As the powerhouse behind the whole Inca civilization, the Sacred Valley is still full of important cultural sites today. This is where you can learn how their finest textiles were woven, the Andean equivalent of royal brocade at Awana Kancha or Chinchero. This is where you can see the cultural importance of llamas, alpacas and cuy (guinea pigs).

The Sacred Valley is also where the most important ingredients for Andean cuisine are grown and where most of the food in Cusco comes from. Even salt comes from the Maras Salineras in the valley near Urubamba. It’s an agricultural heaven with the perfect climate for growing just about anything. The Inca knew what they were doing when they made this valley their power base.