Things to do in Chivay
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Top 10 attractions in Chivay
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu means "old mountain" in Quechua and is often called the "lost city of the Incas." This mountain citadel, built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, sits on a steep ridge in the Andes at an elevation of approx. 2,400 m, overlooking the rushing Urubamba River valley. Hidden among mountains and clouds, it eluded Spanish colonizers and was abandoned with the empire's fall until its rediscovery in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, led by a local guide. The city is constructed with precisely fitted dry-stone walls that have withstood centuries of weather and earthquakes. Visitors can explore two main areas: the agricultural terraces and the urban sector. The Temple of the Sun's windows align with the summer solstice sunrise, reflecting Inca sun worship; the Temple of the Three Windows, with its massive stonework, and the central plaza formed the religious core. The Intihuatana, a finely carved monolithic stone, is believed to have served astronomical purposes, giving rise to its name meaning "hitching post of the sun." The viewpoint near the Guardian's Hut frames the ruins with the towering Huayna Picchu peak—a classic photo spot—while alpacas often wander into shots on the terraced lawns. Morning mists clearing at sunrise, with sunlight bathing the stone walls, create a magical scene, so early arrival is recommended. Due to the high altitude and strong UV rays, sun protection and warm layers are essential. For the adventurous, hiking the Inca Trail for days and glimpsing the citadel from the Sun Gate remains an unforgettable arrival for many trekkers.Peru · Urubamba
Qorikancha
Qorikancha was the core building of the Inca Empire's religious system. Its name in Quechua, Coricancha, means "golden enclosure." According to records, the temple walls were once covered with hundreds of gold plates, and the courtyard featured statues of llamas, corn, and human figures cast in gold and silver, dedicated to the sun god Inti, as well as deities of the moon, stars, and lightning. This gold was looted after the Spanish conquest. The temple showcases the exquisite stonework of the Inca—using diorite, andesite, and limestone, the stones were perfectly cut and fitted together without mortar, so tightly that the seams are almost invisible. The design of the walls, which are wide at the base and slope slightly inward, allowed them to withstand multiple major earthquakes, whereas the Convent of Santo Domingo, built by the colonists on the site in the 16th century, was repeatedly destroyed by tremors. Today, the two structures coexist, serving as a vivid testament to the collision between Inca and Spanish colonial cultures. Inside, several original Inca chambers with sloping walls and trapezoidal niches remain, and the attached underground archaeological museum displays mummies, textiles, and ritual artifacts. This is also one of the few Inca sites in Cusco that features detailed explanatory signage.Peru · Cusco
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain is located near Ausangate Mountain, with an elevation of approx. 5,200 m. The layered, colorful stripes on the mountain are its iconic view—red, yellow, green, white, brown, and other color bands spread parallel across the mountainside. These colors originate from sedimentary rock layers with different mineral compositions: iron-bearing clay rocks appear red and ochre, sulfur-containing minerals give the layers a yellow hue, and chlorite brings shades of green. The rock layers, deposited in a shallow marine environment tens of millions of years ago, were exposed on the surface as tilted stripes after being folded and uplifted by the Andean orogeny and subjected to long-term weathering and erosion. Along the way, you can often encounter herds of llamas and alpacas grazing in the mountain meadows, and when the weather is clear, you can also enjoy a distant view of the glacier-capped summit of Ausangate Mountain.Peru · Quispicanchi Province
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley is a fertile river valley carved over time by the Urubamba River in the Peruvian Andes, stretching northwest from Cusco toward Machu Picchu. Revered by the Incas as the "sacred river," the valley floor sits at a significantly lower elevation than Cusco, mostly around 2,000 meters, with a mild climate. Since ancient times, it served as the breadbasket of the Inca Empire: terraced fields layered with crops like corn and potatoes sustained the capital, while the Incas traded with tribes in the Amazon lowlands by descending the valley. After the Spanish conquest of Cusco, Inca ruler Manco retreated to Ollantaytambo in the valley, repelling attacks from its mountain fortress, whose massive stone defenses still stand atop the cliffs today. Today, the valley offers a complete Inca journey: Pisac boasts hilltop terraces and a handicraft market below; the town of Ollantaytambo retains its Inca-era street layout; Moray's concentric terraces are believed to be an Inca agricultural laboratory; Maras' ancient salt pans, with white pools cascading down the slopes, remain productive and photogenic; and Chinchero is famed for traditional weaving. Many travelers acclimatize to the altitude in the lower valley after arriving in Cusco before taking the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.Peru · Urubamba
