If Machu Picchu is the reason travelers come to Peru…
the Sacred Valley is the reason they fall in love with it.
During the Andean summer (May–September dry season for international travelers escaping the Northern Hemisphere heat), the valley becomes something extraordinary: golden light over ancient terraces, blue skies almost every day, vibrant markets, and perfect conditions for outdoor adventure.
Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas was once the agricultural, spiritual and strategic heart of the Inca Empire. Today, it has quietly become the most unforgettable part of a Peru itinerary — especially for travelers seeking culture and experience, not just sightseeing.
Here are the 5 must-do activities that transform a visit into a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
1. Sleep on a Cliff at Skylodge Adventure Suites
The Most Unique Hotel Experience in Peru
You can stay in luxury hotels anywhere in the world.
But in the Sacred Valley, you can sleep inside a transparent capsule hanging from a mountain wall 300 meters (1,000 ft) above the ground.
The Skylodge Adventure Suites is not simply accommodation — it is an experience you earn.
To reach your room, you climb a protected via ferrata route assisted by professional guides. No climbing experience is required, and modern safety equipment makes it accessible even for beginners.
The reward?
A private panoramic suite overlooking the entire Sacred Valley.
What Makes the Experience Extraordinary
- 300° panoramic views of the Andes
- Sunset above ancient Inca farmland terraces
- Gourmet dinner served in the sky
- Stargazing with almost zero light pollution
- Sunrise over the Sacred Valley from your bed
The morning is the moment guests never forget. As the first sunlight hits the Urubamba River and the mountains turn gold, you realize you are watching the valley from a viewpoint almost nobody else on Earth experiences.
Many travelers say this night becomes the emotional highlight of their Peru trip — even more memorable than Machu Picchu.
2. Fly Across the Andes: Zip Line Over the Sacred Valley
The Most Scenic Zipline in Peru
After spending the night on the cliff, your descent doesn’t happen by hiking.
You fly.
The Naturavive zip line circuit lets you glide across multiple cables suspended between mountains, high above the Sacred Valley. Using a gravity-powered pulley system, you travel safely from platform to platform while surrounded by dramatic Andean landscapes.
This is not a short tourist zipline in a park.
It is a true mountain aerial crossing.
Why Travelers Love It
- Multi-line circuit across the valley
- Professionally engineered braking system
- Beginner friendly
- Continuous guide supervision
- Incredible photography opportunities
The experience typically includes a 50-minute hike and 3–4 hours of activity. By the final line, most visitors wish they could go again.
It’s adrenaline — but peaceful adrenaline.
You’re not just moving fast.
You’re floating through the Andes.
3. Explore Ollantaytambo: The Living Inca Town
Where History Still Breathes
Ollantaytambo is not a ruin.
It is a town that never stopped being Inca.
Its original stone streets still function, water channels still run through them, and local families still live in houses built over 500 years ago. Above the village rises a massive fortress-temple complex built with stones so precisely cut that modern engineers still study them.
What to Do Here
- Climb the Temple of the Sun terraces
- Walk the original Inca urban grid
- Visit local artisan workshops
- Photograph sunrise on the ruins
Ollantaytambo is also the train departure point to Machu Picchu, which makes it the perfect cultural stop before or after your visit to the Wonder of the World.
4. Visit the Maras Salt Mines and Moray Terraces
Ancient Inca Engineering at Its Best
Two of the Sacred Valley’s most fascinating archaeological sites sit just 30 minutes apart — and together they explain why the Incas became one of the greatest civilizations in history.
Maras Salt Mines
Thousands of salt pools cascade down the mountainside, each one fed by a natural mineral spring. Families have harvested salt here since pre-Inca times, and they still do today.
The visual impact alone makes it one of the most photographed places in Peru.
Moray Circular Terraces
Moray looks like a giant amphitheater carved into the earth. But it was actually an agricultural laboratory. Each terrace has a different temperature, allowing the Incas to experiment with crops and develop resilient food varieties.
You’re not just visiting ruins — you’re witnessing early agricultural science.
5. Experience a Traditional Andean Market (Pisac or Chinchero)
The Cultural Soul of the Valley
To understand the Sacred Valley, you must meet its people.
Markets in Pisac and Chinchero are vibrant gatherings where local Quechua communities sell textiles, ceramics, jewelry and food — much of it handmade using techniques passed down for centuries.
What You’ll Discover
- Naturally dyed alpaca textiles
- Traditional weaving demonstrations
- Local Andean cuisine
- Authentic cultural interaction
Unlike souvenir shops, these markets are part of daily life. You are not observing culture — you are stepping into it.
Why the Sacred Valley Is Becoming Peru’s True Highlight
Many travelers arrive focused on Machu Picchu.
They leave talking about the Sacred Valley.
Here, the pace slows. The air feels cleaner. The experiences feel real. You climb mountains, meet locals, learn history and reconnect with nature — all within a short distance of Cusco.
The combination of culture, adventure and unique lodging is what makes the valley so powerful.
You don’t just see Peru here.
You feel it.
And when you finally reach Machu Picchu, you understand it more deeply because you’ve already experienced the world the Incas lived in.
Plan Ahead
Summer high season fills quickly, especially for limited-capacity experiences like Skylodge Adventure Suites and the zipline. Reservations often sell out weeks — sometimes months — in advance.
If Peru is on your travel list this year, don’t plan only the destination.
Plan the memories.
Because long after the photos fade, these five experiences will still be the stories you tell first.
