The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley was formed by the Urubamba River, which in Quechua means the “Sacred River.” It runs for some 450 miles, and is a resource for agriculture in the many communities extending from the town of Sicuani in the higher elevations to Aguascalientes at the base of Machu Picchu. The river plunges some 3,000 feet between Ollantaytambo and Aguascalientes, going from 11,000 to 8,000 feet as it flows far below the ancient Inca ruins.

We hired a guide and driver to take us through the Sacred Valley, and I stopped often to take pictures. We visited a sanctuary for injured wildlife, a women’s cooperative built to help the indigenous women of Ccaccaccollo sell the products they weave from alpaca wool, the famous market at Písac, and the ruins at Ollantaytambo. We were fortunate to travel this route on May 3 when many small communities celebrated the Day of the Crosses with elaborate costumes and parades. The salt beds of Salinas and the ancient village of Maras were two additional highlights on the route.