Sacred valley is the historical, spiritual and picturesque jewel in the heart of Peru’s crown. Home to many of the country’s greatest tourist attractions, towns and cities, it is an area you can’t miss when visiting! We spend a lovely week in the region, and have detailed a few of the top picks on our list, including linking to a few more detailed guides that expand on these experiences. Whatever you choose to do in sacred valley, you’ll be greeted with incredible views, amazing history and friendly locals!
These 6 sacred valley locations should be on your Peru itinerary
Mountain View Experience – Maras
Perched on the edge of the hills in Maras is the picturesque Mountain View Experience. Home to gorgeous A-Frame boutique accommodation, a stunning restaurant and function space, along with a multitude of tour experiences in the region.. Mountain View Experience is a Sacred Valley must! We strongly encourage you to try and book a stay in one of the bucket list accommodations (see our stay at Mountain View experience here!), however even if you can’t fit a stay into your plans, visiting for lunch would be a great option. The views and the experience are exceptional!
Pisac Inca Ruins – Pisac
The historic Inca ruins in Pisac are some of the most impressive in Peru, and a definite drawcard for sacred valley. Situated on the mountain towering above the Pisac town are a multitude of spectacularly well preserved ruins, rivalling even the famous Machu Picchu. Access is granted with your ‘botelo touristico’, and this is a must visit site in sacred valley. We visited with a guide to get the full experience, however even walking the ruins without one would be an impressive spectacle. If you are planning a sacred valley itinerary, Pisac and the ruins should be high on this list!
Moray Inca Ruins – Moray
The circular terraces of Moray are unique and well worth checking out. Designed by the Incas for farming, the legend goes that this site was used to ‘experiment’ with different products. Due to the tiered system, each level has varied temperatures, optimising the growing ability of certain products at each terrace level. Whether this is true or not, the ruins themselves are a great spectacle. You will need your ‘botelo touristico’ to gain access.
Pisac Sunday Market – Pisac
If you can make it to Pisac’s town for the Sunday market, we urge you to visit. Get through around 10am (before the tourist busses) when the market starts on the Sunday to see the locals in full flight. The fresh produce market is a hum of activity in the central square, with prices rumoured to be 50% cheaper than Cusco, causing locals to flock in. The spectacle of Pisac, flanked by mountains, and humming with activity, is well worth experiencing.
Machu Picchu – Aquas Callientes
Machu Picchu doesn’t need much of an introduction. In fact, this is possibly the reason you decided to visit Peru in the first place. Despite the hype, and touristic nature, we believe a visit to Machu Picchu is worth it! Depending on your schedule, fitness and time of year, you may consider a 2-4 day inca trail hike into the famous ruins. Alternatively, you can do a day trip from Cusco to experience the famous ruins. Regardless of which route you take, we recommend you add Machu Picchu to your Peru itinerary.
San Blas Area – Cusco
Cusco as a whole should be high on your sacred valley and Peru itinerary. You can see our detailed Cusco guide here for all of the tips! However, if you are to immerse yourself in one part of Cusco, we recommend it be the San Blas district. Situated on the hills near Cusco’s centre, this neighbourhood has cute boutique shops, great cafes, good restaurants, a cute ‘local feel’ market, excellent views, and some Inca history.
And much, much more!
And don’t miss places like the Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo Ruins, Saqsaywaman and so many more great historical and authentic Peruvian experiences. We didn’t get to visit all of these sites, deciding to prioritise going a little slower in the destinations we selected, but have heard excellent things about these locations. We have also heard a lot about some of the sacred valley hikes (outside of the Inca Trail), so any hiking fans should definitely check out the plethora of trails in the region.
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