The Peruvian Sacred Valley is a beautiful valley that also offers Inca ruins, unique villages, amazing mountain views and adventurous activities. Another splendid way to appreciate the Sacred Valley is by participating in the Short Inca Trail – a two-day trek that covers approximately 26 kilometers through the valley and the cloud forests to Machu Picchu.
What To Know About the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley was a strategic place for Incas due to which they worked hard in constructing agricultural terraces in the region for growing crops like maize and potatoes. It has a temperate climate and depending on the time of year, the valley is surrounded by snow capped mountains which make it very beautiful.
To understand the history and culture of Incas and get the first impression of the Sacred Valley, when arriving at Aguas Calientes, a short 1-2 day hike of the closed Inca Trail with tents camping gives a unique opportunity to follow the steps of Incas on their road to Machu Picchu. The traditional 4 day Inca Trail hike is quite popular, though the permits are booked out sometimes half a year in advance, while the 1-2 day Inca Trail versions are more easily accessible yet still give a good feel of the famous hiking route.
The Brief Overview of Short Inca Trail
The Sacred valley tour and short Inca trail is one of the best options if the normal Inca Trail is too long for you. This 2D/1N trail starts from the village of Chachabamba and goes through the cloud forest and such offbeat Inca sites as Wiñay Wayna and Intipunku or the Sun Gate. You then enter the site through the Sun Gate to experience a sunrise arrival similar to hikers on the traditional Inca Trail. The Short Trail does not have very long day’s hike but it does provide spectacular Andean views and does end with the breathtaking view of the Machu Picchu citadel.
Begin your Inca trail journey in the Sacred Valley, where you can explore the beautiful towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo to see the archaeological sites and understand the Inca culture. Start hiking the following day and travel to Chachabamba village by bus in order to begin the Inca Trail. On the first day, explore the stunning rainforest and archaeological areas for 4-5 hours to get to the site of Machu Picchu. On the second and third days take an interesting train back to Cusco to contemplate the magnificent views and the difficulty of this famous Andean trail.
While selecting shelter, Sacred valley and short Inca trail with camping is better as it provides a close-to-nature experience of sleeping in the tents but the accommodation is very primitive. Hotels are more comfortable especially in relation to the bathrooms and showers, as well as acclimatization to the altitude before the hike. If you want to get off the grid and go on a trip, then definitely choose to camp. Select hostels if you want more conventional sleeping arrangements and private facilities after each day’s trekking.
If you decide to camp or stay in hotels, a 3 day Inca Trail tour from Cusco enables a traveler to experience the Inca way and also a little of modern Peru. It is the most efficient way of visiting the region’s major attractions in a short span of time.
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