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Trip Report

Backpacker tips for the Peruvian Sacred Valley

Backpacking from the capital of the Inca Civilisation "Cuzco", the typical village of Pisac, Urubamba: the starting point of many adventures and finishing in the peacefull Ollantaytambo.

  • Ollantaytambo+ 4
  • Cusco
  • Pisac
  • Backpacker tips for the Peruvian Sacred Valley
carla woody
About Me:Hi guys ! I am Carla (26) from France, I am a world backpacker for many years and still now. I travel playing music, painting, drawing, making handcraft jewelry and doing volunteering projects mostly. On this page, I will share with you ... read more

South AmericaPeru18 days / May - June - July 2019

Highs & Lows

Learn a lot about the Inca Civilisation and heritage

Highland can be tiring because of the altitude but it worth it.

Itinerary Overview

This report start in Cuzco, old capital of the Incas and entrance of the Sacred Valley, visit its ruins and colonial historical center and architecture.

Next stop in Pisac, a unic and typical artistic village, workcraft market and ruins.

Get to Urubamba (optional) to visit Maras and Moray, Inca agriculture heritage and salt mines.

Be charmed by the authentic sweet village of Ollantaytambo and famous ruins.

  • 5 Nights: Cusco
    Discover the capital of the Inca civilisation and its cultural activities
  • 5 Nights: Pisac
    Typical and preserved village and ruins in Pisac
  • 3 Nights: Urubamba
    First stop for the famous Maras and Moray and walks in the valley
  • 5 Nights: Ollantaytambo
    Incredible ancient ruins and village of Ollantaytambo
Cusco - Discover the capital of the Inca civilisation and its cultural activities
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Cusco Discover the capital of the Inca civilisation and its cultural activities

Cusco - Discover the capital of the Inca civilisation and its cultural activities - null

Cuzco is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the center of the Inca civilisation. It's a big city which has an historical center with the main place: Plaza de Armas. Cuzco architecture is between Inca typical houses and ruins and spanish colonization: San Blas is the famous and touristic neighbourhood where you can take a walk to enjoy it; starting just behind the cathedral.

The Macchupichu is on booking at least a few weeks before. You can buy your ticket on Internet or in agencies.

Activities:

- Free Tour on the morning from the Plaza de Armas

- Art galleries and expositions

- Granite walls preserved in San Blas

- Sun temple ruins of Qoricancha

- Santa Catalina Monastery

- Contemporaneous Museum 

- Alpaca boutique for clothes 

- San Pedro Market

 

Cuzco has a lot of diversity about food: try the typical breakfast, drink chicha or hot drinks in the San Pedro.

Menu from 1,50$ if you know where to go to a Mc Donald or Starbucks on the main place.

Nightlife is also really active, mostly on Saturday because of its discos, reggae bar or underground metal parties.

Until 10 pm, it's really 

 

Pisac - Typical and preserved village and ruins in Pisac
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Pisac Typical and preserved village and ruins in Pisac

Pisac - Typical and preserved village and ruins in Pisac - null
Pisac - Typical and preserved village and ruins in Pisac - null

Pisac is a small village by the river 30 minutes away from Cuzco, the first point of the sacred Valley.

Its streets and architecture are really typical from Incas art in the historical center. Discover its boutique, organic and homemade product in shops, thematical restaurants and bars for your best brunch, the market for fresh vegetables and fruisal or fruit salad freshly prepared. And the artisan market in the colorful main place: instruments, typical clothes or handcraft souvenirs.

On the top of Pisac, you will find the Peru's most intact ruins with its towards and terraces. Pisac ruins as two entrance and exit from the village to the top of the hill.

Pisac has a really peacefull, artistic and spiritual: yoga lessons, Hayuguaska and other sacred plants ceremonies, art atelier, alternative medicines...

Urubamba - First stop for the famous Maras and Moray and walks in the valley
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Urubamba First stop for the famous Maras and Moray and walks in the valley

Urubamba - First stop for the famous Maras and Moray and walks in the valley - Mishi Wasi Hostel and cat refuge
Mishi Wasi Hostel and cat refuge
Urubamba - First stop for the famous Maras and Moray and walks in the valley - Mishi Wasi Hostel and cat refuge
Mishi Wasi Hostel and cat refuge

Urumbamba is a city on the road to Macchupichu 40' minutes by bus from Pisac.

I did two volunteering projects in two months in Urubamba and I recommend this destination because from there, you can go for several trails and ruins around it. 

Urubamba has an historical part which is its center with the main place, markets and terminalbus, international accomodations in hostels or hotel in the center or agriculture farms or spiritual houses; variety of restaurants and typical foodtrucks ...

Urubamba has a sunset panoramic view and other trails with waterfalls really easy and safe even at night because Urubamba is really quiet. Nightlife in Urubamba is between party in discos and bars in the center and music jam sessions, spiritual activies or artistic exibitions.

Get to the salt mines of Maras or the agriculture laboratory of the Incas in Moray by bus from Urubamba by yourself or a guided tour.

Ollantaytambo - Incredible ancient ruins and village of Ollantaytambo
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Ollantaytambo Incredible ancient ruins and village of Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo - Incredible ancient ruins and village of Ollantaytambo - null
Ollantaytambo - Incredible ancient ruins and village of Ollantaytambo - null

Welcome into the sweetest weel preserved village and its ruins just before , the Macchupichu which ends the valley.

From the entrance of the village and the ruins, you have just three blocks. The main place is surrounded by a lot of restaurants and terraces which ones follow the main street to the ruins. Tambos´streets are typical and unic, it´s really nice to walk in and take picture, enjoying a good chicha drink.

Ollantaytambo has its own train station, the last one before Aguas Calientes (Macchupichu). Ruins and train are not free and are on your ticket to Macchupichu buy on internet or agencies in the main cities.

Q & A

  • Restaurant recommendations?

    Peruvian food has a lot of national and international gastronomy, vegan and vegetarian options, and its market and street food is really cheep.
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    Learn about the Inca civilisation, culture, art, food, architecture and agriculture
  • Packing tips?

    The Sacred Valley is windy and cold. Sunny in the day but cold at night. Take good and warm socks and clothes and good treeking shoes.
  • Transportation Tips?

    Peruvian local bus is really cheep between short distancies.

Lodging