1 Day
Traditional
Low
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a relaxed and incomparably beautiful stretch of small villages and ancient ruins spread across a broad plain and rugged mountain slopes northwest of Cusco.The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a valley in the Andes of Peru, close to the Inca capital of Cusco. It is fed by numerous rivers which descend through adjoining valleys and gorges, and contains numerous archaeological remains and villages. The valley was appreciated by the Incas due to its special geographical and climatic qualities. It was one of the empire’s main points for the extraction of natural wealth, and the best place for maize production in Peru. Through the valley rolls the revered Río Urubamba (called the Willcamayu by the Incas; today it is also called the Vilcanota in one section), a pivotal religious element of the Incas’ cosmology. The Incas believed not only that the flow of the Urubamba was inexorably tied to the constellations and the mountain peaks, but also that the river was the earthbound counterpart of the Milky Way. With the river as its source, the fertile valley was a major center of agricultural production for the Incas, who grew native Andean crops such as white corn, coca, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables in expansive fields and along spectacularly terraced mountain slopes…Even though the villages of the Sacred Valley, stretching about 100km (62 miles) from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, are highlights of many tourist itineraries and are coveted by hotel developers, they remain starkly traditional. Quechua-speaking residents work the fields with primitive tools and harvest salt with methods unchanged since the days of the Incas, and market days although now conducted to attract the tourist trade as well as inter village commerce – remain important rituals.
At 8:00am or upon your arrival to the airport of CUSCO , you will be picked up to start with this lovely Sacred Valley (great option to acclimatize) the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, where you’ll board our private coach for a drive to the Sacred Valley. This mountainous region of Peru offers mystical awe-inspiring sights to discover…The tour includes the visits the small zoo of Cochahuasi where you can observe the flight of the CONDOR`S, Andean pumas, fox, deer’s, parrots, macaws and variety of animals and birds and then you will visit Awanancha or (Alpaca farm) which is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts. Here you can see four members of the camelids family – llama, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Alpaca have thick wool and is the most commonly used while the vicunas are small and delicate with fur considered the finest. You can meet these fours camelids, learn about the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have change to see native weavers from different areas showing their weaving style and dress afterwards, we continue with visit to the Andean native markets and ruins of PISAC. This mountainous region of Peru offers mystical awe-inspiring sights to discover… along with farms and villages that welcome you with a taste of daily life. you will stop in Urubamba to enjoy a tasty buffet lunch in one of the great restaurant . After the lunch, the tour continues towards OLLANTAYTAMBO, an archaeological site that the Incas built as a fort and includes a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: Araqama Ayllu, the religious and worship zone, and Qosqo Ayllu, the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions due to the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a Living-Inca-Town, since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Afternoon continues with the visits to Inca site of MORAY. This is a fascinating, unique ruin; a fabulous amphitheater of terracing that was used as an agricultural experimental site by the Incas by taking advantage of the microclimates produced by the varying altitude to breed new varieties of their crops. We shall also visit the Village of MARAS, and THE SALT PANS which have made it famous. On the way back to Cusco we will stop by the colorful village of CHINCHERO, where we will find the ruins of the Tupac Inca Yupanqui Royal House, we will appreciate its well preserve Inca wall in the main square and you will visit the beauty Colonial Temple with invaluable portraits, built over Inca Bases and finally, arrives to Cusco and transfer back to Hotel around 6:30pm.
Highlights
Cuzco is a city in southeastern Peru, near
Cuzco is a city in southeastern Peru, near
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a
Maras & Moray, Peru has one of the