![Woman looking at Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru, from above on cloudy day](https://images.followalice.com/6dxNtGGN7Eopl4eoaGz3FD/a2054c05524ab62f9f345c40dbf57692/Ours._Woman_looking_at_Ollantaytambo_in_the_Sacred_Valley_in_Cusco__Peru__from_above_on_cloudy_day.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=1200&h=1200)
Best things to see and do in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Just north of Cusco is the beautiful Sacred Valley. Here you find charming Spanish-colonial towns, incredible Inca ruins, rich Quechua culture, farmland, salt flats and towering mountain peaks. Here's our pick of the top things to see and do when visiting!
![alpaca close up in Sacred Valley](https://images.followalice.com/1N66WhS1yuYQmMR26xxTSj/adb6b01d51b1d4a764f7af6ebdad3668/alpacas__1___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=775)
![Beautiful girl with traditional dress from Peruvian Andes culture. Young girl in Ollantaytambo city in Incas Sacred Valley in Cusco Peru](https://images.followalice.com/2cQGKHPelPyP29wxom5gV4/b2b6d776ea735959a62993d871a6e996/Ours._Beautiful_girl_with_traditional_dress_from_Peruvian_Andes_culture._Young_girl_in_Ollantaytambo_city_in_Incas_Sacred_Va.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Our suggestions combine culture, cuisine, history and adventure and so offer the perfect all-round introduction to this beautiful and storied part of the Andes!
![A map of the Sacred Valley (and Inca Trail) in Peru](https://images.followalice.com/5XXpL1bE4IuPJxskCZzl6a/0253179e37575b4fb076a9fc14376cb6/Sacred-Valley-Map-.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=480)
1. Go white-water rafting on the Urubamba River
![Urubamba river at Sacred Valley, between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes on the way to Machu Picchu, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/6RhZ8L2Bx3izy7XXCWt7Px/42765c203b8237e53a38b8141a35436b/Ours._Urubamba_river_at_Sacred_Valley__between_Ollantaytambo_and_Agues_Calientes_on_the_way_to_Machu_Picchu__Peru__2_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
The sharp mountains of the Sacred Valley of the Incas were thought to be mountain gods who kept watch over the fertile valley, the bread basket of the empire.
![Sacred Valley of the Urubamba river, fields and agriculture.](https://images.followalice.com/4kBc1t3BouaSCjt1tOg5Sh/8e5e7ec67488b3a3d7c0e3c970d5cdfd/Ours._Sacred_Valley_of_the_Urubamba_river__fields_and_agriculture.__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
2. Learn about traditional weaving in Chincheros
![Woman in red hat doing traditional weaving in village of Chinchero, Sacred Valley, Cusco region, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/3QUQVAHRCladxIYxFKTCGy/797e04352faa46645e766147df6fa7bf/peru-g88a93324c_1280.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=684)
![Chinchero, Cusco, Peru. December 2018, Process of natural dyeing of alpaca and llama wool, Quechua woman.](https://images.followalice.com/1FkfTCXt7Wbja0CyEf0NSM/8561c6d3c459e4526fd9bfbdf5275c82/Ours._Chinchero__Cusco__Peru._December_2018__Process_of_natural_dyeing_of_alpaca_and_llama_wool__Quechua_woman.__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
![Entrance of the colonial church of Chinchero with its mural, Sacred Valley of the Inca, Cusco, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/4JC91QFXgbgovf2J374CR5/0dae66257d9ea811482f4fbf1b23e48a/Ours._Entrance_of_the_colonial_church_of_Chinchero_with_its_mural__Sacred_Valley_of_the_Inca__Cusco__Peru__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=528)
![Aerial view of town of Chincheros, Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/2itBQugLf0EPvtIQrA2ILi/c17f5bdc7a588480478c03ea13257feb/Ours._Aerial_view_of_town_of_Chincheros__Sacred_Valley__Peru__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=512)
An international airport is being built outside of Chincheros, so it's a good idea to visit the town now before its character is inevitably altered.
3. Visit the showstopper Inca ruins of Moray
![Aerial view of Moray's concentric Inca terraces in Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/6JunPjPAqgAm4HwIBk1sz6/c257042e4910a916d997f992d4740551/moray-g606627de9_1280.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Moray was the Inca's agricultural laboratory.
![View of three people looking down to Moray ruins, Sacred Valley in winter, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/3sXJG5DwgogQEySIZ7LvFA/f2ea82f40a0086e85a4d547c3a4d3b1b/moray-ruins__2___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
![Stone stepped path leading up to Moray ruins viewpoint, Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/J4c3Utb78Auw7zgAS5WIW/f967a79363e0dd17f26c64624121b15f/moray-ruins__5___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
4. Do a super scenic quad bike or horse ride
![People on quad bikes in Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/79YJL7mq7nN64zz9hg78A/6c9534f7365720c4d789431abe85872e/Ariana_motorbike-sacsayhuaman__6__Sacred_Valley_Cusco__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=601)
Riding a quad bike is a fun-filled way to explore more of the Sacred Valley than you could easily do by foot.
