Sol y Luna

Peru’s Sacred Valley formed the beating heart of the formidable Inca Empire, which stretched from Colombia in the North to Chile in the South and was centred around its capital city at Cusco.

Endowed with extraordinary natural beauty, a rich history and vibrant culture, this 60km long verdant agricultural valley is bisected by the Urubamba River and flanked by the soaring peaks of the Andes. Ancient Inca settlements, waterways, terraces and citadels, including the fabled archaeological site of Machu Picchu, offer a fascinating insight into this ancient civilization, putting the Sacred Valley firmly at the top of the list for all those visiting Peru.

Inca terraces on the slopes at Machu Picchu

Hotel Sol y Luna’s 43 private casitas, surrounded by acres of butterfly and bougainvillea-filled gardens, is the perfect spot from which to explore the valley’s archaeological highlights. Read on for some of the most spectacular.

Machu Picchu

Millions of visitors flock annually to the revered citadel of Machu Picchu, the most famous archaeological site from the Inca Civilization and one of the most iconic spots on the planet. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu is regarded as an incredible feat of engineering, perched as it is on the flattened top of a peak deep in the Peruvian forests, and a sacred haven which allowed Incas to worship their gods and connect with the natural world.

Machu Picchu is not technically located within the Sacred Valley, but is reached by train from Ollantaytambo, a market town and old Inca settlement used as a base for the emperor Manco Inca Yupanqui following his retreat from the Spanish conquistadors.

Sitting high on a mountain ridge above the valley, the citadel is a showpiece of the Inca Empire and its remarkable feats of engineering; a 15th-century Inca settlement thought to have been built as an estate for Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Inca monarch of the Kingdom of Cusco. It stands as a testament to the talent and skill of the Inca people, built using intricately crafted stone structures, interspersed with terraces, plazas and temples.

The Incas were masters of astronomy, agriculture and engineering and, as such, Machu Picchu is split into urban and agricultural sections served by paved stone roads, stairways and water channels. Abandoned by the Incas in the years after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Machu Picchu lay largely forgotten until 1911, when it was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham.

The iconic citadel of Machu Picchu

Písac

Písac is thought to have been constructed as a royal retreat by Inca emperor Pachacuti in the mid-1400s. Taking up a strategic position on a hillside overlooking the modern town of Písac, this is an impressive site featuring agricultural terraces and extensive Inca buildings, including finely crafted stone walls, ceremonial platforms, observatories and temples. Today, visitors make a beeline for Písac not only to soak up the Inca heritage, but also to stock up on treats at the daily market, which peddles fresh fruit and vegetables and artisanal crafts.

It is a reasonably rugged uphill hike to reach the ruins, but the panoramic views back down to Písac town below are excellent and there are caves and abandoned buildings to explore and an immense amount of history to absorb.

Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is a shining example of ingenious Inca town planning. It was a tactical military and administrative center for the Inca Empire and once home to the Emperor Pachacuti, who conquered and rebuilt the town in the 1400s for Incan nobles. Years later, Manco Inca Yupanqui established his base here as he led a series of rear-guard actions against the advancing Spanish. Following his defeat, the Spanish took over Ollantaytambo; it continued to be an important settlement under Spanish rule.

The town features a network of terraces serviced by a system of water channels and fountains, designed to supply the site with fresh water from nearby springs for drinking, irrigation and ceremonial purposes. Narrow cobbled streets wind their way out from a central square, and the town is well worth exploring before catching the train on to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu.

The ruins at Ollantaytambo are among the most striking and well-preserved in the region, showcasing some of the best examples of Inca stonework in Peru. Vast walls, temples and terraces a were intricately constructed by talented Inca engineers; visitors can still visit the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor, along with Inca storehouses, baths and the complex water system that served them.

An Incan archaeological complex above Ollantaytambo

Pumamarca

Situated in a strategic spot chosen on a hillside overlooking Ollantaytambo, Pumamarca is a lesser-known but intriguing archaeological site that enjoys fewer crowds and sweeping views over the Andean uplands.

