Cusco – Page 11 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

Touring the Southern Sacred Valley of the Incas

May 2, 2016 Pirwa

Most visitors to Cusco’s adjoining Sacred Valley to the Incas head towards the major towns of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, generally with a stop at the small town of Chincheros. The less-traveled southern half of the Sacred Valley is often overlooked due to a lack of time and a dearth in information provided to travelers. Whilst the ruins of Ollantaytambo and the market of Pisac are overrun by eager tourists, consider investing a day to explore the waterworks of the Tipón ruins, an ornate colonial church often referred to as ‘the Sistine Chapel of the Americas’, the Maras Salt Pans, the circular terraces of Moray, and the Wari ruins of Pikillacta.

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Quadbikes in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

March 30, 2016 Pirwa

For a fun day trip from the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, consider ATVs, All Terrain Vehicles. Also known as quad bikes, they’re perfect for off-roading excitement.

In a trip that will last about 4 ½ hours, you’ll enjoy speeding along picturesque trails, climbing hills, steeply dropping, splashing through streams, and having a generally thrilling time. The valley landscape is marked by the small fields of local subsistence-farming families and surrounded with snow-capped Andean peaks.

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A Day of Rafting in Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

March 29, 2016 Pirwa

The Urubamba River flows from the high Andes down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas and into the jungle. Visitors to Machupicchu or hikers on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu can see the large river snaking along the valley floor, far below.

Various sections of the river are excellent for white water rafting. One of the most popular sections is the Chuquicahuana on the Upper Urubamba River. The water is pure and uncontaminated, the surroundings are scenic, and the rapids are Class II and III. Most trips take place during the April through October dry season, as the rapids are stronger during the rainy season, mainly Class III and IV.

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How to get to Urubamba from Cusco & What to Do There

March 15, 2016 Pirwa

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Urubamba River Valley, is a must-see for visitors to Cusco. Some travelers actually opt to stay a night or two in the Sacred Valley before visiting Cusco, as it has an altitude about 2,000 feet lower and thus allows for more gradual acclimatization. The draw isn’t purely practical, however: the valley offers amazing natural scenery, assorted Incan and pre-Incan ruins, and picturesque traditional Andean towns. We think that the town of Urubamba is the perfect spot from which to explore this natural, cultural and historical wealth, so today we’ll be talking about what you can do in Urubamba and how you can reach it from Cusco.

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Do You Need to Book the Inca Trail before traveling to Cusco?

March 8, 2016 Pirwa

The one question that our travel agency in Cuzco receives most frequently is whether or not you should book the Inca Trail beforehand. As most people will tell you, making the arrangements ahead of time is usually best. However, whether it is actually necessary to book in advance and how long in advance you should try to book varies depending on the month:

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