TRAVEL TO A GLORIOUS PAST
Before the Spaniards arrived, the Inca Empire – also known as Tahuantinsuyo – was one of the most important South American civilizations. It extended over 2,485 miles (4,000 kilometers) from the south of Colombia to the central region of Chile, built a route of about 24,854 miles (40,000 kilometers) and brought together 10 million people under the same political and cultural entity.
The capital of this powerful empire emerged in the heart of the Peruvian Sierra: the city of Cusco, surrounded by majestic mountain landscapes and fertile valleys. From these, Sacred Valley was chosen by the Incas to build some of their most important architectural works and to develop the most complex irrigation terraces that are still used up to this day for growing food.
Located between Cusco and the sacred city of Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley stretches along the Urubamba River and covers different colonial towns still marked by the Inca legacy. It is considered to be the home of the best Peruvian corn grains.

BUILDING AN EMPIRE
One of the greatest achievements of the Inca Empire was the architectural development and construction of thousands of miles of travel paths that connected the vast territory where they ruled.
The magnificent period of this civilization began with the coming to power of Pachacutec Yupanqui in the XV century. He is credited with the construction of religious buildings such as the Coricancha, main worship temple to the god Inti – sun in Quechua, and Ollantaytambo, a lodging city with large stone walls strategically located to dominate Sacred Valley.
The ruins from these and other monuments account for the construction ability of the Inca Empire. The main material used was stone. With it, they developed techniques that for over 500 years draw the interest of historians and archeologists. An example is the construction of large walls by fitting heavy stone blocks with great precision leaving no space between them.
AN EMPIRE FOUNDED ON RELIGION
The faith of the Incas permeated all aspects of their lives: at work, festivities, ceremonies, and behavior. Society was founded on a sacred theocracy.
The Inca was the leading political and religious authority of this civilization. He descended from the god Sun – Inti in Quechua. This god along with Viracocha, the creator of the universe, was the most revered. Huge temples were built in their honor and according to some historians, also the mystical city of Machu Picchu.
Although there is no absolute certainty about who lived in this incredible city built on the top of a mountain, it is believed that it was a ceremonial center as well as the resting place for the ninth Inca Pachacutec Yupanqui.
Milestones that have marked the history of this region:
- 1911: The U.S historian Hiram Bingham begins the search for Machu Picchu
- 1913: University of Yale creates a research program
- 1983: UNESCO declares Machu Picchu as Patrimony of Humanity
- 2007: The mystic Inca city is voted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.