Things to do in Urubamba
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Top 10 attractions in Urubamba
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu means "old mountain" in Quechua and is often called the "lost city of the Incas." This mountain citadel, built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, sits on a steep ridge in the Andes at an elevation of approx. 2,400 m, overlooking the rushing Urubamba River valley. Hidden among mountains and clouds, it eluded Spanish colonizers and was abandoned with the empire's fall until its rediscovery in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, led by a local guide. The city is constructed with precisely fitted dry-stone walls that have withstood centuries of weather and earthquakes. Visitors can explore two main areas: the agricultural terraces and the urban sector. The Temple of the Sun's windows align with the summer solstice sunrise, reflecting Inca sun worship; the Temple of the Three Windows, with its massive stonework, and the central plaza formed the religious core. The Intihuatana, a finely carved monolithic stone, is believed to have served astronomical purposes, giving rise to its name meaning "hitching post of the sun." The viewpoint near the Guardian's Hut frames the ruins with the towering Huayna Picchu peak—a classic photo spot—while alpacas often wander into shots on the terraced lawns. Morning mists clearing at sunrise, with sunlight bathing the stone walls, create a magical scene, so early arrival is recommended. Due to the high altitude and strong UV rays, sun protection and warm layers are essential. For the adventurous, hiking the Inca Trail for days and glimpsing the citadel from the Sun Gate remains an unforgettable arrival for many trekkers.Urubamba · 49.1 km from downtown
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is a fertile river valley carved over time by the Urubamba River in the Peruvian Andes, stretching northwest from Cusco toward Machu Picchu. Revered by the Incas as the "sacred river," the valley floor sits at a significantly lower elevation than Cusco, mostly around 2,000 meters, with a mild climate. Since ancient times, it served as the breadbasket of the Inca Empire: terraced fields layered with crops like corn and potatoes sustained the capital, while the Incas traded with tribes in the Amazon lowlands by descending the valley. After the Spanish conquest of Cusco, Inca ruler Manco retreated to Ollantaytambo in the valley, repelling attacks from its mountain fortress, whose massive stone defenses still stand atop the cliffs today. Today, the valley offers a complete Inca journey: Pisac boasts hilltop terraces and a handicraft market below; the town of Ollantaytambo retains its Inca-era street layout; Moray's concentric terraces are believed to be an Inca agricultural laboratory; Maras' ancient salt pans, with white pools cascading down the slopes, remain productive and photogenic; and Chinchero is famed for traditional weaving. Many travelers acclimatize to the altitude in the lower valley after arriving in Cusco before taking the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.Urubamba · 4.5 km from downtown
Zona Arqueologica Moray
Amidst the vast hills of the Sacred Valley in Peru, Zona Arqueologica Morayresembles a set of giant green fingerprints embedded in the earth, revealing the astonishing agricultural wisdom of the Incan civilization. This archaeological wonder, composed of three sunken circular terraces, was once an open-air laboratory for the 15th-century Incan Empire, whose ingenious design still amazes agronomists today. As visitors spiral down the rammed-earth paths, they can clearly see the drainage systems and stone retaining walls built by the Incas. In the early morning, sunlight dyes the terraces in a golden-green gradient, while the distant snow-capped mountains and herds of alpacas form a natural frame.Urubamba · 9.2 km from downtown
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is a small town deep in the Sacred Valley of Peru and a stop that is hard to bypass on a Sacred Valley itinerary—most trains to Machu Picchu depart from the station in town, and many travelers choose it as a transfer stop. However, its charm is not limited to being the gateway to Machu Picchu: it is often called a living Incan town, where the neighborhoods still follow the urban layout from the Incan period, with stone-paved roads, narrow car-free alleys, and Incan water channels that still flow along the streets today, all retaining their appearance from hundreds of years ago, making it perfect for slowing down and wandering aimlessly.Peru · Ollantaytambo
Sacred Rock at Machu Picchu
Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Rock is a mysterious and important monolith. At about 3 meters high and with a unique shape, the Sacred Rock is a physical symbol of the Inca civilization's worship of "Mother Earth". The naturally formed gullies on the surface of the rock were regarded as divine lines by the ancients, and the remains of ritual platforms and irrigation canals are scattered around it. It is about a 40-minute drive from the town of Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Rock is believed to be a place where the ancient Incas used to perform rituals and observe celestial phenomena. Visitors can feel the mysterious atmosphere of the Inca civilization here and enjoy the magnificent Andes Mountains around it. Due to its cultural and historical value, please be quiet and respectful when visiting the Sacred Rock. The recommended time to visit the Sacred Rock is early morning or evening, when there are fewer tourists and you can better experience the mystery of the Sacred Rock. It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring enough water and sunscreen.Urubamba · 49.2 km from downtown
Huayna Picchu
The towering peak behind the city ruins in the classic Machu Picchu postcard shot. While it may look intimidatingly steep in photos, you'll find it's not a vertical climb once you're on the trail. If you aren't particularly afraid of heights or are a fan of climbing, don't miss the hike to the top of Huayna Picchu. Standing on the giant granite rocks at the summit to look down over Machu Picchu is an experience you'll never forget.Urubamba · 49.5 km from downtown
Temple of the Condor
The Temple of the Condor is an example of the superb craftsmanship of the Inca masons. The natural rock began to form millions of years ago, and the Incas used the natural shape of the rock to carve it, subtly showing a bald eagle in flight. Historians speculate that the vulture's head was used as an altar. Below the temple is a small cave where a mummy was once placed. There is a prison behind the temple with a niche for a person.Urubamba · 49 km from downtown
Intihuatana, Urubamba
The bigger mystery at Machu Picchu is a huge stone sculpture called the Shuanri Stone. Some astronomical archaeologists speculate that the large quadrangular stone carving on a raised platform in this square is a sundial, and others say that it was used for some form of astronomical observation. Although there is no consensus on its purpose, almost all archaeologists agree that the Sunburst is the more sacred structure in Machu Picchu. How to identify Sunstone? If you see a group of tourists around a large stone from a distance, stretch out their hands without touching it, to feel the energy released by the stone, this is the sun-linked stone. There are three very peculiar places in this sun-shuan stone. One is that there is a corner next to the sun-shuan stone. This protruding corner is facing the true north. You may wish to bring a compass to verify on the spot. Let's take a look at the exquisite calculations of the Incas in the middle of the 15th century AD; the two peculiar places are the vertical stone above the Sunstone. The cut surface of the stone has four corners that look a little irregular, and the four corners are exactly opposite to each other. It is southeast and northwest. Facing the north corner is a mountain called Vana Picchu, and the opposite is also facing a mountain in the south. Similarly, it is also facing a mountain in the west, and there is no mountain in the east. Why? Because the sun wants to shine in, the Incas built this city in the sky on such a high-altitude mountain to welcome the sun in the east, so how can there be mountains to block it. This is another peculiarity, enough to show that the Incas were very intelligent.Urubamba · 49.2 km from downtown
Templo Principal
The area where the main temple, the Three Window Temple and the Shuan Sun Stone are located is known as the Sacred Plaza. The buildings in this area are larger than other buildings in Machu Picchu, and the lintel rock of the main temple weighs 3 tons. This temple has only three walls, and next to the main temple is a humble little temple, which historians speculate is the place prepared by the priest.Urubamba · 49.1 km from downtown
Temple of the Three Windows
The Temple of the Triple Window, located within the ruins of Machu Picchu, is one of the outstanding examples of Inca architectural art. The temple is named for its unique three windows, which are believed to have important religious and astronomical significance. The design and arrangement of the windows demonstrate the Inca's superb stonework skills, and the fit between the stones is extremely high, which is breathtaking. The Temple of the Triple Window is one of the core buildings of Machu Picchu, where visitors can feel the mystery and magnificence of Inca culture. The location of the temple provides a good view overlooking the surrounding valleys and the Andes Mountains in the distance, making it an ideal place to take landscape photos. Due to the high altitude of Machu Picchu, visitors should be aware of altitude sickness and are advised to bring enough water and sunscreen. Transportation to Machu Picchu usually requires departure from Cusco, and arrival by train and bus. Please follow the protection regulations of the site when visiting, and do not touch or climb the monuments to maintain this precious cultural heritage.Urubamba · 49.1 km from downtown
