Top 5 Places to see in the Sacred Valley (besides Machu Picchu!)

Everyone visits Peru to view the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Well, I admit… it is a sight to see and definitely a must do, being one of the 7 wonders of the world and all! 🙂 But, there are many amazing places to visits and things to do in Sacred Valley besides Machu Picchu. A couple of them took my breath away and even made me reconsider Machu Picchu as the #1 site in the area! So when you’re planning your trip, don’t miss these spectacular sights in the sacred valley. Here’s the countdown…

5. Salineras & Agricultural Terraces of Moray

Salineras (aka Salinas) – These Incan salt mines are an incredible site to see. These 3000+ salt pans are carved into the side of a mountain, all irrigated by a single salt water spring on top. Since it was dry season, we got to see it at it’s peak, in shades of white & brown.

Moray – Moray comes from “Aymoray” meaning maize harvest, and these ruins have more to do with potatoes than aliens 🙂 These experimental agricultural terraces are located close to Salinas, and can be combined in a day trip from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. Shaped like an amphitheatre, these cluster of 3 terraces were used by the Incas to study agricultural patterns in different seasons. Each level has it’s own micro-climate and irrigation channels to control water flow to different crops and were used to determine which crops were best suited for the ever changing climate in the area.

4. Sacsayhuaman

These ruins are located just north of Cusco, and are perfect for a day trip. You can walk there, take buses / scheduled tours from Cusco, or hire a taxi and do it on your own. Some consider it to be a temple for the sun god, while others claim it’s a fortress. Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, and Sacsayhuaman is at the head of the Puma. The zigzag shape of the ruins resemble the jaw & teeth of the puma. The three-tiered ruins have a lot of stories behind it, so you may want to hire a local guide to walk you through it all. Since it’s at a higher altitude than the city, you get spectacular views of Cusco city from here, and a good sunset spot.

2. Pisac market & ruins

Pisac is famous for it’s sunday market, with local artisans showcasing their talent, and there’s also a section for local produce that is great to walk around. The Pisaq ruins are located about 20 mins from the market, and if you’re willing to do the trail, offers some spectacular views of mountains and showcases the sheer magnificence of Incan architecture – you’ll walk through tunnels in the mountains, steep steps carved in the stone and ledges that are barely a few inches deep while looking down at magnificent agricultural terraces.

Note: When you go to Pisac, be prepared to spend the entire day and go loaded with water and food, the trek is tiring in the heat!

3. City tour of Cusco

Cusco is a great town to spend a couple of days in, soak in and experience the culture. With the narrow cobble stoned streets and friendly locals, it is the perfect place to just take your camera and go exploring – day or night. Don’t miss the temple of the sun, Plaza de Armas, and various churches & museums in this tiny town. And there are many restaurants that will give you a true flavour for the local cuisine. If you buy the tourist ticket (Boleto turistico), you can also see a dance performance showcasing the different tribal cultures. It is also the perfect place to do all your shopping (tough some people claim Pisac market is great, the prices here are much more reasonable.)

1. Ollantaytambo

This tiny village in the valley stole my heart! It is the home to a great fortress, and of special military importance for the Incas. You can spend almost a day walking around the fortress, the huge walls that protected the city from invaders. The large rock monoliths were quarried 15 km away and moved manually to it’s final resting place here. Apart from the fortress, I loved the village itself, that still preserves the Inca way of life – starting from the way the people dress, to the tools they use, and the irrigation water that runs along the road, still functional! For the adventurous at heart – there are many fun day trips you can try from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo – horse back riding through the valley, zip line and riding RTVs to name a few. If you haven’t arranged these ahead of time, make sure you bargain for a good rate!

Discover Canada – Mackenzie King Estate

Neatly tucked away in the heart of Gatineau Park, Mackenzie King Estate is just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill and makes for the perfect day trip (or even an afternoon off!) from Ottawa, Canada.

View of the Cottage & Tea Room

Gatineau park is an serene retreat by itself, with vast stretches of trails – for walking, hiking and cycling and numerous lakes that make great picnic spots and some spectacular view points that invite you for the perfect “Facebook profile pic”! In the midst of this, the Mackenzie estate is an inviting prospect where you can sneak a peek at how life was in the early 1900s.

With that, it’s time for a brief history lesson – William Lyon Mackenzie King (the longest serving Prime Minister of Canada) first visited this area in the early 1900s, and immediately fell in love. He built a small summer home (calling it Kingsmere) and slowly bought adjoining areas, to make it the massive 200+ hectare estate it is today. The Kingsmere estate’s ruins include stones from the Original Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa, which burned in 1916. He lived here until his death in 1950, and now has become a well-known cultural attraction.

You can tour the gardens, his cottage and then go to the adjoining tea room for a light snack. If you are really hungry, they have some interesting options for lunch as well.

Pasta for the vegetarian

Fish for the non-vegetarian

Things to do:

• Visit the restored cottages
• Take a leisure stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens
• Photograph the ruins on the estate
• Have a light lunch or tea and biscuits at the Moorside Tea Room
• Discover the bridal veil falls that are very close to the estate

This really is the perfect getaway, all you need is a book and some music. For the adventurous, I would suggest renting a bicycle and enjoying the ride through the woods, the drive to the estate is as important as getting in there.

Best time to visit: May – October (Summer & Fall). I would suggest picking a glorious sunny day in summer or a cool colourful day in fall to enjoy this to the fullest!

Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee to get in but there is a $10 parking fee for Gatineau Park