Chinchero is a tiny Andean village with Incan ruins and mud brick houses, believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. The area overlooks the lush Sacred Valley, and is surrounded by mountains and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay. Locals dressed in traditional clothing buzz about the town and Chinchero becomes a hive of activity on Sundays when there is a lively local market. Although smaller than some of the other archaeological sites in the area such as Pisac the ruins at Chinchero are still impressive and crucially do not usually feature on as many itineraries so are likely to be quieter.
