Biking on the Sacred Valley

The sacred valley of the Incas is one of the richest lands in Peru, where grow many types of vegetables, mainly corn. The Incas used to work in the area around experimenting with seeds of all kinds of products like potatoes, corn, coca, etc.

The mystical sacred valley of the Vilcanota a.k.a. Urubamba river it's between the Andes mountains in Cusco and it comprehends from Pisac to Ollantaytambo.

The weather changes fast from a foggy morning to a sunny afternoon to a rainy evening, making geographically an ideal place for a harmonic life, the reason why a lot of foreigners decide to stay for long after visiting for the first time.

Young bull chilling near the road

Usually, people are taken on a minibus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo to board the train to Aguas Calientes to visit the famous ruins of Machu-Picchu, and can only enjoy the magnificent view from the window seat. An alternative to this is to stay one night in Urubamba town or in Ollantaytambo.

It's very recommendable to stay in Urubamba and pack not too much stuff with you, rent a bike and go to Ollantaytambo. On the main road, it's just 20km manageable in less than 2 hours (if you walk it's around 4h 30').

Old bicycle with a nice view around

You will see a wonderful environment, breathing beautiful smells, biking between cornfields and listening to the music of the river and time to time a train that passes by.

Yellow flowers all along the way

Bike lane. Railway. Vilcanota river.

When you arrive at Ollantaytambo, you can decide to enter the main ruins and/or to hike the Pinkuylluna, the ruins where you can have a panoramic view of the city and the architectural complex.

The ruins of Ollantaytambo and its city.

The best season to visit Ollantaytambo is after new year's eve till "Bajada de Reyes Magos" when a colorful party with many dancers of the sacred valley is shown.

The Sinkuy Wata Qallariy is always exhibited the January 1st and it's an ancient event in which the new Varayoc (Inca authorities) of all local communities are announced. Also during the event, a friendly game with a ball that must take down stakes makes visitors feel part of it sharing a happy moment and drinking Chicha de Jora, a popular beverage made from fermented corn.

Sinkuy Wata Qallariy

Another Inca ruins and the perfects aqueducts that bring water to the city.

There's also a mountain bike loop that you can do to see some other ruins and viewpoints from the Inca bridge at the entrance of the city, it's long enough to do it on a full day.

Panoramic of the train station and the mountains

Ollantaytambo is the gate to one of the wonders of the world, Machu-Picchu, and it's a nice place to visit before departing.

PeruRail train company at the Ollantaytambo train station