Peru · The Andes
Cusco & the Sacred Valley
The former capital of the Inca Empire and the fertile valley below it: Inca stonework beneath colonial churches, weaving villages, terraced hillsides and some of Peru’s most beautiful hotels.
- 3,400 m Cusco altitude
- Inca imperial capital
- UNESCO World Heritage city
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The heart of the Inca world
Cusco & the Sacred Valley Highlights
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft). The Sacred Valley lies lower, around 2,800–2,900 m. Together they’re the cultural core of any Peru journey. Filter by where you’ll be.
CuscoPlaza de Armas & the Cathedral
Cusco’s main square is lined with arcades, balconies and two grand churches, built where Inca palaces once stood.
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Inside the Cathedral, look for the Cusco School painting of the Last Supper with a roasted guinea pig on the table, a perfect example of Andean and Spanish traditions blending.
CuscoQorikancha & Sacsayhuamán
The Incas’ holiest temple, once lined with gold, now lies beneath a Dominican convent. Above town, the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán use stones weighing many tons.
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We pair these with a walk past the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. A good guide turns the city’s walls into a story of empire and conquest.
EveningsSan Blas & Cusco after dark
Climb the steep lanes of San Blas for artisan workshops and views over terracotta rooftops, then dine in one of Cusco’s celebrated restaurants.
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Cusco has become a serious food city, with tasting menus built around Andean ingredients. We’ll book the tables that are hardest to get.
Sacred ValleyPisac market & ruins
The hilltop terraces of Pisac are among the most dramatic in Peru, and the market below is a colorful mix of produce, textiles and crafts.
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Visit the ruins early, before the tour buses, then wander the market with your guide to taste fruit you’ve never seen before.
Sacred ValleyWeaving in Chinchero
In Chinchero, weaving cooperatives show how wool is cleaned, dyed with plants and minerals, and woven into patterns passed down for generations.
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It’s a hands-on, joyful experience, and the pieces you buy directly support the families who make them.
Sacred ValleyMoray, Maras & Ollantaytambo
See the circular terraces of Moray, thousands of shimmering salt pans at Maras, and the fortress-temple of Ollantaytambo, a town still laid out on its Inca grid.
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Ollantaytambo is also where many trains to Machu Picchu depart, so it slots neatly into your route.
A suggested rhythm
Five Unhurried Days in the Andes
Our favorite way to combine the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco: start low, sleep well and save the city for when you’ve adjusted to the altitude.
- Day1
Arrive and head to the valley
Fly from Lima to Cusco and drive straight down to your Sacred Valley lodge to rest at a gentler altitude.
- Day2
Pisac and the valley floor
Pisac’s terraces and market in the morning, then a long lunch and an afternoon by the river.
- Day3
Moray, Maras and Chinchero
The circular terraces, the salt pans and a weaving visit, with an optional cycling descent.
- Day4
Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
Explore the fortress, then board the train down to Aguas Calientes for your first visit to the citadel.
- Day5
Cusco
A second Machu Picchu entry at dawn, then the train to Cusco and a candlelit dinner in a former monastery.
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Where to Stay in Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Belmond Hotel Monasterio
A 16th-century monastery with a cloistered courtyard and chapel, a few steps from the Plaza de Armas.
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
An intimate all-suite palace with Cusco’s only outdoor heated pool and Inca walls in the gardens.
Inkaterra La Casona
A restored colonial manor with just a handful of suites, set on a quiet plaza.
Explora Valle Sagrado
An all-inclusive lodge with guided hikes and excursions every day, plus a spa and private thermal pools.
Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado
Riverside cottages and gardens on the banks of the Urubamba, with a train stop for Machu Picchu nearby.
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
A peaceful hacienda overlooking the valley, with an organic farm and Andean-inspired cooking.
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Good to know
Cusco & Sacred Valley FAQs
How do I handle Cusco’s altitude?
Start in the Sacred Valley, which is lower, take your first day slowly, drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol. Coca tea is widely served. If you have health concerns, ask your doctor about altitude medication before you travel.
How many days do I need in Cusco and the Sacred Valley?
We suggest at least four to five nights in the region, including Machu Picchu. A week lets you add a trek, a cooking class or a day at Rainbow Mountain.
Should I visit the Sacred Valley or Cusco first?
Usually the Sacred Valley. It’s lower, quieter and on the way to Machu Picchu, so you finish in Cusco once you’ve acclimatized.
Do I need tickets for the sites around Cusco?
Many sites, including Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray, are covered by the Boleto Turístico (tourist ticket). Others, like Qorikancha and the Cathedral, are separate. We include all of this in your plan.
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