The Sacred Valley of the Incas
Come to enjoy the Sacred Valley of the
Incas a place with a lot of Incan history and Incan sites, and a place where it
is growing the most bigly and delicious corn of the world. The Towns, and
Villages situated within the Sacred Valley of the Incas, have plenty of
historic, archaeological and cultural attractions. The area known as “el Valle
Sagrado de los Incas” corresponds, to a segment of the Willkamayu or Vilcanota
River, which later changes its name, to become, the Urubamba River at kiteni
located well after the main jungle town of Quillabamba (north of Cuzco and
after Machupicchu).
Alongside the river and in the surrounding areas one will
find picturesque towns and villages as well as important ancient monuments. For
those traveling through the Sacred Valley, the first obliged stop, is the town
of Pisac, where on Sundays, visitors will find a very active agricultural, and
artisan market at the main plaza as well as the opportunity, of attending a
traditional mass in Quechuan language among the local Varayocs or Quechua
village majors. Also it is another Pisac “Inca Pisac” and has terraces, which,
date back to the times, of the Inca Empire, as well as the magnificent ruins,
of the ancient Incan town of Pisac, on top of a neighboring hill, are a must
for visitors to this site.
About 30 km(18.8 miles) further to the west;
visitors will find the village of Calca, where the Inca Wiracocha (eight Inca
ruler) had a palace, and decided to retire after abdicating his throne, Calca´s
has beautiful landscape is surrounded by the view of the Pitusiray, and the
Sawasiray (are two snow-capped mountains). Next comes the town of Urubamba,
which offers a nice range of hostelry opportunities “for any pocket´s width”,
as well as the opportunity of participating, in the local day life of
villagers, and enjoying the beautiful Andean scenery of the valley. Just 15 km.
(9.5 miles) away from Urubamba, it is located Ollantaytambo, in the middle of
the Sacred Valley, place where we can find plenty Incan altar and temples and
also Ollantaytambo is the unique place where Andean people are still using Inca
houses. Another location travelers will arrive to the town of Yucay,
where in
November 1539 the Spanish conqueror, Gonzalo Pizarro having taken as hostages
the wife and sister of Manko Inca (the Coya queen Cura Occllo) as well as the
great priest, of the cult to the God-Sun (known as the Willac Huma),decided to
executive them in order, to take revenge for his own failure, in succeeding in
a 10 days long battle ensued, in July at the gorge of river Pampacona ,in the
mountains of Vilcabamba. Yucay is nowadays a lovely traditional village that
offers, very fine accommodations, and food to visitors and counts among its
attractions the remains of the place of the Inca Sairi Tupac.
On the way back,
by car to Cuzco after visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas; travelers will
find Moray, the salt mines of Maras, and the historic village of Chinchero,
where a local legend says that this way, it is the birthplace of the rainbow.
There is still a temple in the village, for the cult of this natural
phenomenon, and every may 2nd during the local festivities of the village, the
Christian cross is shown surrounded by thousands of multicolored flower petals,
that, mimic the rainbow and reunite the “pagan” and catholic cults in one sole
rite.
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