Thinking about moving to the Sacred Valley but don’t know which town is right for you? Here’s our guide to the best place to live in the Sacred Valley, from bohemian Pisac to bustling Urubamba, peaceful Huaran and Arin, authentic Calca and historic Ollantaytambo.

By Chere Di Boscio

One of the first questions people ask when they decide to move to Peru’s Sacred Valley is:

“Where should I live?”

And it’s a surprisingly difficult question to answer.

The Sacred Valley isn’t one place. It’s a collection of towns, villages and rural communities stretching along the Urubamba River, and each has a very different personality.

Pisac has a large international community and a strong alternative-lifestyle scene.

Urubamba is the valley’s biggest and busiest town, with the greatest choice of restaurants, shops and services.

Huaran and Arin offer a quieter, greener lifestyle with a growing expat community.

Calca is more authentically Peruvian, with relatively little tourism and plenty of practical services.

And Ollantaytambo offers perhaps the most extraordinary setting of all: the chance to live in and around a historic Inca town.

So which one is best?

That depends entirely on what you’re looking for.

At a glance: the best Sacred Valley towns for expats

These aren’t rankings. A town being more touristy isn’t necessarily better or worse, and having a larger expat community isn’t necessarily an advantage.

The best place depends on your priorities.

Pisac: Best for expats with ‘alternative’ lifestyles

If you want the largest and most established international community, Pisac is probably the first place you’ll want to investigate.

Pisac has long attracted foreigners looking for an alternative lifestyle, and you’ll find an abundance of yoga, plant medicine retreats, wellness, vegetarian and vegan food, and other services catering to an international crowd.

There’s also plenty happening.

The famous Sunday market brings visitors from Cusco and beyond, while smaller markets operate during the week. The town has restaurants, cafés, shops and a lively social scene.

The surrounding mountains are spectacular, and the famous Pisac archaeological site is right above the town.

Why choose Pisac?

• Large expat community
• Lots of international restaurants and cafés
• Strong yoga and wellness scene
• Excellent markets
• Plenty of activities
• Beautiful surrounding mountains
• Easy to meet other foreigners

Things to consider

Pisac is considerably more touristy than Calca or Huaran.

Housing can also be expensive, particularly for attractive properties with gardens and mountain views.

And while the international community can make settling in easy, people looking for a deeply local experience may find Pisac somewhat too expat-oriented.

Best place to live in the Sacred Valley for: people who want community, activities and an established international lifestyle.

Urubamba: Best for convenience

If you want the greatest choice of everyday services, Urubamba is difficult to beat.

It’s the largest town in the Sacred Valley and has grown dramatically over the years.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés, shops, banks, pharmacies, professional services and other businesses.

There is also a sizeable expat community.

Urubamba is particularly attractive to people who want a comfortable Sacred Valley lifestyle without giving up too many of the conveniences they’re accustomed to.

The town itself is busy and increasingly urban, but the wider Urubamba area includes greener and quieter communities and neighbourhoods.

Why choose Urubamba?

• Lots of shops and services
• Large selection of restaurants and cafés
• Established expat community
• Good access to other parts of the valley
• Convenient for everyday life
• More accommodation choices
• Plenty of activities

Things to consider

Urubamba is busy—and getting busier.

Traffic, construction, noise and pollution are more noticeable here than in smaller communities.

The centre isn’t particularly picturesque compared with places such as Pisac or Ollantaytambo, although some surrounding areas are extremely beautiful.

Best place to live in the Sacred Valley for: people who want the convenience of a proper town while still living in the Sacred Valley.

Huaran and Arin: Best for peace and community

If Pisac feels too touristy and Urubamba feels too busy, Huaran and Arin could be the middle ground you’re looking for.

These neighbouring communities are greener and more rural, with agricultural fields, mountain views, hiking trails and larger properties.

At the same time, a growing international community has brought cafés, restaurants, yoga, retreats and wellness businesses to the area.

Arin is particularly known for hiking and its waterfall, while Huaran has a more traditional small-community feel.

Why choose Huaran or Arin?