Pumamarca is home to many fine examples of Inca architecture, whilst its multifaceted system of agricultural terraces allowed extensive crops, including maize, potatoes and quinoa, to be grown, representing the strong Inca connection to the land. The ceremonial and residential structures serve as examples of the immense spiritual and cultural significance of the settlement, which is well worth a visit for guests looking to delve deeper in to Incan archaeological history.

The agricultural terraces of Moray

Moray

Located on a high plateau above the Sacred Valley, Moray is an enthralling site famed for its concentric agricultural terraces, resembling a series of amphitheatres carved into the hillside. The site is widely believed to have been an agricultural laboratory; the different levels of terraces allowed the Incas to experiment with growing different crops at varying altitudes and microclimates. Shrewdly created from stone and earth and separated by stone walls, the terraces were constructed to retain water and soil and ward off erosion and runoff.

Maras

While not a traditional Inca ruin, the Maras Salt Mines are a popular Sacred Valley stop-off point, often visited in combination with Moray. A linear patchwork of connected terraced salt evaporation ponds thought to pre-date the Incas hug the steep hillside, as saline water trickles down the slope, filling the ponds as it goes. Using ancient techniques passed down through the generations, local families have been harvesting salt from this elaborate network of pools for centuries, and continue to do so to this day. The rustic streets of Maras, lined with adobe houses and colonial-era churches, are also well worth a visit.

Interconnected salt pans at Maras

Sacsayhuamán

One of the most popular archaeological sites in the region, Sacsayhuamán is located a short distance north of Cusco. Sacsayhuamán features gigantic walls fashioned from giant limestone blocks, some weighing up to 200 tons, which were transported from several kilometres away and fitted together with extraordinary precision and without a drop of mortar. Its purpose is debated among archaeologists and historians, ranging from citadel, fortress and military stronghold to ceremonial sanctuary and religious center.

The Incas assigned immense symbolic importance to animals and went to great lengths to align themselves with the natural world. Legend has it that Cusco was built to resemble the mighty puma – believed to signify power, strength and royalty – with Sacsayhuamán forming its head.

Chinchero

Chinchero is a quintessentially Andean village known for its Inca ruins and colonial-era church. The large 43 hectare archaeological site features a network of carefully excavated and restored platforms and roads and several terraces and agricultural structures.

The colonial church of Chinchero was constructed in the 16^th century on the remains of the Túpac Yupanqui palace. Stone banks and enclosures, water channels and temples tumble down the hillside from the church, while seats, thrones and staircases are elaborately carved into the rock face.

Beyond the Inca ruins themselves, Chinchero is well worth a visit for its thrice weekly market held in the main square – and while it attracts fewer tourists than the busy market in Písac, it is worth exploring for its crafts, fresh food and textiles. What’s more, the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC) is a non-profit organisation formed in 1996 that is keeping the ancient art of weaving alive in the Cusco region. Here visitors are given the opportunity to see artisans demonstrating centuries-old weaving techniques, intricately employing traditional methods to create authentic, handmade textiles using natural products, fibres and dyes.

An archway leading to the market at Chinchero

The Sacred Valley of the Incas lures visitors with its captivating blend of history, culture, and stunning natural scenery. Fertile agricultural land is guarded by towering Andean mountains; ancient Inca settlements and ruins provide a captivating glimpse into this intriguing civilisation that captures the imagination of all who visit.

Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, luxury Relais & Chateaux hotel Sol y Luna provides the perfect base from which to explore the many archaeological ruins in the area.  Our private guides run a host of excursions, by vehicle, e-bike or horseback, to many of the most iconic Inca ruins in the valley. And after a day exploring, wind down in our peaceful gardens, swimming pool and hot tub with a refreshing pisco sour in hand.

Our team of dedicated staff is on hand to devise bespoke tours to suit you, so do get in touch to find out how we can help.