Once overlooked by tourists as just a stepping stone between Cusco and Machu Picchu, nowadays the Sacred Valley Peru is truly a destination in its own right. Chock-full of activities for all types of travelers, you can hike to little-visited Incan ruins, make friends with the locals in traditional weaving villages, and photograph sweeping, imposing landscapes - all before kicking back in style at the best luxury hotels. The Sacred Valley is only a one and a half hour drive from Cusco and at a lower altitude than Cusco, making it the ideal base to explore the best of the region. The Highlights of the Sacred Valley The Sacred Valley Peru is scattered with Inca ruins and historic sites. Their impressive natural backdrops means they'll easily appeal to avid explorers and history buffs alike. Not-to-miss highlights include Ollantaytambo, one of the most well-preserved Incan towns in Peru built into the hillside affording privileged views, and the Incan agricultural terraces of Moray, which are extraordinary rings of stone terraces built into natural depressions of the earth. The other most-visited Incan sites of the Sacred Valley are Pisac and Chinchero. The Salt Pans of Maras Another highlight of the Sacred Valley are the salt pans of Maras, often visited in combination with Moray. Maras is a stunning array of watered terraces that collect salt and have been in use since pre-Columbian times. These days it's a local cooperative, with a number of families all producing top-quality salt you'll see featured in Lima's top gourmet restaurants. Avoiding the Crowds One of the perks of traveling with Aracari to the area is that having planned tailormade tours for two decades we can ensure you follow the best crowd avoidance routes. Visit the likes of Pumamarca ruins where, despite being only a short drive from bustling Ollantaytambo by road, you can often have these
Once overlooked by tourists as just a stepping stone between Cusco and Machu Picchu, nowadays the Sacred Valley Peru is truly a destination in its own right. Chock-full of activities for all types of travelers, you can hike to little-visited Incan ruins, make friends with the locals in traditional weaving villages, and photograph…
The Sacred Valley is a must-see destination in Peru and home to a wide range of sumptuous luxury five-star hotels and charming boutique retreats. In addition, private homes make a welcoming retreat to use as a base to explore the highlights of this region. Aracari has scouted out and handpicked a selection of gorgeous and welcoming Sacred Valley private villas which can be booked as part of any tailormade trip to Peru. Here we share our first-hand experience staying at one of our top pick Sacred Valley private villas. Sacred Valley Private Villas - Aracari's Review Walking into the villa, I was greeted by two things simultaneously - the beautiful bright colours of the eclectic but tasteful Andean decór, and the inviting smell of my dinner simmering away from the kitchen, under the watchful eye of Berta the cook. Private Condominium Nestled in a private gated group of condominiums, set in lush tropical gardens, are seven beautiful and inviting Sacred Valley private villas, one of which is available for Aracari guests. With lovely configuration and character and style, it offers a high level of service, perfect for a relaxing and homely stay in the Sacred Valley. Located on the edge of the town of Urubamba, the location is perfect for exploring the highlights of the Sacred Valley and catching the train to Machu Picchu from nearby Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley as the ideal place to start your exploration of the area – its lower altitude means you can comfortably acclimatise before exploring Cusco which has a higher elevation. Entering the villa feels like walking into a cosy and inviting Peruvian country home. It is tastefully decorated with an eclectic mix of Andean art, handicrafts and collectables including traditional hats from nearby communities, ornate ceramics and beautiful colourful tapestries. Everywhere you turn there are interesting features to peruse. Read more about
The Sacred Valley is a must-see destination in Peru and home to a wide range of sumptuous luxury five-star hotels and charming boutique retreats. In addition, private homes make a welcoming retreat to use as a base to explore the highlights of this region. Aracari has scouted out and handpicked…
At Aracari, we dedicate ourselves not only to providing the best experience for our travelers, but also by supporting local initiatives that make a positive impact in the regions we serve. One of our favorite initiatives is from the Sol y Luna Lodge and Spa, which aside from being a gorgeous luxury property in the lush Sacred Valley not only supports the Asociación Sol y Luna educational initiative, but it was the very reason that founder Petit Miribel founded it with her husband - precisely to generate sustainable funding for the educational projects of the Association. Petit Miribel is a French ex-pat who moved to Peru 20 years ago to work in mining, though since early childhood had always felt a profound desire to advance social justice. About one year after moving to Peru, she was inspired to work in education in the Sacred Valley, where she has lived ever since and committs her work and efforts to the improvement of educational opportunities in the area. Petit was disappointed in the state of schools when she first moved to Peru, well before tourism in the region had developed as much as it has today. There were 200 students without no bathrooms, the roofs were falling down, and getting the most basic needs met was a struggle. With the public schools' inaction, she decided to take matters into her own hands and start a school of her own to deliver quality education in an inclusive environment. This last point is particularly important for Petit's vision for equal opportunities: her own children attend the school and are educated alongside children from the wider community; only those who can afford to pay full fees. The Sacred Valley was hardly a tourist destination two decades ago, so it complicated to lay the groundwork for Petit's vision.
At Aracari, we dedicate ourselves not only to providing the best experience for our travelers, but also by supporting local initiatives that make a positive impact in the regions we serve. One of our favorite initiatives is from the Sol y Luna Lodge and Spa, which aside from being a…
I visited Cusco and its surrounding areas for the first time in November with my friend from college. Like many travelers, we immediately fell in love with the region, and as soon as we returned, our friends started prodding us, "What was your favorite part? Was Machu Picchu as spectacular as the photographs?" I can say definitively that Machu Picchu does live up to its National Geographic reputation, but visiting the Incan citadel was perhaps suprisingly not my favorite part of the trip. Rather, the experience I will never forget is the mountain biking Sacred Valley day long experience we had with Aracari travel. My Mountain Biking Sacred Valley Experience We embarked from Cusco around 9 AM en route to the Sacred Valley. My friend and I had already purchased the multi-site passes to the ruins around Cusco, so we asked if we could visit some of the smaller complexes as we passed by. The guides were very flexible with our requests, and they were excited to tell us all about the theories surrounding the ruins of Q’enqo and Pukapukara. Our first official stop was the Pisac Market, where we scurried through the colorful stalls picking up trinkets to remember our trip. Luckily, we're savvy navigators -- the market is absolutely labyrinthine! Cycling from Pisac The cycling adventure started in a small plaza by the town of Pisac. For an amateur cyclist like me, the bikes took some getting used to. Our guide gave us a quick and comprehensive tutorial on the gears, and before long we were on our way. We hurtled through the town amongst the dogs, cars, and pedestrians scattered about winding dirt roads. But once we were in the valley, it was smooth sailing. There were a few steep uphill climbs, but nothing unmanageable. The Sacred Valley
I visited Cusco and its surrounding areas for the first time in November with my friend from college. Like many travelers, we immediately fell in love with the region, and as soon as we returned, our friends started prodding us, “What was your favorite part? Was Machu Picchu as spectacular…