The deep pre-Inca roots of the Sacred Valley, from the cities of Wari to ancient trade routes, shaped Peru long before the rise of the Incas.
When people think of Peru's Sacred Valley, they envision
incan ruins, royal estates and sun temples carved high into the impossibly beautiful Andes. But this fertile corridor has a much older history.
Before Cusco became the capital, other civilizations were building, cultivating the land, worshipping gods, and laying the groundwork for life in the Andes. From the first settlers of Marcavalle to the Wari Empire, the Sacred Valley was already sacred in a way that most travelers don't expect. This is a journey back in time.
The Sacred Valley has attracted people for thousands of years
The sacred valley stretches 60 kilometers from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, following the course of the Urubamba River at an altitude of 2,800 to 3,500 meters. Due to its altitude and location, the valley has a mixed natural microclimate, making it ideal for agriculture.
While much of the Andes is rugged and difficult to traverse (quite a challenge to traverse on foot), the Sacred Valley was unusually fertile and gentle. Corn grew particularly well here, and early crops were already being harvested before the Incas made it a staple food.
Photo: thecollector.com
These early resourceful communities practiced what is now known as the vertical archipelago system. This meant growing different crops at different altitudes. For example,
potatoes and quinoa in higher areas, and corn and fruit below. It was a clever way to maximize land use and points to an early understanding of sustainable living in the challenging but fertile highlands.
Some researchers also believe that the landscape itself played a sacred role. Mountains, rivers, and rock formations may have once formed a kind of spiritual map. Even before the Incas organized the famous keke lines in Cuzco, the Sacred Valley may have already been arranged as a ceremonial landscape, and peaks such as Pitusiray and Veronica were considered living spirits. This connection between geography and sacred meaning is actually one of the oldest threads running through Andean culture.
The first settlements and the influence of the Chavin culture
Marcavalle is one of the oldest known human settlements near Cusco, with a history dating back almost 3,000 years. Excavations have uncovered foundations of dwellings, tools and even traces of early religious activity, such as burials under the houses. This points to ancestor worship, a tradition that reverberated throughout the Andes and later manifested itself in Inca rituals involving the mummification of remains called malquis.
What is particularly interesting is that the pottery from Markavalle has patterns similar to those found at the Chavin center further north. This may indicate trade, pilgrimage or shared beliefs.
The Chavin civilization appeared in 898 BC and was the youngest of the ancient civilizations. Unfortunately, its existence did not last that long - it ended around 200 B.C. However, it was the Chavin civilization that became the basis for younger civilizations, but the Chavins left no writings about themselves.
Photo: thecollector.com
Chavin was inhabited by Indians who were good at working
gold and making jewelry out of it, as well as farming and ranching.
In Chavin, more than 200 heads with fangs were found on the walls of temples. The image of a grinning jaguar is most noteworthy because the figure representing a cat had a religious purpose.
The researchers also found a spiral disk, which resembles a galaxy, but its manufacture requires serious knowledge of astronomy, which the Indians were unlikely to have. It is believed that the Indians inherited this thing from another civilization.
Ritual life in the Sacred Valley
Before the advent of organized state religions, ritual life in the Sacred Valley was closely tied to nature. Springs and caves were sacred places where people left offerings such as corn, textiles, or
chicha, a traditional corn beer still brewed in the Andes.
There is also strong evidence that ancient structures were aligned with solar events, which is often associated with the Incas. But even long before their rise, early cultures built temples and aligned stones to mark solstices and
equinoxes, carefully observing the cycles of
the sun and
the moon.
Photo: thecollector.com
This deep connection with nature was not only practical but also spiritual. Life was guided by the principle of balance, and people practiced aini, a system of mutual exchange between individuals, communities and the earth itself. Offerings to the earth were not grandiose gestures, but were part of everyday life, made in the hope of a good harvest and harmony.
Traveling through the highlands of the Andes today, one might see someone quietly tossing a few crumbs on the ground before dinner, a small but meaningful way to honor Pachamama as their ancestors have done for generations.
Pachamama is one of the main female deities in the mythology of the Quechua Indian people, as well as the goddess of the earth and fertility, according to some myths, Pachamama is the foremother of mankind, and her symbol is the upper part of the Inca cross, the so-called chakana.
It is widely documented that Andean cultures made offerings at springs and in caves (e.g., chicha and textiles), firm evidence for the existence of pre-Inca structures associated with solstices is more conjecture than clear evidence. This is certainly plausible given the broader Andean context, but concrete scientific evidence remains somewhat limited.
