Peru's Sacred Valley

“Come for Machu Picchu, stay for the rest” is possibly the quickest and most effective way to sum up a visit to the Sacred Valley. Long hailed as a bucket list item for travel photographers, Machu Picchu is worth all of the time, effort, and cost to get there. And now that you’re there…

The Sacred Valley offers a fantastic combination of Incan ruins to explore, learn about the people living a traditional mountain existence, and spectacular scenery. Wandering around the cobbled streets of Cusco, complete with chance encounters with ladies and their baby llamas, isn’t to be missed. Cusco is also a good place to spend a few days getting used to the altitude before embarking on one of the treks (page x). Your biggest challenge is going to be structuring your days to take in the different Inca sites whilst allowing enough travel time.

Don’t forget to sample the food on offer. It will give you a deeper appreciation for the fact that this region has provided some of the staple vegetables and fruits that the world now consumes.