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Free things to do in Urubamba
Ollantaytambo
Peru · OllantaytamboIntihuatana, Urubamba
Urubamba · 49.2 km from downtownTemplo Principal
Urubamba · 49.1 km from downtown
Plaza de Armas
Cusco · 27.7 km from Urubamba
Twelve Angled Stone
Cusco · 27.8 km from Urubamba
Plaza San Blas
Cusco · 27.9 km from Urubamba
Saint Francis Square
Cusco · 27.8 km from Urubamba
Chocolate Museum
Cusco · 27.7 km from Urubamba
Action Valley
Cusco · 24 km from Urubamba
Traditional Textile Center of Cusco
Cusco · 28.4 km from Urubamba
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What travelers say about Urubamba
shanghaiboyuAugust 27, 2025
5.0
Machu Picchu boasts 140 structures, including temples, sanctuaries, parks, and residences, as well as over 100 stairways, numerous fountains, and a comprehensive water system. Abandoned during the Spanish invasion and the fall of the Inca Empire in the 16th century, Machu Picchu was discovered by Yale University professor Hiram Bingham in 1911. The ruins consist of two main areas: an urban area and an agricultural area, separated by a stone wall. Beyond the wall lie terraced agricultural areas, divided into high and low terraces depending on the terrain. The urban area is divided into three zones: the sacred area, the area for priests and nobles, and the southern area for commoners.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
DEAR张小球May 17, 2020
5.0
The Urubama River Valley is a very grand site. It was the agricultural center of the ancient Inca Empire. As for the site similar to terraced fields, it is still seen in the valley. The area is very large and the surrounding scenery is beautiful. It is a very important part of the ancient Inca Empire.
Sacred Valley
apabaruAugust 18, 2026
4.0
On the way from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo, we stopped by after visiting the Maras salt mines. It's a massive, concentric archaeological site. While photos often show it with a greenish tint, it was earthy brown due to the dry season. I planned to visit other archaeological sites around Cusco on a later date, so I bought a combined pass for 130 soles and went in. Behind the ruins, we could see the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains, some reaching over 5000 meters, creating a vast and breathtaking landscape.
Zona Arqueologica Moray
D31***61March 6, 2020
5.0
Forget the village just below Matchu Picchu as the place is over crowded. Ollantaytambo is the number one place to stay. cute atmosphere, the ancient ruins make for a great day. worth the extra time if you have it.
Ollantaytambo
东张西望望东西April 12, 2020
5.0
The Sacred Stone is a must-see when entering Machu Picchu. The Sacred Stone may be given more religious power in the local area, so it is more special. Of course, for us it is just a big stone, but respecting local beliefs and culture is absolutely necessary.
Sacred Rock at Machu Picchu
泰宁根吴承恩May 1, 2020
5.0
Huayna Picchu is located opposite Machu Picchu. It takes some time to get to Huayna Picchu, but the scenery along the way is very good, and it is worth visiting. It is also super beautiful to appreciate Machu Picchu from this angle.
Huayna Picchu
乖小咪September 13, 2019
5.0
The Temple of the Condor is not far from the Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu. It is also a towering temple. Because there is a natural boulder in front of the temple, from a certain angle, it looks like an eagle spreading its wings and ready to fly, which is in harmony with the beautiful scenery of the top of Machu Picchu, giving people a very sacred feeling.
Temple of the Condor
小民2011November 28, 2019
5.0
The 13-degree angle is consistent with the angle here, which is vaguely mysterious! Let's explore it. This stone embodies the wisdom of the Incas and deeply reflects their worship of the sun.
Intihuatana, Urubamba
chinadesk1July 21, 2022
5.0
The Temple of the Three Windows is one of the attractions in Machu Picchu. In ancient times, it was used to worship the sun god, and this place may have been a place for religious ceremonies. The huge stones are neatly stacked, as if they were strictly measured. Many places in Machu Picchu are hard to imagine and full of mystery.
Temple of the Three Windows
