Urubamba

Well-known as the “Pearl of Vilcanota”, Urubamba is located 78 km from Cusco, by Pisac road and 57 km by Chinchero road, on the foot of the snow-covered mountain Chikón. Its creation as a province dates from  June 21, 1825. The province has an extension of 1,439.43 km² and a population of 54,197 inhabitants (projection to year 2000), distributed in its 7 districts: Urubamba, Chinchero, Huayllabamba, Machu Picchu, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Yucay. Its capital, the city of Urubamba (2,871 meters above sea level), was created by the law of November 9, 1839. And is well-known like the “archaeological Capital of Peru” because it lodges the fabulous rests of Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo.

Its main archaeological attractions are the Historical Sanctuaty of Machu Picchu and the Inca constructions of Ollantaytambo, great agricultural, administrative, religious and military complex. Ollantaytambo is the point of interconnection between the Incas Sacred Valley circuit freeway and the railroad that departs from Cusco to Machu Picchu and La Convencion.

The district of Yucay, at 48 km of Cusco, is one of the most cosy places of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, due to its climate, pleasing landscapes and impressive lines of andenes. It was the center of agricultural production and place of rest of the Incas. The district of Chinchero, known as the “Town of the rainbow”, is region of very fertile land, colorful clothes people, half India, half Spanish, and fairs in which it is still practicing the primitive barter. Another place of interest is the thermal waters of Aguas Calientes town, from where the visitors who ascend to Machu Picchu usually concentrate.