Sacred Valley of the Incas

It is easy to see why this Valley was held as sacred by the Incans; there are few more attractive regions in South America. The Valley can be cycled in a single day, but in doing so, you could miss out on some marvellous oportunities for off-road fun and frolics in this magical place.

The Valley is the food production centre for Cusco. It features the picturesque town of Pisac, famous for its delightful market day where colourful Indians sell a plethora of goods. It is also known for its agricultural terracing and Incan ruins which lie 600m above the town. Leading to the temples and ceremonial baths are some death defyingly steep walkways clinging to the hillside.....always good for a laugh!

Ollaytattambo is situated at the bottom of the Sacred Valley and is dominated by steep hillsides. It is one of the few remaining examples of genuine Incan town planning, with many buildings still boasting the original stonework in their foundations. It is dominated by a large fort or temple, (metaphysics and practicality seeming to run through most Incan building) which are constructed from large stones.

It is also the site of a rare Incan victory over the Spanish conquistadores, who were ambushed from the walls of the Valley to devastating effect. Upon their return, Pissaro and his men captured a high-ranking Incan women who was stripped, beaten, whipped and then shot full of arrows before being floated down river to act as a warning........barbaric swines!

Ollaytattambo is an ideal place to gird your loins before beginning the Inca trail to Machu Picchu