Cusco & Machu Picchu

Cusco & Machu Picchu Travel Guide

Let's state the obvious: Machu Picchu is the Peru that most everyone, including you, likely comes to see. But between Cusco and the ruins lie many other don't-miss sights. The Río Urubamba passes, at its closest, about 30 km (18 mi) north of the city and flows through a valley about 300 meters (980 feet) lower in elevation than Cusco. The northwestern part of this river basin, romantically labeled the Sacred Valley of the Inca, contains some of the region's most appealing towns and fascinating pre-Columbian ruins. The warm fertile valley was favored by the Inca emperors as a place for cultivation and recreation.

Beyond the Sacred Valley lies Machu Picchu, the fabled Lost City of the Inca, and today, arguably the most famous archaeological site in the Americas. Of course the Spanish conquerors never did find the place, and its existence remained a secret to the outside world until its rediscovery in 1911, a fact for which every pilgrim to the site gives thanks.

Too often Cusco and Machu Picchu are sold as a three-day, two-night package -- and sometimes even a whirlwind tour of the Sacred Valley is incorporated into the third day. That's a shame because each is a destination in its own right. Cusco, with enough sights to keep you occupied for at least three days, is more than an embarkation point for the trek to Machu Picchu. The ruins themselves require more than the usual three or four hours spent at the site during a typical day tour. If that's all the time you have, great. But an overnight stay lets you linger long after the day-trippers have headed back down the mountain. And you can head back up early the next morning, an especially tranquil time before the midday heat and next round of visitors kick in. Finally, the Sacred Valley is not only chock full of major archaeological and other sights, its small towns and the slow pace of life invite you slow down your vacation pace as well.

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