Explore the Sacred Valley
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Sacred Valley Peru Guide: Towns, Markets & Ruins 2025
Complete Sacred Valley guide. Discover towns, markets, Inca ruins, transportation, and helpful tips for exploring Peru's Sacred Valley.
The Sacred Valley (called Valle Sagrado in Spanish) is one of Peru's most beautiful and important historical areas. Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, this fertile valley has many Inca archaeological sites, traditional markets, and charming mountain towns. This guide tells you about the best towns, markets, ruins, and helpful information for exploring the Sacred Valley.
What Are the Best Towns to Visit in the Sacred Valley?
Pisac
Pisac is famous for its traditional market and amazing Inca ruins. The town's market (especially busy on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) has textiles, ceramics, and local food. The ruins above town have terraces, temples, and great views of the valley.
- Traditional market (best on market days)
- Inca ruins with terraces and temples
- Artisan workshops and textiles
- Distance from Cusco: About 1 hour by bus
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is a well-kept Inca town and the main train station for Machu Picchu. The town has old Inca buildings, a huge fortress with terraces, and traditional stone streets. It's a great place to stay before visiting Machu Picchu.
- Inca fortress and terraces
- Train station to Machu Picchu
- Well-kept Inca town layout
- Distance from Cusco: About 1.5 to 2 hours by bus
Chinchero
Chinchero is known for its traditional weaving shows and Inca ruins. The town offers real textile experiences where you can learn about traditional weaving and buy high-quality textiles directly from the people who make them.
- Traditional weaving demonstrations
- Inca ruins and colonial church
- Real textile experiences
- Distance from Cusco: About 1 hour by bus
What Are the Best Markets in the Sacred Valley?
The Sacred Valley has some of Peru's best traditional markets, with textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and local food.
- Pisac Market: Big market with textiles, ceramics, and local food. Best on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
- Chinchero Market: Smaller market focused on textiles and traditional crafts. Known for real, high-quality textiles.
- Ollantaytambo Market: Smaller market near the train station, convenient for travelers going to Machu Picchu.
Tip: It's normal to bargain at markets. Be respectful and fair when talking about prices.
What Inca Ruins Can You Visit in the Sacred Valley?
Pisac Ruins
Large Inca ruins with terraces, temples, and places where people lived. Has amazing views of the valley. You need a Cusco Tourist Ticket to enter.
Ollantaytambo Fortress
Huge Inca fortress with impressive terraces and stone buildings. One of the few places where the Incas successfully fought against the Spanish.
Moray
Unique round terraces that people think were an Inca farming lab. The terraces create different climates for growing different crops.
Maras Salt Mines
Thousands of salt ponds built into a hillside. The salt mines have been used since Inca times and look really unique.
Get your tickets:
Cusco Tourist Ticket Official Site - This ticket lets you visit multiple Sacred Valley sites
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How to Get Around the Sacred Valley?
From Cusco
- Buses and colectivos (shared vans) from Cusco to Sacred Valley towns
- Organized tours (easy way to see multiple places)
- Taxi or private transportation
- Travel time: 1 to 2 hours depending on where you're going
Within the Valley
- Local buses and colectivos between towns
- Taxis for shorter trips
- Organized tours to visit many places efficiently
- Think about staying in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo
Transportation resources:
See our complete transportation guide for more details about buses, trains, and getting around Peru
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sacred Valley?
The Sacred Valley (called Valle Sagrado in Spanish) is an area in the Peruvian Andes, located between Cusco and Machu Picchu. It has many Inca archaeological sites, traditional markets, and charming towns. The valley was important to the Incas because of its good farmland and important location.
How do I get to the Sacred Valley?
The Sacred Valley is easy to get to from Cusco by bus, taxi, or organized tour. Buses and colectivos (shared vans) run regularly from Cusco to towns like Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. Organized tours are also available and make it easy to visit multiple places in one day.
What are the best towns to visit in the Sacred Valley?
The best towns to visit in the Sacred Valley include Pisac (known for its market and ruins), Ollantaytambo (Inca fortress and train station to Machu Picchu), Chinchero (traditional weaving and ruins), and Urubamba (central location, good for places to stay).
Do I need a ticket to visit Sacred Valley sites?
Yes, most Sacred Valley archaeological sites need the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico). This ticket lets you visit multiple sites including Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, and others. You can buy the ticket in Cusco or at some of the sites.
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