Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley of the Incas receives its name from being the space between two mountain ranges crossed by the Vilcanota River, formerly called Willkamayu in quechua (“sacred river”). This river traces the valley from southeast to northwest. The valley extends from Pisac to Ollantaytambo and includes locations such as Raqch’i, Pikillaqta, Pisaq, QoyaK’aqya Qhawana, Calca, Urco, Wayllabamba, Yucay, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. During Inca period, the valley was densely populated, concentrating several cities throughout its territory.