{"id":336,"date":"2023-11-26T12:35:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T11:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/?p=336"},"modified":"2023-11-11T12:46:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T11:46:47","slug":"perus-sacred-valley-beyond-machu-picchu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/perus-sacred-valley-beyond-machu-picchu\/","title":{"rendered":"Peru’s Sacred Valley: Beyond Machu Picchu"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a famous tourist destination, Peru\u2019s Sacred Valley offers visitors an endless list of cultural and natural treasures. And, from all the options available, Machu Picchu has become one of the most renowned stopping places for people from all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Situated more than 2,000 meters above sea level, Machu Picchu has its own kind of magic and allure. There is no doubt that anyone who pays a visit here will be amazed by the scenery. Even so, the Sacred Valley actually has a lot to offer and we will talk about it below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Peru\u2019s Sacred Valley Is a Must-Visit Destination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lot of travelers travel to Peru\u2019s Sacred Valley to set foot at Machu Picchu. This is a historic ruin site that is located less than 100 km northwest of Cusco town. The one-of-a-kind scenery provided by the left of dry-stone Inca structures never fails to make visitors\u2019 jaws drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with landscapes ranging from ancient cities to incredible traditional markets, no traveler should ever miss visiting this place when they are in the Land of the Incas. This place is so lush and much of the life around it is still very traditional to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, this area is dotted with unique and picturesque attractions along the way. Thanks to a stable climate and temperature throughout the year, the area is crucial for agriculture businesses and Peru\u2019s civilization in general, even since the ancient Inca times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During your first few days here, you will feel how relaxed the town can be. The local markets are not very busy and there are locals who just hang around all day. But, once you take a closer look at your map, you will see that this place does have a lot to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Places to Visit in Urubamba River Valley beyond Machu Picchu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Incas who resided around the Sacred Valley were skilled farmers and constructors, and we can see the remains of their civilization today. Besides the iconic ruins and monuments, these are the top destinations to visit when you go to the Urubamba River Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pisac Sunday Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pisac is a Sacred Valley town with a New Age vibe. Thanks to its lower elevation, this can be a great place to acclimate when you first arrive at the region. Those who visited it say that this is the gateway to the Sacred Valley region, in which you can take a glimpse of the whole area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sunday market here is definitely a must-visit. This is a traditional market for the locals and it takes place in the city\u2019s main plaza. People from surrounding villages will come here to buy commodities like veggies, fruits, and the celebrated Andean cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are staying at Cusco, getting to Pisac is very easy. Public minivans are available all day long. There is no fixed schedule, so all you can do is wait until the van is full and you will be on your way shortly. Hiring a private driver is also possible, but it can be expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Awana Kancha<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the best place to go if you want to know the real people of the Andes. Just like in Pisac, you can buy woven products and learn how to make them here. However, despite its reputation as a \u201ctraditional weaving center\u201d, most people actually come here to see its animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of us have heard about llamas and alpacas, but we have never come across them in real life. Here, having an interaction with these long-necked creatures is no longer a dream. You can feed them with fresh vegetables and see their goofy and friendly nature in person.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chinchero<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located not far from Cusco, locals and tourists alike often call this place the \u201cRainbow Town\u201d. The main reason for this is that when you visit it during the rainy season, you will be very likely to see colorful arches in the sky every time it pours down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inca traditions and practices still persist in this town to this day. It is believed that people who reside here are the descendants of Quechua-speaking Incas. Nevertheless, most of the people here also speak Spanish as their second language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the interesting things you can do here is learn how to weave. You can find several weaving facilities not far from the city\u2019s center. If you want to engage in this activity, you are expected to buy several items. Otherwise, you can make a donation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Maras Salt Mines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This one is the perfect place to go if you want to get beautiful pictures and learn the long history of the Peruvian people. Experts believe that this place has been in operation since the times of the Wari civilization, which means it has existed for more than five centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, local families run this place. The mines here produce salt using the evaporation of the brine, which comes from the surrounding hills. While it is no longer possible for tourists to come closer to the ponds, it is still possible for you to admire them from afar.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sacred Valley Brewery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This microbrewery has been in operation since 2014. While it is obvious that it does not have even the slightest thing to do with Inca civilization, it has gained a great number of followers and has also produced numerous award-winning alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It started out as a small project by Juan Mayorga and two of his friends. Before opening this business, they had long dreamed of moving to an exotic place and opening a place where they could enjoy the view of the mountains and experiment with their favorite drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This brewery only sells beverages in a keg form. The unique thing about this place is that it is heavily influenced by Peru\u2019s chicheria roots. This is a culture that is renowned for having secret breweries that are disguised as structures with red facades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Takeaway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With all these amazing destination options, do you think Peru\u2019s Sacred Valley is the next place you should come to? This area has long been a top pick for trekking enthusiasts and adventure seekers. All in all, this place deserves multiple visits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sacred Valley will always give anyone who visits it something to keep them thrilled and entertained. No matter what kind of traveler you are, you will never run out of adventure ideas. More importantly, you can always use the guide above when you visit it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a famous tourist destination, Peru\u2019s Sacred Valley offers visitors an endless list of cultural and natural treasures. And, from all the options available, Machu Picchu has become one of the most renowned stopping places for people from all over the world. Situated more than 2,000 meters above sea level, Machu Picchu has its own […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Awana_Kancha_-_panoramio_-_Frans-Banja_Mulder.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Flights50off team","author_link":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/author\/flights50off-team\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":344,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336\/revisions\/344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights50off.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}