Influence of the coastal cultures of Paracas and Nazca
Although the Paracas and
Naska cultures developed along the Peruvian coast, their influence extended far into the mountains. Textiles and pottery from both groups have been found in highland tombs adjacent to the Sacred Valley. These were not random items of trade, but very valuable goods that were often transported over rugged terrain by caravans of llamas. Their presence near the Sacred Valley indicates alliances, rituals, or high-level exchanges between lowland and highland elites.
One particularly notable detail is the use of natural dyes in Paracas textiles; some shades of red were derived from cochenille, an insect that inhabits only dry coastal areas. However,
these colors are also found in finds made deep in the mountains. This suggests the symbolic power of certain materials.
Religious ideas may also have been disseminated. Spiral motifs, bird figures, and other stylized images from coastal art appear in the rock paintings of the Sacred Valley. The influence is obvious, whether or not they were copied.
Vari and the first empire of the Andes
The Wari (or Huari) were one of the most important cultures to emerge before the Incas. Around 600 CE, they built an administrative and religious empire that stretched across central and southern Peru. Their possessions extended into the Sacred Valley, and one of the most impressive cities in the highlands was Piquillacta.
Photo: thecollector.com
Covering an area of about 50 hectares, Pikillacta stands out for its grid-like layout, straight walls and uniform building style. Unlike the Incas, who often used organic lines and natural contours, the Wari favored strict geometry. Many buildings contain no traces of daily life, leading some to think that it was more of a seasonal gathering place or ritual center than a city.
There is also some evidence that the Wari used hallucinogenic plants in religious ceremonies. Ceramic vessels of the time depict Anadenanthera seeds, which have strong psychoactive properties. They were not used for nothing. Rather, they were part of elaborate rituals that reinforced social order and spiritual beliefs.
Ancient ruins hidden in the valley today
In the village of Calca, between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the hillside ruins known as Uchuy Cosco or "Little Cusco" are located. Most visitors notice the Inca-era structures, but some of the stone structures here do not conform to the typical Inca style.
These older foundations may have belonged to the Wari or even earlier cultures.
It's a fantastic reminder that the colonizers weren't the only ones who built new structures on old foundations. The Incas did it too.
Even more mysterious are the petroglyphs (ancient rock paintings) in places like Chilliwani and Tunsukancha, where spirals,
birds and humanoid figures are carved into the cliffs overlooking the valley. No one knows exactly what they mean. Some researchers believe they signify astronomical events; others believe they were meant to communicate with nature spirits. Both theories are plausible.
When the Incas entered the already sacred land
One of the virtues of the Incas was that they recognized the power of existing sacred sites. Rather than starting from scratch, they often built over earlier shrines and temples. At Ollantaytambo, archaeologists have found evidence of pre-Inca terraces and older foundations beneath the famous fortress. The same is true of the Sun Temple in Cuzco, which may have been built on the site of a former Wadi ceremonial complex.
Photo: thecollector.com
The word "huaca" in the Inca language referred to anything that was considered sacred, be it objects, places or beings. This inclusive approach allowed them to absorb older beliefs rather than erase them. Building on older sites helped the Incas connect their power to the deep spiritual roots of the land.
A visit to the pre-Inca Sacred Valley
Most visitors head straight for the main Inca sites, but if you're interested in the valley's more ancient history, here are a few places to dig a little deeper:
- Marcavalle. Located in the southern suburbs of Cusco, Marcavalle is not open to the public, but the Museo de Sitio Qorikancha houses artifacts from the site and provides information about its 3,000-year history.
- Piquillacta. This vast wari site, located about 30 kilometers southeast of Cusco, is open to visitors (usually from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm) and is usually quiet. Mornings are the best time to enjoy the silence and wide views of the Lucre Basin.
- Uchui-Cosco. This place can be reached on a half-day hike from Lamay or a longer trek from Tambomachay near Cusco. The Inca ruins are impressive, but also beautiful are the older foundations underneath. It's a shorter, easier alternative to the classic Inca Trail and less well known, which means it's quieter and more peaceful in high season.
- Chulpas and petroglyphs. There are burial towers and rock paintings in Calca, Yucay or Chilliwani. Many of these sites, hidden on the hillsides, are still used for small rituals.
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The Sacred Valley holds more stories than can be found in most guidebooks.