Attractions and Places To See in Urubamba - Top 20

Surrounded by roofless stone buildings and steep terraces, Machu Picchu's central plaza offers magnificent views of Huayna Picchu. The plaza is the green island amidst the Inca stone buildings that make up Machu Picchu, and travelers will often see llamas roaming and grazing in the grass. The grassy area of the Central Plaza separates the Sacred Plaza and Intiwatana from the residential areas on the other side of the complex. Source: https://www.peru-machu-picchu.com/central-plaza.php

This incredible pyramid building is located in the Hanan sector of the urban area. The exact location of the pyramid of Intiwuatana is on the slopes of one of the hills and was therefore designed to take on a pyramid shape. This was possible after the edges of the hill were converted into level slopes that formed a structuring of terraces and foothills on a polygonal base that took on the appearance of a pyramid. The main entrances to the building consist of two long steps, one to the north and the second to the south of the building, each on opposite sides. One of them was designed to accommodate 78 steps, which is an excellent feat of construction. Most of the steps were exceptionally carved into one of the rock massifs of the hill. This staircase leads to an external chamber reminiscent of a terrace, where the same incredible architectural designs can be seen on each and every wall of the courtyard. From this chamber, visitors can access the top of the building. The pyramid is surrounded by the buildings that are most valuable to the citizens of Machu Picchu due to their religious and spiritual significance and are essential to the Inca civilization. This is one of the reasons that clearly explain why the access through the aforementioned hand-carved stone staircase has such a magnificent design, considering that the foundation of the steps is a huge mound of granite rock. Right in the center of the chamber is a device reminiscent of one of those fascinating devices of this civilization; the device could have been used by the Inca civilization as a measuring instrument for scientific purposes such as astronomy, astrology, mathematics, physics, meteorology and many other teachings. The tool seems to be based on light phenomena and provided the civilization with an excellent scientific device for analyzing the light and shadows of the sun during different seasons such as summer, solstice and equinox. Source: https://www.enjoy-machu-picchu.org/architecture/intihuatana.php

Among the many sites to see in Machu Picchu, one of the most important is the Temple of the Three Windows, located in the Sacred Plaza in what was then the capital part of Machu Picchu. The Temple of the Three Windows is a large stone structure made up of three walls. The long main wall features three large windows facing east, and the two shorter side walls were used to support the main roof beam. The three windows are perfectly embedded in the structure, and are also perfectly symmetrical to the surroundings. Some Machu Picchu researchers believe that there were five windows at one point, but the structure of the other two probably collapsed at some point. This entire structure also had a roof when it was originally built by the Inca; this too probably collapsed over the years. Machu Picchu is divided into different sections, and the Temple of the Three Windows is actually located in the “Hanan,” which translates to “top down.” This is the most important part of Machu Picchu. “Hanan” was the place where the Inca held important religious ceremonies. The "uptown" of Machu Picchu is located opposite Huayna Picchu and Putucusi mountain, both of which are south of the city. When the Temple of the Three Windows was found over 100 years ago, it was covered by 30 cm (12 inches) of vegetation. Next to the temple, researchers discovered several objects such as ceremonial jars, vases and fountains that were very carefully decorated. This could indicate that these ceremonies may have been for the worship of the mountains. Source: https://machupicchu.town/en/USD/machupicchu-temple-of-three-windows#:~:text=The%20Temple%20of%20the%20three%20windows%20is%20a%20large%20stone%20structure%20made%20of%20stone,%20which%20serve%20to%20support%20the%20main%20roof%20beam.

The Salineras de Maras are hidden in the highlands of southern Peru. In a mountain gorge, not far from Cusco, a mosaic of white-brown salt fields has developed over the centuries. There are said to be 4,000 fields. Rock salt, the so-called "white gold", was mined here as early as the time of the Incas. The descendants of that advanced civilization still harvest the popular Sal de Maras, which is also exported abroad. Source and further information: https://info-peru.de/salzterrassen-maras-peru/

The salt pans of Maras "Salinera de Maras" is the highest salt farm in the world. Thousands of salt basins are located on steep mountain terraces. What was once the white gold of the Incas is now only a very small source of income for the hard-working Andean salt farmers of Peru.

Aguas Calientes (as the name suggests) used to be known for its thermal baths, I remember when almost all of us would relax our muscles in the baths there after the Inca Trail. To get to the baths you have to walk up the hill in town, here you can rent towels or swimming trunks.

Around 72 km from Cusco lies Ollantaytambo, the last town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, often simply called Ollanta by the locals. The town lies at an altitude of around 2,792 m on the Urubamba River and has a special feature that makes it unique in Peru: parts of the old town date back to the Inca era and have survived the centuries relatively unscathed.

Huayna Picchu, also called Wayna Picchu, means "young peak" in Quechua. It is widely believed in the region that the mountain served as a watchtower to protect the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu site is located between two mountains - Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. Although both offer exciting hiking routes, there are certain differences between Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu that you need to be aware of, including altitude, difficulty, and duration. From both mountains, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Machu Picchu ruins and the surrounding mountains. Huayna Picchu is the majestic, cone-shaped mountain that you often see in the background of the most famous photographs and postcards of Machu Picchu. The Huayna Picchu hike is generally considered moderate to difficult, so it can be challenging at times.