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- Destinations
- South America
- Peru
- Cusco
- The Sacred Valley (Urubamba River Valley)
The Sacred Valley (Urubamba River Valley)
Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this fertile valley of
breathtaking beauty, stretching between the villages of Pisac and
Ollantaytambo, is coursed by the winding Urubamba River, watched
over by ancient Inca ruins perched high on the hilltops above, and
sprinkled with little traditional settlements in between. Centrally
situated Urubamba has the most tourist infrastructure and is
becoming a popular base from which to explore the valley. The most
well known sites are the citadel above Pisac and the fortress of
Ollantaytambo, which receive the most visitors. The quaint village
of Pisac is known for its interesting Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
morning markets, while overlooking the village are the ruins of the
citadel, with its fine stonework and panoramic views over the
valley. Agricultural terraces flank the steep sides of the mountain
and have been in use for many centuries, and above them the
alarmingly narrow trails that lead to the citadel hug the cliffs,
with massive stone doorways, and steep stairways cut into the rock
or a rock-hewn tunnel forming the only passageway between the sheer
drop below and the vertical slopes above. At the far end of the
Sacred Valley, the road terminates at the ancient traditional town
of Ollantaytambo, where the temple-fortress clings to the nearby
cliffs. Developed as an Inca administrative centre, the town's
layout is one of the few remaining models of an Inca grid plan and
the existing town is built on the remaining Inca foundations. The
ruins include the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Chamber and the
Princess' Baths. From the town the road leads to the start of the
illustrious Inca Trail.
Information & Facts
Admission
The site is part of the Cuzco Tourist Ticket that allows
entry to all Inca sites around the city and museums; full ticket
PEN 130, partial ticket PEN 40.
Language
Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many
other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist
centres and hotels.
Money
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100
céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all
major international credit cards, including Diners Club and
MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments.
Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travellers cheques may
also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and
travellers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the
easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and
shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment.
Casas de cambio(exchange bureaux) often give better rates
than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist
circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.
Opening Times
Ruins are open daily 7am-5:30pm.
Time