Indigenous communities: Calling the Sacred Valley home
Andean colors pervade Chinchero town on market days.
Photo by David Berkowitz/Flickr
The Sacred Valley is home to more than 65,000 permanent inhabitants, or approximately 10 percent of Cusco’s total regional population, a large part of which is grouped into rural indigenous communities – although the national trend toward urbanization is altering this social composition. These native communities have long been key actors in the economic and political development of Peru. In the Sacred Valley, they produce nearly 10 percent of the regional GDP through family and community-based agriculture, fishery, and small manufacturing activities.
While the growth of tourism and the market economy has disrupted many traditional activities, valley communities have also adapted to meet these changes. In some cases, individuals become workers for hotel franchises and other businesses; in other instances, they establish their own community-based services and sustainable ecotourism projects.
Indigenous Quechua communities in the Sacred Valley of the Incas continue to be the guardians of centuries-old practices, for example, in the use of non-monetary forms of exchange or barter called trueque. In food, dress, music, dance, myths and legends, they preserve the ancient rites and customs that provide a link between the deep history of the Sacred Valley and contemporary life in the Andes.
Archeological sites: Visit Inca history
The salt mines of Maras are an ancient site still use today.
Photo by dachalan/Flickr
The Sacred Valley boasts a rich concentration of archeological sites. First and foremost, there are the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the ruins of Pisac, both of which stand on terraced mountainsides overlooking Andean towns. Then there are the ruins at Chinchero, Maras, and Moray. Beyond that, there are a host of sites, some only recently excavated, others more waiting to be rescued from under the dust of centuries.
Almost everywhere you look there are ancient agricultural terraces, some of them still is use, all of them conforming to the steep slopes of mountains. This abundance of archeological evidence gives a special quality to the Sacred Valley. It is a constant reminder that people have lived and thrived in this place for a very long time.
How to get there
The towns of the Sacred Valley are accessible by bus or private transportation via the Cusco-Pisac highway (longer) or the Cusco-Chinchero highway (shorter). Routes depend on how much of the valley you want to see and how fast you want to travel. Most visitors do a combination of both routes, going through Pisac, traversing the length of the valley to Ollantaytambo, and returning to Cusco through Chinchero.
Plans are in the works to build a new airport on the Chinchero plateau to better serve the larger Cusco area. This Chinchero airport would allow more frequent domestic flights and possibly international ones. Although this has been a long-term project of several regional administrations, the plan to build an “airport in the clouds” is controversial due to the potential negative impacts on the local community, its economy, and the environment.
Plan your own Sacred Valley Tour
Peru For Less offers a variety of exciting and culturally rich tours throughout the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Call and talk with an expert travel advisor to start planning your dream trip today!
LEARN MORE about this region of Peru. Checkout our complete Cusco and Sacred Valley Travel Guides! It’s free and filled with helpful, up-to-date information.