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca straddles the Collao Plateau on the border of Peru and Bolivia, with an altitude of approx. 3,800 m. It is a rare, large, high-altitude navigable freshwater lake in the world, often known as the Pearl of the Plateau. Although located inland, its water is not salty, and despite its high altitude, it never freezes. The crisp, thin air of the plateau and the light, which is closer to the sun's true color, make the lake surface appear even bluer than the sky. The origin of the lake's name is debated, but a widely circulated theory is that it is derived from the local language for Rock of the Puma. A highly recognizable experience here is the reed floating islands of the Uros people: hundreds of years ago, this small tribe moved onto the lake to escape the encroachment of the Inca Empire, creating floating islands using layers of bundled reed roots and stalks. Today, there are still hundreds of floating islands on the lake, where thousands of Uros people have lived for generations. On the islands, reeds are almost everything in life—houses, boats, and beds are all built from reeds, and the tender stems of the reeds, playfully called lake bananas by the islanders, can be eaten directly, with the craft of building with reeds passed down from generation to generation.Peru · Puno
Saqsaywaman
This huge stone circle overlooks the city of Cusco. Like other typical Inca buildings, the Incas did not use any reinforced concrete. They used exquisite stone grinding technology to grind the large stones into specific shapes, and then put them together tightly. The stone circles that tourists see now are only a small part of the original ones. Today Sacsayhuaman is not only a must-see attraction for tourists to Cusco, but the highlight of IntiRaymi, the grand festival of the sun at the end of June every year, is held here.Peru · Cusco
Zona Arqueologica Moray
Amidst the vast hills of the Sacred Valley in Peru, Zona Arqueologica Morayresembles a set of giant green fingerprints embedded in the earth, revealing the astonishing agricultural wisdom of the Incan civilization. This archaeological wonder, composed of three sunken circular terraces, was once an open-air laboratory for the 15th-century Incan Empire, whose ingenious design still amazes agronomists today. As visitors spiral down the rammed-earth paths, they can clearly see the drainage systems and stone retaining walls built by the Incas. In the early morning, sunlight dyes the terraces in a golden-green gradient, while the distant snow-capped mountains and herds of alpacas form a natural frame.Peru · Urubamba
Cusco Cathedral
A very eye-catching building in the east of the Plaza de Armas is the Cuzco Cathedral of Cusco. It is a very typical example of colonial rulers promoting the Catholic faith to the local indigenous people. The church has been damaged to varying degrees in four major earthquakes over the past 400 years, but all survived. The Cathedral is a very outstanding colonial building in Cusco, where you can see the high level of European painting style in the 17th century. Not to be missed is "The Last Supper" (The Last Supper) in the northeast corner of the church. The painter Marcos Zapata has made a "localized" modification of this famous work - a guinea pig is placed on a plate in front of Jesus.Peru · Cusco
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is a small town deep in the Sacred Valley of Peru and a stop that is hard to bypass on a Sacred Valley itinerary—most trains to Machu Picchu depart from the station in town, and many travelers choose it as a transfer stop. However, its charm is not limited to being the gateway to Machu Picchu: it is often called a living Incan town, where the neighborhoods still follow the urban layout from the Incan period, with stone-paved roads, narrow car-free alleys, and Incan water channels that still flow along the streets today, all retaining their appearance from hundreds of years ago, making it perfect for slowing down and wandering aimlessly.Peru · Ollantaytambo
Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is the main square of Cusco, Peru, and the heart of the entire city. During the Inca Empire, it was known as Warrior Square and served as the center for celebrations, religious ceremonies, and military triumphs in the capital, surrounded by the palaces of successive Inca kings. After the arrival of the Spanish, churches and stone mansions were built on the ruins of the palaces, forming the layout seen today. Plaza de Armas is surrounded by a ring of stone arcades, which now house many restaurants and shops. Choosing a seat on a balcony to watch the locals chat, feed pigeons, and soak up the sun is a relaxing way to adjust to the high-altitude pace. Keep an eye out for the seven-colored rainbow flag flying over the square. It is the official flag of Cusco and is considered a symbol of Inca tradition, which has a different meaning from the rainbow flag commonly seen elsewhere.Peru · Cusco
