When the clouds part to reveal the Andean peaks surrounding this iconic Inca citadel, you’ll see exactly why it’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu offers some incredible hiking. The hike along the original Inca Trail is a rewarding and remarkable way to access this incredible place and grants you access to Machu Picchu for sunrise. But if you’re short on time, consider day trip from Cusco.

With its aqueducts, terraces, gates, roads, waterways, and even cemeteries, Pisac Archeological Park offers a veritable buffet of Inca ruins. Plus, it’s closest to Cusco but furthest from Machu Picchu—ideal if you’re short on time and want to beat the crowds that gather at Sacred Valley’s most famous archeological site. Excursions from Cusco typically combine Pisac’s ruins with the rainbow-colored Pisac Indian Market, one of the most famous artisan craft markets in the Cusco region.

Water was a sacred element for the Incas, and archeologists believe that this Sacred Valley ruin was reserved for royalty. Highlights include the intricate water channels that showcase the engineering prowess of the Incas. Tambomachay is one of the highest and least-known Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley—you’re likely to feel like you have it all to yourself. Tambomachay is a staple of half-day tours of four historical Inca sites in Peru, which typically combine with other hidden gems.

Tucked away in a secluded corner of the Sacred Valley, the Agricultural Terraces of Moray are a complicated system of terraces and irrigation aqueducts the Incas used to grow more than 250 different types of vegetables. Not only are these concentric circles gorgeous to wander around and snap pictures of, but they also shed light on why the Incas are considered some of the world’s most innovative farmers.

Meaning ‘red fortress’ in Quechua, Puka Pukara (sometimes spelled Puca Pucara) is an Inca storage complex. While it's much smaller than some other Sacred Valley Inca ruins, the sweeping views of the Andean highlands make it worth visiting. Puka Pukara served as a military control center for the Incas—ideal for travelers with an interest in military history. One of the best ways to admire the vistas is on a horseback riding tour that also covers Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman.

A strategic military fortress during the 14th-century battle with the Spanish for the Inca Empire, Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman) is a must-see Inca archeological site for history buffs. Because of the significant role it played in ancient history, it’s been compared to the Colosseum in Rome. Highlights include the towers equipped with aqueducts, a temple used for religious rituals and sacrifices, and an Inca throne. The ruins are best explored alongside a guide on an archeological tour.

Arguably one of the most photogenic Inca civilization remnants, the Maras Salt Pools take the form of geometric shapes carved out by the Incas more than 2,000 years ago. Today, the 5,000 rainbow-colored pools are still harvested for their salt and are owned by local Sacred Valley families. Pose for as many pictures beside the pools as you like on private Sacred Valley tours, which tend to combine the pools with the nearby Agricultural Terraces of Moray.

The Inca equivalent to the White House, Ollantaytambo represents the former administrative center of the Inca Empire. The ruins also serve as a gateway to Machu Picchu, featuring a train station that takes you directly there. Its temples, thrones, and terraces aren’t the only draw—from here, you can soak up views of the snow-capped Andean peaks of Verónica, Chicón, and Sahuasiray.

Smothered in elaborate Inca carvings, the archeological site of Q'enqo (Qenko) towers 12,000 feet (3,600 meters) above sea level—which is high even for Sacred Valley standards. This maze-like Inca ruin boasts secret chambers and crooked canals and is believed to have been used as an astronomical observatory. Its convenient location on the outskirts of Cusco makes it easy to visit even in limited time, as half-day trips typically combine the Incan ruins with a city tour of Cusco.