Cusco Sacred Valley Walking Tour
Cusco Sacred Valley, Peru
Why Walk Cusco Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley (Valle Sagrado) was the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire, and walking through its towns and ruins reveals the sophistication of this ancient civilization. Ollantaytambo, at the valley's western end, preserves massive Inca temple terraces and one of the only places where the Spanish were defeated in battle. The town below the ruins retains its original Inca street plan, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Americas. Pisac combines spectacular hilltop ruins with one of the best markets in Peru, held in the town's colonial plaza. Moray features mysterious concentric circular terraces that the Incas may have used as an agricultural laboratory. Chinchero, known as the birthplace of the rainbow, offers traditional Quechua textile demonstrations. The valley sits at a lower elevation than Cusco, making it a more comfortable place to acclimatize before ascending to Machu Picchu.
Free Cusco Sacred Valley Walking Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free Cusco Sacred Valley walking tour with audio narration. Use it to explore Ollantaytambo ruins and town, Pisac ruins and market, Moray circular terraces, plus hidden gems like Huchuy Qosqo and Maras salt terraces (Salineras) without booking a group tour.
This Cusco Sacred Valley walking tour is built for travelers searching for a audio guide, a free walking route, or the Roamee app for Cusco Sacred Valley. Start with Ollantaytambo ruins and town and Pisac ruins and market, then branch into local context, photo spots, and neighborhood stories as you walk.
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Must-See Stops in Cusco Sacred Valley
- •Ollantaytambo ruins and town — A massive Inca fortress and temple complex with perfectly fitted stone terraces rising above the town, where Manco Inca famously defeated the Spanish in 1536
- •Pisac ruins and market — a massive Inca citadel on a mountaintop above the Sacred Valley, with a famous Sunday market where Quechua communities trade textiles, pottery, and produce
- •Moray circular terraces — concentric Inca agricultural terraces descending into natural sinkholes, believed to have been an agricultural laboratory for testing crop adaptation at different altitudes
- •Chinchero textile demonstrations — a highland village where Quechua women demonstrate traditional Inca-era weaving techniques using backstrap looms, natural dyes from plants and insects
- •Maras salt mines — thousands of shallow salt evaporation pools cascading down a hillside, in continuous use since Inca times, creating a stunning white-terraced landscape fed by a saline spring
Hidden Gems in Cusco Sacred Valley
- •Huchuy Qosqo — a lesser-known Inca site accessible by a half-day hike from Lamay, with panoramic views and none of the crowds
- •Maras salt terraces (Salineras) — thousands of salt evaporation ponds cascading down a mountainside, still harvested using pre-Inca techniques
- •Urubamba Brewery — a craft brewery in the valley town of Urubamba using local ingredients, popular with trekkers
Walking Tip
The Sacred Valley ranges from 2,800 to 3,000 meters — lower than Cusco but still high. Walk slowly, stay hydrated, and use the valley as acclimatization time before heading higher.
Best Time to Visit
May through September is the dry season with clear skies and the best conditions for hiking the ruins and attending the colorful markets.
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