The Sacred Valley from Above

If you have one day here and want to get away from the crowds and go to a special spot up high, these two places are well worth seeing.

Cancan Lake is a great gift bestowed upon us by Pitusiray [4,991 m], one of the rare female mountains. The story of Pitusiray’s love with Sahuasiray Mountain [5,818 m], which stands just behind her, is very sweet. Pitusiray’s appearance is truly majestic; her stance is powerful. With her nearly 5,000-meter height, the wide area she holds and the shape of the rocks at her summit are quite striking. Cancan Lake is surrounded by steep cliffs, leaving no doubt that you are in a sheltered place. We used to reach this waterfall-fed lake by hiking a steep path all day long, but a new road has now been opened. Today we can easily reach the lake by vehicle without needing to walk at all. The way the light plays on the water and the lake’s stillness create an ideal setting for a quiet, peaceful day.

Huchuy Q’osqo is a set of Inca ruins located in the center of the valley, yet preserved thanks to how difficult they are to reach. With a name meaning “Little Cusco,” you can already sense how important it was for the Incas. Walking through these ruins, built beside another valley that flows into the Sacred Valley, is a very special experience. While the view of Apu Pitusiray from the opposite side is breathtaking, it is something else entirely to watch the Sacred Valley spread out before you from the ruins at 3,650 meters, and to follow the movement of the clouds passing right above you.

If you wish, we can see both of these spots in one day (if we start early in the morning). In that case, we can spend about two hours at each place.