for administrative, social, religious and military activities during the Tahuantinsuyo era (1300-1532 AD): the Spanish called it the Fortress of Ollantaytambo.

The origin of the name is disputed: according to the Aymara language, Ollantaytambo derives from the word Ulla-nta-wi (a place to look downward), to which the word Tambo was later added; in the Quechua language, the name instead comes from the word Ollanta (the name of an Inca captain) and the word Tambo, a Spanish derivation of the Quechua term Tampu, meaning a town that offers travelers lodging, food and comfort.

Pisaq

Pisaq is one of the most important Inca ruins: it contains buildings used for military, religious and agricultural purposes. Located 32 km northeast of Cusco, the Inca citadel sits at 2,950 meters above sea level. According to historians, Pisaq defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley, Choquequirao guarded the western side, while the fortress of Ollantaytambo stood to the north: Pisaq controlled a route that connected the Inca Empire with the edges of the rainforest.

The ruins of Pisaq are divided into 4 sections – Pisaqa, Intihuatana, Callacasa (Q'allaqasa) and Kinchiracay – located at different elevations and separated by agricultural terraces. Original Inca-era houses still stand, complete with courtyards, staircases, aqueducts and passageways: the climbs are demanding, but once at the top you're rewarded with a picturesque view.

Pisaq comes from the Quechua word “pisaq” or “p'isaqa,” meaning partridge: in keeping with traditional Inca architecture, towns were built to figurative animal designs, and Pisaq was shaped like a partridge, as its name suggests.

Moray

Located 38 km northwest of Cusco and 7 km southwest of Maras, Moray is a Quechua word denoting a territory occupied since ancient times by the rural Mullak'as and Misminay peoples. The term is said to be linked to an ancient corn harvest, called Aymoray, or to the month of May, also known as Aymoray, and to the dried potato known as moraya.

The site contains unusual Inca ruins, made up mostly of enormous circular terraced depressions, the largest of which reaches a depth of around 30 meters. The exact purpose of these depressions isn't known for certain, but their depth and orientation relative to wind and sun create a temperature difference of around 15°C between the top and bottom: a condition the Incas likely used to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops, making Moray an open-air agronomic laboratory.

The archaeological site of Moray was discovered in 1932 by Johnson Shippee, during an aerial survey of the area.

Every September, hundreds of people from the area visit Moray's circular terraces to celebrate Raymi Moray, the festival of the sun: the celebration features traditional dances honoring everything related to the land, produce, farming and livestock.

The Maras Salt Pans

Located about 3 km from the Vilcanota River, near the village of Maras, the Maras Salt Pans are a striking sight: the salt is dried in evaporation terraces built into the hillside.

The system consists of around 3,000 pools, similar to agricultural terraces, each with an average size of about 5 square meters. The salt extraction process follows a very ancient method: water is channeled into the pools, then the flow is stopped and the small amount of remaining water is left to evaporate. After about a month, a layer of dry salt remains at the bottom and is collected: the same technique the Incas used hundreds of years ago.