The Sacred Valley: In the Footsteps of the Inca
One of the most popular daytrips for visitors to Cusco is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the fertile Urubamba River Valley just outside of the Inca’s former Imperial capital, Cusco. On clear days, the trip by bus from Cusco throughout the valley showcases spectacular scenery. Unfortunately, during and just after the November through March rainy season, you risk short frequent rains throughout the excursion, but the hills are lusher to compensate.
Towns are characterized by cobblestone and 
dirt roads and mudbrick adobe homes. Brightly dressed locals, many still donning traditional dress, add color to the town’s streets and markets.
The first stop on Sacred Valley tours is generally the village of Pisaq, where on Sundays and Thursdays you can tour the colorful local market, which has two large sections, one for handicrafts and one for edible products. (If you have time, try one of the empanadas from the traditional ovens. After haggling with locals, you can then continue on to the archeological complex at whose feet the town lies. It includes the Pisaqa, narrow agricultural terraces, Q’allaqasa fortress, the residential area, and the Intihuatana sun temple, the religious center and astronomical observatory found in the center of each Inca town.
On the way to one of the Sacred Valley’s other most famous towns, Ollantaytambo, you pass several small towns such as Coya, Lamay, and Calca. The land is marked by carefully tended tiny subsistence plots belonging to area families, which create a patchwork along the countryside. Tours generally stop in Urubamba for lunch, as the town boasts a variety of buffet restaurants showcasing Peruvian and Andean cuisine at affordable prices.
Ollantaytambo is unique in that many of its buildings rest on original Inca bases, meaning it is the only occupied town still conserving its original Incan urban planning. Ollantaytambo Fortress also has a special distinction, as it was the only Inca stronghold to have successfully resisted Spanish attack. It is larger and better preserved than other fortress remains in the area, even though it was never actually completed. Thousands of men transported stones across the Urubamba River to build the fortress, intended to protect the strategic entrance to the lower valley.
If you are not planning on catching a train to 
Machu Picchu in the evening from Ollantaytambo Station, you can visit the small Andean village of Chinchero before returning to Cusco. It also has a traditional market which operates on Sundays and, to a lesser extent, on Thursdays.
As it’s located at a slightly higher altitude, on the Anta plains, you can enjoy wonderful views overlooking the valley at some spots.
The prevailing theory is that Chinchero functioned as a sort of country resort during the reign of Inca Tupac Yupanqui, and that the Incan remains in the town can be traced back to him. In the main square, you’ll find a 17th century adobe church which was built on top of the remains of what is believed to have been an Inca temple or palace and also a large Incan stone wall with trapezoidal niches.
If you’re interested in spending more time in the Sacred Valley, remember that Pirwa hostels now has a Sacred Valley villa. And for assistance with your trip to Peru, or information about guided tours, feel free to contact our travel agency, Pirwa Travel Service, at pirwatravel@gmail.com and one of our specialists would be pleased to help you!