Cusco Sacred Valley of the Incas Full day

Your journey through the Sacred Valley begins, when you will be picked up from your hotel. With our private transport we head for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is in Pisaq with its two distinct parts: the colonial village lying beside the river and the Inca fortress, situated above in the mountains, built with an amazing harmony with the nature. The ruins in Pisaq can be separated along the ridge into four groups: Pisaq, Intihuatana, Q’allaqasa, and Kinchiracay. Intihuatana (the Temple of the Sun) includes a number of baths, water channels and temples. Intihuatana, a volcanic outcrop carved into a “hitching post” for the sun (or Inti), forms the top of the terraces. The angles of its base suggest that it served possibly as a ceremonial centre. Q’allaqasa, which is built onto a natural spur and overlooks the valley, is known as the citadel. During the time of the Tawantinsuyo they were used in an agriculture way, so as that they possible cultivated different types of corn, which is nowadays exported. Thereafter we visit the religious sector, where we find the chacana symbol (Inca Cross), which represented the three worlds like the nether world, this world and the world above, in quechua that means el Hanaq Pachaq, Kay Pachaq y Ukju Pachaq. Then we head to the Temple of the Moon were you can admire the beautiful walls with their perfect sculpt stones. From this engaging site it was possible to guard the Urubamba valley below and also a trail heading for the jungle.

The famous market of Pisaq on its Plaza Mayor offers an endless variety of the typical Andean crafts. After having lunch in Urubamba we continue our trip through a magnificant scenery of mountains and snow-capped summits. In Ollantaytambo (known to locals just as Ollanta) we visit the archaeological complex, whose construction is as old as its’ great stones. It is said to took place here, where the Spanish conquistadors lost a battle, and it was also in here where the Incas retreated after the defeat at Sacsaywaman. This history-charged fortress presents a collection of houses, temples, platforms, colcas (deposits) and several enclosures of which the function is not determined yet. The village of Ollantaytambo is considered as the last Andean village, because the houses and narrow cobblestone streets show us the Inca style of constructing and city planning. After this we return to Urubamba at about 6.30pm.