Cusco & Sacred Valley Holidays
Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Holidays
The ancient capital of the Inca Empire — colonial grandeur, Inca stonework and the gateway to Machu Picchu
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Flight Time
12–14h to Lima, then 1h domestic to Cusco
Best Time
May to October (dry season)
Country
Peru
Suppliers
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Cusco & the Sacred Valley Holiday Guide
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is one of the most beautiful and historically rich cities in South America. At 3,400m in the Andes, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Inca stonework forms the foundations of Spanish colonial churches and palaces — the extraordinary precision of the Inca masonry is visible throughout the city.
Acclimatisation is essential — altitude sickness (soroche) affects many visitors to Cusco. Allow at least 2 nights to acclimatise before any strenuous activity or visiting Machu Picchu. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours, eat light meals and take it easy. Coca tea (freely available everywhere) helps with altitude symptoms.
The Sacred Valley (Valle Sagrado) is the most rewarding day trip from Cusco — the Inca sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray, the Maras salt pans and the colourful markets. Staying in the valley (at Urubamba or Ollantaytambo) rather than Cusco gives better acclimatisation and easier access to Machu Picchu.
The best time to visit is May to October (the dry season) — clear skies, minimal rain and the best conditions for exploring the ruins. June and July are the busiest months. The Inti Raymi festival (June 24) is the most spectacular Inca celebration — the Festival of the Sun at Sacsayhuamán draws thousands of visitors.
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Popular Areas in Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Average Temperatures
Jan
16°C
Feb
16°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
17°C
May
16°C
Jun
14°C
Jul
14°C
Aug
15°C
Sep
16°C
Oct
17°C
Nov
17°C
Dec
16°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Cusco & the Sacred Valley
The Inca fortresses, colonial churches, Sacred Valley ruins and extraordinary markets that make Cusco the most historically rich city in South America.
Cusco City — Inca Foundations & Colonial Grandeur
Cusco's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Spanish colonial city was built directly on top of Inca foundations, and the extraordinary Inca stonework (fitted without mortar to a precision that still baffles engineers) is visible throughout the city. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, flanked by the Cathedral (built on the foundations of the palace of Inca Viracocha) and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús.
Sacsayhuamán — The Inca Fortress
Sacsayhuamán is the most impressive Inca site in the Cusco area — a massive ceremonial and military complex on a hill above the city, built from enormous limestone blocks (the largest weighs 125 tonnes) fitted together with extraordinary precision. The zigzag walls are up to 6m high and 400m long. The site offers panoramic views over Cusco and the surrounding valley. The Inti Raymi festival (June 24) is celebrated here.
Pisac — Inca Ruins & Sunday Market
Pisac, 33km from Cusco in the Sacred Valley, has two unmissable attractions — the extraordinary Inca citadel on the hillside above the town (one of the largest Inca sites in Peru, with terraces, temples and an astronomical observatory) and the famous Sunday market in the town below (the most colourful and authentic market in the Sacred Valley, with textiles, ceramics and local produce).
Ollantaytambo — The Living Inca Town
Ollantaytambo is the best-preserved Inca town in Peru — the original Inca street grid is still intact and inhabited, making it a living archaeological site. The Ollantaytambo fortress (the site of the only Inca military victory over the Spanish, in 1537) has extraordinary terraces and the unfinished Temple of the Sun. Ollantaytambo is also the main train departure point for Machu Picchu.
Moray & Maras — Agricultural Genius
Moray is one of the most extraordinary and mysterious Inca sites — a series of concentric circular terraces descending 30m into a natural depression, believed to have been an agricultural research station where the Incas experimented with different microclimates to develop new crop varieties. Nearby Maras has thousands of salt pans (salineras) carved into the hillside, still worked by local families using the same Inca-era techniques.
The Sacred Valley — Inca Heartland
The Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Sagrado) stretches 60km between Pisac and Ollantaytambo along the Urubamba River — the most fertile and sacred valley in the Inca Empire. The valley floor is dotted with Inca sites, colonial churches and traditional villages. Staying in the valley (at Urubamba or Ollantaytambo) rather than Cusco gives better acclimatisation (the valley is at 2,800m, lower than Cusco's 3,400m) and easier access to Machu Picchu.
Cusco Food Scene — Novo Andino Cuisine
Cusco has one of the most exciting food scenes in South America — the Novo Andino cuisine movement combines traditional Andean ingredients (quinoa, kiwicha, chuño, alpaca, guinea pig, purple corn, lucuma) with modern techniques. The San Pedro market is the best place to try local food — caldo de gallina (chicken broth), chicharrón (fried pork) and the extraordinary range of Andean potatoes (over 3,000 varieties grown in Peru).
San Blas — The Artisan Quarter
San Blas is Cusco's most charming neighbourhood — a hillside barrio of narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed walls and the workshops of Cusco's master artisans. The San Blas church has the most extraordinary carved pulpit in the Americas (carved from a single cedar trunk). The neighbourhood has excellent boutique hotels, restaurants and galleries, and the best views over the city's terracotta rooftops.
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