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The sacred valley of the Incas

The valley of Urubamba, situated close to Cusco was the agricultural larder of Cuzco in Inca times.

The valley is renowned for its excellent climate, fertile lands and the waters of the sacred river of the Inca, the Vilcanota (in Quechua: sacred or wonderful thing) that, in the town of Urubamba, the river changes its name to the UrubambaRiver.

The "Valle Sagrado" is embraced between the towns of Písac and Ollantaytambo, and has wonderful landscapes where its inhabitants, native of the Quechua ethnic group, conserve many customs, traditions and ancestral rites.

It is an area where you can appreciate the high technological development that the Inca reached in terms of agriculture through the "andenería" systems (platform terraces). These systems are still in use today and show sophisticated designs of hydraulic engineering for irrigation purposes. They were also outstanding adoration centers to the Pachamama (or mother earth).

Pisac

Apicturesque town located on the outskirts of Intihuatana hill (the place where the sun is tied). It has the greatest "andenería" system (platform system) achieved by the Inca in all of the Andes.

Close to the town lies the "Parque Arqueológico de Pisac" (Archaeological Park of Písac), an Inca site whose construction in finely assembled, refined stone, demonstrates a citadel, turrets, military fortresses, and astronomical observatories, etc. The largest Inca cemetery inb the whole of South America is also located here.

Every Sunday, the Sunday feast, headed by the caciques or leaders of Ayllus carry out their "varáyoc" and adorn typical costumes and engage in folkloric dance. They attend a Quechua mass and engage in "catu" or the indigenous fair of agricultural exchange without money passing hands.

In the Main Square every Thursday and Sunday there is a crafts fair, showing beautiful textile crafts, sweaters, ponchos, bags, and showing reproductions of Inca archaeological pieces, the queros (ceremonial glasses), necklaces, etc. To this fair, artisans and indigenous merchants of many towns come to trade their products.

Pisac is located some 32 km (20 miles) from Cusco, at 2972 metres above sea level (9,751 feet).

Calca

A beautifullytown some 50 km (31 miles) from Cusco, and at an elevation of 2928 metres above sea level (9,606 feet) affording wonderful views of the mountains of Pitusiray and Sahuasiray. Close to the town are the medicinal spas of Machacancha (thermal sulfurous springs) and Minasmoqo. Also close by is the archaeological Inca complex of Huchuy Cusco, perched over a thousand meters over the SacredValley.

Yucay

Located some 68 km (42 miles) from Cusco, and at 2857 metres above sea level (9,373 feet), Yucay

was the elected resort for the Inca royalty which also attributes a mythological character and empowerment on the human spirit.

Urubamba

An old Inca town located in the fertile valley of the same name and formerly a great agricultural producing centre of the Inca.

Also known as the "Capital Arqueológica del Perú" (Archaeological Capital of Peru), for its rich Inca archaeological sites it is also called "La Perla del Vilcanota", for the incomparable landscapes that surround it

Ollantaytambo

Accoriding tolegend, Ollantay (the titan of the Andes) was of plebeian origin, who loved the princess Cusi Coyllor (cheerful star) the daughter of Inca Pachacútec. In disagreement with this love, Pachacútec sent the princess to a house of Virgins from where Ollántay tried to abduct her. He failed without but managed to escape. From the fortress that Ollántay controlled he rebelled against Pachacútec, and after several bloody battles was defeated, but because of the generosity of Pachacútec, he forgave the life of Ollántay.

The foundation of Ollantaytambo is attributed to Ollántay, and the military fortress that protected this area of the valley which prevails strategically between two mountains. On the summit of the archaeological complex stands six monoliths of enormous size, assembled with incredible precision, with mysterious engravings of Inca iconography.

The current town of Ollantaytambo has many houses built on the bases of the old Inca towns with local people maintaining their ancestral customs.

The complexity and beauty of these Inca constructions and the contemporary town, along with the immense agricultural complex is considered by many to be one of the most important living museums in the world.

Ollantaytambo is located 97 km (60 miles) from Cusco, at an altitude of 2846 metres above sea level (9,337 feet).