The Sacred Valley of the Incas lies midway between the capital city of Cusco and Machu Picchu, but it ought to be considered an independent destination from those two tourism juggernauts, with a personality, climate, natural beauty and serenity all its own. Many travelers have begun to use the Valley as a base from which to explore the entire Cusco region, only venturing into the city to spend a night or two.

Inextricably linked to the Inca Empire, the Sacred Valley is framed by bold Andes mountains and bisected by the Urubamba River. The widespread appeal of the Sacred Valley focuses on three areas: the Outdoors (for the Incas the region was their breadbasket, critical to their vaunted agriculture for its unrivalled quality of water, air, land, altitude and climate); Archaeological Sites (the greatest remains of the Incan empire are found scattered across the Sacred Valley); and lastly its tranquility (in contrast to Cusco, the Valley is green, serene and soothing to both mind and body). Some travelers are drawn to a fourth dimension, the Valley’s spirituality (it formed an essential component of the Incas’ cosmology).

With its splendid weather and a lower elevation than Cusco, making it easier to adapt to and get outdoors, it’s ideal for gentle walks in the valley, meditative yoga and cooking classes, or for adventure types, a dose of extreme sports.