Chinchero: Gateway to Peru's Sacred Valley

In Peru, Chinchero is regarded as the mythical birthplace of the rainbow; indeed, this meteorological phenomenon is particularly common in the region. That said, there are plenty of other reasons to visit this magnificent site.

Chinchero is a small town of Andean natives lying about 30 kilometres from Cuzco, on the windswept plains of Anta, at 3,765 metres above sea level.

From here you have a magnificent view over the Sacred Valley of the Incas: to the west, the horizon is bounded only by the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range and the snow-capped peak of Mount Salkantay. This little settlement is made up mostly of earthen houses, and its inhabitants still go about their daily business in traditional dress.

Chinchero was once an important urban centre, whose heart lay on the very spot where the church stands today. This colonial place of worship is among the most beautiful churches in the valley. It was built by the Spanish in 1607 on the remains of an Inca palace that probably belonged to the ruler Tupac Yupanqui. The son of Pachacutec reigned during the height of the Inca Empire, from 1471 to 1490, and it was under his command that the empire reached its greatest extent.

The interior of the church is an absolute must-see, with its impressive frescoes and skilfully painted ceilings. The depictions of Christian scenes, but also of the Quechua chief Mateo Pumakawa, make it truly distinctive. Sunday morning Mass is still celebrated in Quechua, which underlines the importance of ancient cultures in this little town.

Quechua is known as the thousand-year-old language of the Incas. It is an indigenous language that today has some eight million native speakers, living mainly in the Andes of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina. It comes in a multitude of dialects.

Chinchero's main square is bounded on its eastern side by an Inca wall with 12 niches, each 2 metres high and 1.5 metres wide. This wall serves both as an ornament and as a retaining wall for another square, where the atrium stands in front of the church.

Next to the church rises the imposing archaeological site built in 1480 by Tupac Yupanqui. It is made up of terraces, canals, staircases, stone walls and niches. Here you will also find the remains of three sanctuaries called Titiqaqa, Pumaqaqa and Chincana. These are enormous limestone rocks once shaped by the Peruvians, who carved steps and staircases into them.

The site forms a broad esplanade where it is not unusual to see country women busy drying potatoes to turn them into chuño, a natural freeze-drying process for these tubers.

Setting off from the town, terrace by terrace along the right-hand side of the valley, you will find further remains of Chinchero: various spaces laid out for sitting and staircases carved into the rock.

It is thought that Tupac Yupanqui turned the settlement of Chinchero into a kind of crossroads hub in the Sacred Valley. He ordered the construction of numerous aqueducts and agricultural terraces, many of which are still in use today. The soil of Chinchero is regarded as one of the richest and most fertile in the Sacred Valley, and the land is used to grow potatoes, olluco, oca, quinoa and beans.

Located about 5 minutes from the town centre, this viewpoint offers one of the finest views over the Sacred Valley, the Vilcanota mountain range and all the sacred peaks that surround it. Don't forget to stop off here on your way to the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu.

Like the frequent rainbows, Chinchero's market is wonderfully colourful and lively. Held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, it is considerably less touristy than its counterpart in Pisac. On Sundays the locals don their traditional dress and come down from the surrounding hills to the market to practise the age-old trueco (barter). Here you have the fairly rare chance to experience this traditional custom in an authentic way.

Chinchero is regarded as the heart of the art of weaving in Peru. The town is home to the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales. You can marvel at the way the local women wash the wool before dyeing, spinning and weaving it. Dressed in traditional costume themselves, the women are happy to show visitors the techniques of weaving. Always very friendly, they gladly join the tourists to drink coca maté together. During a visit you can even buy typical Chinchero textiles at good prices, such as alpaca wool and other traditionally made items.

Chinchero is also home to the Piuray Lagoon; on its shores you can watch the birds of the high Andean plateaus, try your hand at various adventure sports or, more peacefully, enjoy a picnic. Along this lagoon, a road leads to the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo, a small citadel overlooking the Sacred Valley.

Although the town of Chinchero is fairly modest in size, it can boast an eventful history. This is due, among other things, to its strategic position at the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas: in case of dire need, the road leading into the valley could be cut off.

The exact date of Chinchero's founding is unknown. The earliest traces of settlement by the Ayarmacas date back around 2,000 years. Later, the Incas took over the region and built prestigious residences here for their rulers. Cuzco was indeed the official capital of the Inca Empire, but the kings were fond of retreating to the neighbouring valley in summer to spend a few weeks there.

During the Spanish invasion around 1530, the Inca chief Manco, in revolt against the conquistadors, had the town burned to stop the enemy troops from continuing their advance. In doing so he destroyed an important store of provisions and covered his retreat into the rainforest.

During the revolution, the town's kuraka (governor), Mateo García Pumacahua, sided with the Spanish to fight against his own people. This victory was immortalised in one of the church's frescoes, depicting a puma overcoming a serpent.

Chinchero is one of the most beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here you will have an exceptional opportunity to see and experience Inca culture as it once was. Explore the ancient town or spend a few days in the Sacred Valley. With its snow-capped peaks, the majestic landscape will leave you speechless.

If you would like to find out more about how to discover the fascinating destination of Peru in an authentic way, our travel experts will be glad to help.