Sacred Valley, Peru

 
 

GETTING TO & around THE SACRED VALLEY

The easiest way to get to the wedding hotel – which is about an hour and a half outside Cusco – is to arrange a taxi from Cusco; your hotel can get a taxi for you.

From the wedding hotel, you can access numerous significant Incan ruins and landmarks across the Valley; the hotel can arrange taxis for these trips.

TO DO (OTHER THAN MACHU PICCHU, OF COURSE!)

There are several major ruins to visit in the Sacred Valley in addition to Machu Picchu:

  • Ollantaytambo – a must-visit and usually done en route to Machu Picchu because that’s where you catch the train

  • Moray – one of the famous Inca ruins near Cusco. a series of circular terraces where the Incas experimented with growing crops at different elevations.

  • Maras – salt flats usually done in conjunction with Moray

  • Pisac – the village of Pisac is its own day trip and definitely worth a visit – it's known for its lively handicrafts market in the main square, views of the valley and one of the most extensive archeological sites in the Valley.

  • Urubamba – a town 5 minutes from the wedding hotel; you can visit the open-air market and get a flavor for life in the Andes.

  • Outdoor adventures – if you’re looking for thrills, you can enjoy everything from zip lining to mountain-biking to ATV tours to white water rafting. the hotel or online tour agencies can help arrange these adventures!

TO EAT AND DRINK

Mil Centro – the Sacred Valley outpost of chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz who runs Central in Lima, now the second-ranked restaurant in the world. an incredible culinary and ecological experience where you’ll enjoy a tasting menu of 8 plates/ecosystems made with products sourced in the surrounding environment. Juan and I ate here in 2019 and it was unforgettable. caveat – the price has doubled since we dined there and is now $290 per person without the drink pairing.