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Free things to do in Chivay
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Peru · UrubambaQorikancha
Peru · CuscoVinicunca Rainbow Mountain
Peru · Quispicanchi ProvinceSacred Valley
Peru · UrubambaBook now for tomorrowLake Titicaca
Peru · PunoSaqsaywaman
Peru · CuscoZona Arqueologica Moray
Peru · UrubambaCusco Cathedral
Peru · CuscoImmediate access, Book now for todayOllantaytambo
Peru · OllantaytamboPlaza de Armas
Peru · Cusco
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What travellers say about Chivay
shanghaiboyu27 August 2025
5.0
Machu Picchu boasts 140 structures, including temples, sanctuaries, parks, and residences, as well as over 100 stairways, numerous fountains, and a comprehensive water system. Abandoned during the Spanish invasion and the fall of the Inca Empire in the 16th century, Machu Picchu was discovered by Yale University professor Hiram Bingham in 1911. The ruins consist of two main areas: an urban area and an agricultural area, separated by a stone wall. Beyond the wall lie terraced agricultural areas, divided into high and low terraces depending on the terrain. The urban area is divided into three zones: the sacred area, the area for priests and nobles, and the southern area for commoners.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
DEAR张小球16 May 2020
5.0
The Temple of the Sun has a history of about five hundred years. It is a large-scale building. The architecture inside the temple is very gorgeous. The large area seems a little empty, but the exquisite architecture is worth a careful visit.
Qorikancha
星級旅行家14 March 2023
5.0
Peru is a country in South America, located on the Pacific coast, adjacent to Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. It is rich in cultural heritage and natural landscapes, one of the most famous attractions being Rainbow Mountain.
Rainbow Mountain is located in the Andes Mountains in southern Peru. It is 5,200 meters high and is famous for its colorful mountains. This peculiar landscape was formed due to the movement of the earth's crust caused by the minerals and mud in the mountain.
Rainbow Mountain's name comes from its unique color. There are many different color bands on the mountain, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, etc. The best tourist season is from June to August every year, because the weather is sunny at this time and the colors on the mountains are the most vivid.
In addition to Rainbow Mountain, Peru has many other attractions worth visiting, such as the ancient city of Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, the Amazon Rainforest, and more.
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
泰宁根吴承恩2 May 2020
5.0
During the trip to the ancient country of Inca civilization, Urubamba Valley is a must-visit stop. It is recommended to take a sightseeing train. It is very beautiful. The entire valley is very large, and the mysterious circular terraced shape is impressive.
Sacred Valley
M25***4019 April 2021
4.0
The Titicaca Lake on the Copacabana side is quieter and less commercialized than the Puno side. However, the weather was not very good during the two nights we stayed in Copacabana, so we did not take a boat tour of the lake. It was still beautiful to watch from the shore, but the wind was a bit strong.
Lake Titicaca
东张西望望东西10 April 2020
5.0
Sacsayhuaman is as important as Machu Picchu, but it is slightly less famous than Machu Picchu. The scale here is very grand, and its stone formation-like posture is very impressive.
Saqsaywaman
apabaru18 August 2026
4.0
On the way from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo, we stopped by after visiting the Maras salt mines. It's a massive, concentric archaeological site. While photos often show it with a greenish tint, it was earthy brown due to the dry season. I planned to visit other archaeological sites around Cusco on a later date, so I bought a combined pass for 130 soles and went in. Behind the ruins, we could see the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains, some reaching over 5000 meters, creating a vast and breathtaking landscape.
Zona Arqueologica Moray
小小呆6013 October 2020
3.0
This cathedral does not look very grand from the outside, but it is quite solemn, making people feel that it is a religious building with a lot of history. Its interior is also very ornamental.
Cusco Cathedral
D31***616 March 2020
5.0
Forget the village just below Matchu Picchu as the place is over crowded. Ollantaytambo is the number one place to stay. cute atmosphere, the ancient ruins make for a great day. worth the extra time if you have it.
Ollantaytambo
_TS***1s3 March 2020
5.0
piękne miejsce.... jedno z niewielu miast w Peru, które mi sie spodobało. Plaza jest w centrum miasta, napić sie wspaniałej kawy albo zjeść coś w pięknych plenerach.
Plaza de Armas
