Planning guide
The Sacred Valley: Why to Stay on the Way to Machu Picchu
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the stretch of the Urubamba river between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and it is one of the best-placed stops on the whole trip. It sits several hundred meters lower than Cusco, so it is warmer and gentler on new arrivals, it is packed with major Inca sites, and the most common train to Machu Picchu departs from Ollantaytambo at its western end. Staying here is often smarter than treating Cusco as your only base.
For many itineraries the Valley is the ideal first landing: acclimatize at a kinder elevation, see world-class ruins with less effort than the high passes demand, and be positioned right where the train to the citadel begins. This guide covers why to base here, the main sights, and how the Valley slots into the Machu Picchu day.
Why base in the Sacred Valley
The Valley's biggest practical advantage is elevation. Towns like Urubamba and Ollantaytambo sit several hundred meters below Cusco, so a first night here is easier on travelers arriving from sea level, and many trips deliberately start in the Valley to take the edge off the altitude before coming up to Cusco later.
The second advantage is position. Ollantaytambo, at the western end of the Valley, is where most Machu Picchu itineraries board the train, so basing in the Valley shortens the rail leg and turns the drive down from Cusco into sightseeing rather than a transfer. You acclimatize, sightsee, and pre-position for the citadel all in the same stop.
What to see in the Sacred Valley
The Valley holds some of the most impressive Inca sites outside Machu Picchu itself, spread along an easy driving route. These are the anchors most itineraries build around:
| Place | What it is | Why stop |
|---|---|---|
| Ollantaytambo | A living Inca town with a large terraced fortress-temple | Dramatic ruins plus the Machu Picchu train station; a natural overnight |
| Pisac | Hillside Inca ruins above a well-known market town | Terraces and temples with a famous craft market below |
| Maras and Moray | Concentric agricultural terraces and ancient salt pans | The Inca farming-lab terraces and the salt pans, a photographer's pair |
| Urubamba | The Valley's central town, lower and mild | A comfortable, well-placed base to sleep between sights |
How the Valley fits the Machu Picchu day
The natural sequence is Sacred Valley first, then Machu Picchu, then Cusco, though many trips reorder it. Basing in the Valley lets you catch the train from Ollantaytambo rather than riding the longer route from the Cusco area, and it keeps the demanding Machu Picchu day close to a comfortable, lower-elevation night.
As with the rest of the trip, the winning move is to sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before your visit and enter early. On our trips the Valley nights, the Ollantaytambo train, and the timed entry are arranged as one connected sequence so the pieces line up instead of fighting the timetable.
Questions travelers ask
Is the Sacred Valley worth staying in?
Yes, for most travelers. It sits lower than Cusco so it is easier on new arrivals, it holds major Inca sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and the common Machu Picchu train leaves from Ollantaytambo at its western end. It combines acclimatization, sightseeing, and pre-positioning in one stop.
Is the Sacred Valley lower than Cusco?
Yes. Towns like Urubamba and Ollantaytambo sit several hundred meters below Cusco, which makes a first night in the Valley gentler on travelers arriving from sea level. Many itineraries start here for exactly that reason before moving up to Cusco.
How many days do I need in the Sacred Valley?
One to two nights suits most trips. A single full day covers the highlight sites like Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Maras and Moray, while a second night makes the acclimatization more relaxed and leaves room to enjoy the Valley rather than rush it.
Does the Machu Picchu train leave from the Sacred Valley?
Most commonly, yes. The majority of itineraries board at Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, which shortens the rail leg compared with the route from the Cusco area, so basing in the Valley puts you right at the departure point.
Where to go from here
- Cusco Before Machu Picchu
How long to stay in Cusco and why the altitude sets the schedule.
- How to Get to Machu Picchu
The Ollantaytambo train and the other routes to the citadel.
- Altitude in Cusco
Why a lower first night in the Valley helps you acclimatize.
- Fascinating Machu Picchu
Our 7-day classic with the Sacred Valley days built in.