Sacred Valley, Cuzco, Peru

The Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Urubamba Valley is a valley in the Andes of Peru, close to the Inca capital of Cuzco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. It is located in the present-day Peruvian region of Cuzco. In colonial documents it is referred to as the 'Valley of Yucay'. According to recent researches it encompasses the heartland of the Inca Empire. The valley is generally understood to include everything between Calca and Lamay, Písac, and Ollantaytambo. The valley was formed by the Urubamba River. The valley was appreciated by the Incas due to its special geographical and climatic qualities. It was one of the empire's main points for the extraction of natural wealth, and one of the most important areas for maize production in Peru northwards from Pisac.

Museo viviente del Ande, near Cuzco, Peru

The Museo viviente del Ande provides an opportunity to see products made from South America’s four camelids – alpaca, llama, vicuña, and guanaco – from start to finish: the animal, the shearing, the textile weaving and dyeing, and the finished products, which you can purchase in the show room.

Sacsayhuaman, Cuzco, Peru

The walled complex of Sacsayhuaman forms the head of Cuzco's ethereal puma, whose fierce-looking teeth point away from the city. Once the site of a bloody battle between the Inca leaders and the Spanish conquistadors.

Cuzco Market, Peru

Cuzco, Peru