![Horse riders on dirt road in Urubamba, Sacred Valley, Cusco](https://images.followalice.com/2zB18gcOnJc1MxfzjF9HQC/c7094656a04006e385f19472746d0249/urubamba-sacred-valley__1___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
5. Visit the striking Maras Salt Flats
![Woman in hat working in the salt mines of Maras in Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/7MVd09W3pNWLACp7wOoTCf/b71adf39554cec783c879ad052452023/salinas-ga2a2eb97c_1280.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=531)
![Ariana. salineras-salt-pans-maras](https://images.followalice.com/110jJB5yqTj8YcTlqTo4aP/ef99736160eb08643229be6670cece08/salineras-salt-pans-maras__4___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
The Salt Mines are a visually striking feature of the valley – it's where green farmland gives way to steeply terraced beige salt pans dotted with workers in traditional hats.
6. Enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch
![Maize seeds and corn cobs of Sacred Valley on a wood table, viewed from above](https://images.followalice.com/20SSULhuBmKXLTOXvitvWW/c0747238be5a80c1f2152de67f561db1/Maize_seeds_and_corn_cobs_of_Sacred_Valley_on_a_wood_table__viewed_from_above.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=606)
Did you know that there are 3,800 different types of potatoes in Peru? Comfort food just reached a whole new level!
![Woman's hands chopping vegetables into a bowl as she prepares a traditional Andean meal, Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/7cyyUmy2sJoK5DgyOqaOXm/0e1fd4b7329342b009d927f7052be1ba/Ours._Woman-s_hands_chopping_vegetables_into_a_bowl_as_she_prepares_a_traditional_Andean_meal__Sacred_Valley__Peru.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
7. Hike up to the incredible Pisac ruins
![Ruins of ancient citadel of Incas on the mountain, Pisac, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/2s4dPWUSzNM2JSxShCJ6QR/9ea31f07d492c239e71c3e9cfd99a12c/Ours._Ruins_of_ancient_citadel_of_Inkas_on_the_mountain__Pisac__Peru___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
On the valley floor is the Spanish colonial town, which was built on a pre-exiting Inca settlement at the command of Viceroy Toledo (the man responsible for the final defeat of the Incas). The Inca citadel, meanwhile, sits high above on a spur and is surrounded by terraces.
![Baby llama in woman's arms in Pisac, Sacred Valley, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/77gHapGPXOkwVyrhRDSaWM/cfe278a8b5e5bc9d494576012e2b0fc0/Ours._Baby_llama_in_woman-s_arms_in_Pisac__Sacred_Valley__Peru.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Quechua was adopted as the official language of the Inca Empire, which helped to spread it to more of the Andes.
![Ruins of inca town of Pisac in Peru on a green hill with farming terraces with shallow depth of field](https://images.followalice.com/C3FiAUzTYHfZjR8RYu3oR/8519830e9efdebcb68a358c4d74914d5/Ours._Ruins_of_inca_town_of_Pisac_in_Peru_on_a_green_hill_with_farming_terraces_with_shallow_depth_of_field__2.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=536)
8. Visit Ollantaytambo, the only still-occupied Inca town
![Inca Fortress with Terraces and Temple Hill in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru, belonged to Pachacuti emperor](https://images.followalice.com/2KfWQQP6bWhf1TAp07iv7Z/d7ca73f7021a93b5f675e58ae8d5e50b/Ours._Inca_Fortress_with_Terraces_and_Temple_Hill_in_Ollantaytambo__Cusco__Peru__belonged_to_Pachacuti_emperor.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Stroll around the town Visit the local market Pop into CATCCO Museum Explore the Ollantaytambo Inca ruins
Stroll around Ollantaytambo
![Cobbled side street of Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/2MFTf0FtOpCNMVpxAcSnCi/d807d7563d94d1b38c587aa2b549a748/Ours._Streets_of_Ollantaytambo__Cusco__Peru.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Ollantaytambo still has some original Inca streets and homes, making it a must-see when visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas!
Visit the market
![A colourful street in the artisan market in Ollantaytambo near Cusco in Peru](https://images.followalice.com/Wer5zht9TGc7hA6AaqmhD/fcb52a00320b8c573b8036715c7ec6fe/Ours._A_colourful_street_in_the_artisan_market_in_Ollantaytambo_near_Cusco_in_Peru.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Pop into CATCCO Museum
![Small souvenir shop in a small town Ollantaytambo in Peru](https://images.followalice.com/fJi4RmrnbjSmftZr7d46J/5bdfd56ac172b09305b07a3e3632e378/Ours._Small_souvenir_shop_in_a_small_town_Ollantaytambo_in_Peru__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Explore the Ollantaytambo ruins
![C15th farming terraces and ruins of Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/587Ziblkq5tnXpouN0dJUN/b5c6ef6911d010b5c6404d12548e693a/Ours._In_the_15th_century_Inca_Pachacutec_conquered_and_began_to_rebuild_the_town_of_Ollantaytambo__constructing_terraces_fo.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
![Pinkuylluna, Inca storehouse, on mountainside in the Sacred Valley during dry season, Ollantaytambo, Peru](https://images.followalice.com/rQbPP5UAOSxjTpqliIxE3/13b1dfc8751c84aa8aeb18a029d2762e/Ours._Pinkuylluna__Inca_storehouses_in_the_Sacred_Valley._Ollantaytambo__Peru.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)