Everyone dreams of going to Machu Picchu. That amazing stone city in the clouds – that’s what most people think of when they think of Peru. And really, it is as amazing as it is said to be. But the journey getting there can be just as memorable. If you take it slow, the Sacred Valley offers something a little deeper – something real.
Let the Valley Breath
Most travelers whizz through the Sacred Valley looking straight ahead at Machu Picchu, but if you are willing to stop, catch your breath in the thin mountain air, and wander a little, there is something so special to be found. Life has a different rhythm here. The valley is a wide stretch between Cusco and the mountains beyond, filled with old towns and villages, crumbly ruins, wide open stretches of potato fields that seem endless.
There is Pisac where the market spills out into the cobbled streets with vendors calling out and colorful blankets fluttering in the open air. You might find a hand woven scarf and be encouraged to chat about the tradition of weaving in the region. Or you might choose to hike up above the town and enjoy ancient terraces poised into the mountains.
Be There Stay Deeper
Some of the best experiences occur when you ditch the guidebook and your travel agenda. If you’re staying at a community-run guesthouse in Lamay or Chinchero, it might be a difference experience altogether ethically and personally (and it will be). You could end up weeding the garden, talking about how to make ají de gallina, or sitting in on a weaving circle with local indigenous women. You learn by doing (and laughing first most likely).
By staying with communities like this, you help uphold traditions that may one day be gone. And you get to give back to the families who open their door and invite you into their world.
It’s More Than a Location
Sure, Machu Picchu is incredible. It is iconic for a reason. But don’t rush. Be present with the unfolding of the Sacred Valley, slowly and honestly present for change. Let the fog roll in while you sip coca tea. Let a chat with a stranger take an hour. Let yourself deviate from your plan and itinerary.
Because sometimes, the most beautiful part of travel is not arriving at a destination, but the experience of things you notice while you stop trying to get there so urgently.