Exploring Sacred Valley Cusco (Local Guide)

Some regions of the world are mesmerizing and will captivate you instantly.

We would put Sacred Valley Cusco on the list too.

Having explored various parts of Central America, we understand the beauty of Peru better than most. We have spent time in different corners of the beautiful country and met the locals to better recognize what makes it a unique place.

During our travels, we have also managed to learn more about the Sacred Valley in Peru.

Let’s take a look at the beauty of the Sacred Valley and what you can do there.

How To Visit Cusco

Let’s begin with the beautiful Cusco.

You are going to be impressed by the natural aesthetic of Cusco as this is one of the more prominent cities in Peru. It is well-developed, tourist-friendly, and simply works for those wanting to go on a Central American adventure.

We knew we had to check this place out!

Cusco is a place that welcomes thousands of tourists throughout the year and continues to be a bright spot for Peru.

We found the area to be fascinating with the locals also understanding the importance of tourism. You can feel this as you are walking around and mingling with the locals. It’s a historic place with a connection to the Incas.

In this beautiful city is the Sacred Valley, which is the heart of this guide we’ve put together.

What Is The Sacred Valley In Cusco?

The Sacred Valley is a specific valley between Pisca Town and the Pisac Ruins in Cusco.

It’s a valley that is quite extensively spread along approximately 62 miles of land. This illustrates how prominent the valley is in this area as it leads to the renowned Machu Picchu.

This valley was at one point a key part of the Incas set up in their capital. They made use of the valley’s natural presence as it also offered access to the river.

Best Time To Visit The Sacred Valley

You will want to time your visit properly.

We highly recommend going to the Sacred Valley when it’s warmer, which is going to be between May and October. This is going to allow you to explore the area without having to fret about precipitation or colder conditions.

You might get better rates and reduced foot traffic between November and April but it will be raining a lot.

Admission Fee For The Sacred Valley In Cusco

How much does it cost to enter the Sacred Valley?

For the most part, it’s free of cost and you can explore the area as you wish. Of course, if you get to one of the ancient ruins that have been preserved, you are going to have an admission fee to pay and each one is going to have a different price.

It’s the only way you can enter.

We recommend getting a general pass that is going to allow you to visit all of the sites in the area for one rate.

The price is going to vary but it’s the best deal for most tourists in the area. It will allow you to explore in peace and see all of the ruins that you want to check out one by one. We did this and it was well worth it but there are partial passes too allowing you to see specific ruins.

Things To Do In The Sacred Valley

Let’s assume you are planning a trip to the Sacred Valley in Cusco.

You are going to want to have a short itinerary in place. The valley is long and you are going to want to target specific areas as most tourists in Peru do.

We are going to shed light on some of these things to do in the Sacred Valley.

Pisac Ruins And Pisac Town

It’s normal for most tourists to want to go to the Pisac Ruins in the Sacred Valley.

These are historic ruins that illustrate the history of the Incas as a civilization. They are in Pisac Town and are a must-see attraction.

We went there by car and it was a comfortable experience from the moment we got started. People will often take a guide with them if they don’t want to drive on their own.

It’s important to note that you are going to have to pay for a tour such as this one.

Some people will prefer to hike to the Pisac Ruins and that’s wonderful for those who are more adventurous. The reason this can work is due to you have more access to key sights along the way in Pisac Town than you wouldn’t with a bus or taxi.

It is not an easy hike, but it is worth it for those who are willing to put in the hard work.

Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is a charming spot you are going to want to include in your itinerary.

This is a spot where you are going to find the Ollantaytambo Ruins and they are quite the sight. It’s common for people to complete the drive over to the ruins to see how they are.

When you get to the ruins, you are going to see exceptional architectural design including the use of storehouses. These are spread throughout the area illustrating how the civilization worked when it came to its agricultural setup.

We were thoroughly surprised at the level of detail that went into their planning.

Moray

As you work your way through the ruins in the Sacred Valley, you are going to hear about the Moray Ruins too.

These are exceptional ruins because they are different from the agricultural ones in this list. Instead, this is more of an entertainment spot that was used by the Incas and it holds a dear spot in their civilization’s history.

We took the time to explore the entertainment ruins while appreciating the terraces. Everything was intricately done and it was beautiful to see. We recommend taking a taxi to the sight and then exploring it as much as you can.

Sacsayhuaman

When it comes to the finer details, the Sacsayhuaman ruins are unique.

We took the time to look at these ruins because they were further out but worth the trip. We managed to get to the city center with the help of a local van and then managed to explore the area to our heart’s content.

This particular location was a fortress and it holds some of the most intricate architectural work we have seen in this part of the world. Since it was supposed to be used as a defensive setup, you could tell a lot of effort was made to ensure it was robust.

Chinchero

Going to the Chinchero Ruins can be a spectacular experience because you can explore the area surrounding it too.

We took the time to shop at the market, look at the ruins, and even see some of the more modern sights that were developed around the ruins. It is a unique spot where you can take tours of the area and see the village around it.

It is not as busy as the other spots, but you are going to adore the tranquility of Chinchero as we did. The conditions with the mountain range can be exceptional during various times of the year and just the ambiance is going to blow you away.

Maras Salt Mines

Most people are going to be focused on seeing all of the ancient ruins in the Sacred Valley of Peru and rightly so.

These are historic sights and well worth checking out.

However, we wanted to mix things up and also took the time to go to the Maras Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley. These salt mines have been around for centuries and remain an intricate part of how the Incas managed their civilization.

Salt was a valuable commodity for the Incas and this resource allowed them to develop their civilization over time.

How To Get To The Sacred Valley

Cusco is a tourist city and it’s easy to get to the Sacred Valley once you are ready to do so. It’s fully integrated with the rest of Peru.

We recommend taking a bus out to Cusco as it will allow you to sit back and relax without having to pay too much. Some tourists will even take guided buses for a comprehensive tour of the Sacred Valley and that is wonderful for those who want to pay more.

You can also take a taxi out to these locations but that will cost more.

We often recommend the guided tour of the Sacred Valley in Peru because it’s affordable. You are going to learn a lot from one of the local guides and you will get to see all of the major ruins that you want to with the help of the guide.

Final Thoughts

These are the details to consider when it comes to the Sacred Valley in Peru.

It’s a wonderful tourist spot and is going to shed light on the charming ancient ruins of the nation. It’s a must-see for history buffs.

We also recommend reading our guide on English speaking in Central America, the culture of Honduras, and going to Belize.