The Best Things to Do in the Sacred Valley, Peru (Based on Your Travel Style)
Discover how to explore Peru’s Sacred Valley based on your travel style, including private Andean picnics, open-air mountain trail rides, high-altitude fine dining, and ancient weaving traditions.
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The Sacred Valley is far more than just a region you pass through on the way to Machu Picchu.
Sitting at around 9,000 feet (2,800 meters), the valley is at lower elevation than Cusco, making it an easier entry point to acclimate before visiting Machu Picchu. Alternatively, spending time here after your sightseeing gives you space to slow down, relax, and connect with nature.
No matter where it falls on your timeline, there is plenty worth staying for. Here are some of the best ways to experience the Sacred Valley, mapped out by travel style.
Spending two or three days in the Sacred Valley changes the entire tempo of your trip. Beyond giving your body time to adjust to the altitude, it gives you space to experience the region’s real character —from traditional organic lunches and living Inca heritage to newfound adventure activities.
If you're planning a trip to Peru and want an itinerary tailored to your exact pacing and style, I can help you build a thoughtful, stress-free route through the valley and beyond.
For Animal & Aesthetic Lovers: Llama Hot Tub Experience
Soak in an outdoor wood-fired hot tub tucked into the Maras countryside with open views of the Andes. You get a basket filled with their favorite treats to feed the resident llamas and alpacas, which brings the herd trotting right up to the edge of your tub. It's a picture-perfect moment that you or your instagram feed won't forget. Advisor Tip: This experience is included with overnight stays at Mountain View Experience, but it can also be arranged as a standalone day visit with an advance reservation.
For the Romantics: Private Andean Picnic
Settle into a curated picnic setup overlooking the open valley, complete with local charcuterie, fresh fruits, wine, and floor cushions set against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. While enjoying your lunch, you can capture the view of Mount Veronica with watercolor painting. Just watch out — the local llama herd might stop by to say hello and try to steal a snack.
For Foodies: Pachamanca Feast & Immersion at MIL
The Sacred Valley is a powerhouse for culinary travelers. You can experience an authentic Incan Pachamanca feast at local organic farms like El Albergue—where fresh meats, Andean herbs, and native tubers are buried underground and slow-cooked over hot stones. If high-end gastronomy is more your style, head to MIL Centro, the high-altitude research kitchen and tasting menu concept by Virgilio Martínez and Pía León overlooking Moray. It offers a rare, multi-course deep dive into high-altitude Andean ecosystems, native crops, and sustainable culinary traditions.
For Extreme Thrill-Seekers: Via Ferrata & Skylodge Adventure Suites
For those who crave high-altitude adrenaline, the vertical walls above Urubamba offer some of South America’s most daring mountain adventures. You can scale a 1,200-foot rock face using a safe system of steel rungs and cables (via ferrata), then zip line across the canyon for sweeping aerial views of the valley floor. To take the thrill even further, spend the night hanging off the cliff in transparent glass suites at Skylodge, where you dine under the stars and wake up suspended high above the Urubamba River.
For the Adventure Seekers: ATVs or Horseback Riding
Trading the standard tour bus for open air is one of the best ways to explore the rural backroads between Maras and Moray. You can navigate high-altitude trails on ATVs or ride Peruvian Paso horses past working farmland, quiet rural trails, and snow-capped mountain vistas leading toward the salt flats. Booking a private guide allows you to set your own pace, stop for photos along the valley rim, and get off the beaten tourist path.
For History Buffs: Ruins, Fortresses, & Mines
Beyond Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley holds some of the ancient world’s most impressive civil engineering. You can climb the massive sun temple terraces at Ollantaytambo, explore the agricultural testing terraces at Moray, and walk alongside thousands of hand-dug salt pans in Maras that have been harvested continuously since pre-Inca times. Make sure to save time for Pisac, where dramatic citadel ruins and ancient stone storehouses cling to steep cliffs high above the valley floor.
For Culture Enthusiasts: Markets & Weaving Workshops
Connecting with the living traditions of the Andes offers a glimpse into generations of master craftspeople. In Chinchero, visit Indigenous women’s weaving collectives to observe traditional wool spinning, natural vegetable dyeing using local plants and cochineal bugs, and complex backstrap loom weaving. For an energetic market day, head to Pisac on Sunday to wander through hundreds of colorful artisan stalls filled with handmade ceramics, silver jewelry, hand-woven blankets, and high-quality alpaca textiles directly from local artisans.
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