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Wide landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, showing layered mountains, a riverbed, farmlands, and a misty sky over the Andes

Sacred Valley, Peru

The Sacred Valley of Peru, also known as the Urubamba Valley, stretches through the Andes between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Carved by the Urubamba River and framed by dramatic mountain peaks, the valley was once the heart of the Inca Empire’s agricultural production. Its fertile lands supported maize, potatoes, and quinoa, while Inca engineering left behind impressive stone terraces and water channels still in use today. The valley also houses some of the most significant archaeological sites in Peru, including the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo and the circular terraces of Moray.

What makes the Sacred Valley especially unique is its combination of natural beauty, living culture, and historical importance. Traditional Quechua communities still farm and weave in the highland villages, and bustling artisan markets fill the towns of Pisac and Chinchero.

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Lush green farmland and trees at the base of dark rocky Andes mountains in the Sacred Valley, with dramatic ridges and stone formations.

Agricultural fields, rural homes, and distant Andean peaks seen from above in a fertile section of the Sacred Valley in Peru

Panoramic high-angle shot of the Urubamba area in the Sacred Valley, with steep green slopes, scattered villages, and cloud patches over the Andes.

Distant view of Ollantaytambo framed by mountain walls and green cultivated lands, showing a cluster of red-roofed homes in the heart of the valley

Aerial view of Urubamba town in Peru with the winding Urubamba River, red-roofed houses, and the Andes mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky

View of Ollantaytambo town and farmland extending across the valley floor, bordered by tall brown cliffs and stone terraces

Aerial photo of the town of Ollantaytambo nestled below steep terraced mountains in the Sacred Valley of Peru, showing a dense grid of buildings and agricultural fields

Wide view of the Vilcanota River winding through a green rural valley in the Andes, with forested banks, small farms, and red-tinted mountains in the background

Scenic panorama of Ollantaytambo’s archaeological ruins and town surrounded by rugged Andean peaks and terraced slopes under a clear sky