• Peaceful and relatively rural
• Beautiful mountain scenery
• Larger homes and gardens
• Growing expat community
• Friendly, close-knit atmosphere
• Hiking and outdoor activities
• Increasing number of cafés
• Conveniently located between Calca and Urubamba

Things to consider

The area is changing.

New houses and developments are appearing, property prices are rising, and some agricultural land is being converted to residential use.

Because the area is more rural, you’ll also need to think carefully about transportation, internet access and security when choosing a property.

Agricultural activity—including pesticide use—is another consideration when choosing a home.

Best place to live in the Sacred Valley for: people who want nature, space and a community without living in a major tourist centre.

Calca: Best for authentic Peruvian life

Calca is probably the town I’d recommend investigating if your priority is living in the Sacred Valley rather than living in an expat destination.

Tourism is relatively limited compared with Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

Instead, Calca is a working Peruvian town where residents shop, work, attend school, visit the market and go about their everyday lives.

The town has two beautiful adjoining plazas, a local market and a surprisingly good range of everyday services.

There are banks, pharmacies, shops, professional services, restaurants and transportation connections.

Why choose Calca?

• Less touristy
• Strong local character
• Beautiful plazas
• Good local market
• Plenty of everyday services
• Central location
• Good transportation connections
• Hiking nearby
• More opportunities to integrate into local life
• Close to Pisac and Urubamba

Things to consider

The expat community is smaller.

There are fewer international restaurants and activities, and you’ll need more Spanish for everyday life.

Local fiestas can also mean considerable noise.

But if you’d rather hear Spanish than English when you walk down the street, Calca could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Best place to live in the Sacred Valley for: people who want an authentic Peruvian experience and don’t need a large expat community.

Ollantaytambo: Best for history and beauty

Ollantaytambo is unlike anywhere else in the Sacred Valley.

Known as “the last living Inca town,” it retains an extraordinary amount of its original Inca urban layout, stonework and water infrastructure.

And this isn’t simply an archaeological site.

People actually live here.

The result is a town where everyday Peruvian life takes place among some of the country’s most remarkable historic architecture.

It’s also one of the principal departure points for trains to Machu Picchu.

Why choose Ollantaytambo?

• Extraordinary historic character
• Beautiful mountain scenery
• Inca architecture everywhere
• Close to Machu Picchu train connections
• Excellent walking and hiking
• Restaurants and cafés
• Small-town atmosphere
• Unique sense of place

Things to consider

Tourism dominates the local economy.

The historic centre can become crowded, particularly during the day, and tourist-oriented prices can be relatively high.

The expat community is also considerably smaller than in Pisac or Urubamba.

And because of its archaeological and historic importance, property owners can face restrictions on alterations and construction.

Best place to live in the Sacred Valley for: people who value history, beauty and atmosphere more than convenience.

Internal link: Living in Ollantaytambo, Peru

Which Sacred Valley town has the biggest expat community?

Pisac has the strongest and most established international community of the towns covered here.

Urubamba also has a substantial expat population, while Huaran and Arin have developed a smaller but increasingly close-knit international community.

Calca and Ollantaytambo have smaller expat populations.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t meet foreigners there.

It simply means you’ll probably encounter fewer expat-focused businesses, events and services.

If having lots of foreign friends is important to you, start with Pisac or Urubamba.

If you’re hoping to integrate more deeply into local Peruvian life, consider Calca or Ollantaytambo.

Which Sacred Valley town is least touristy?

Calca is probably the best choice if avoiding tourism is your priority.

Huaran and Arin are also considerably less tourist-oriented than Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

Urubamba sits somewhere in the middle: tourism is important, but the town is also a major local commercial centre.

Ollantaytambo is extremely tourist-oriented because of its archaeological site and its role as a gateway to Machu Picchu.

Pisac also receives substantial tourism, particularly around its famous market and archaeological site.

Which town is best for nature?

This is difficult to answer because nature is everywhere in the Sacred Valley (for now, at least!) However, if you want to be surrounded by greenery and have hiking directly accessible from home, Huaran and Arin are particularly attractive. Pisac also offers extraordinary mountain scenery and hiking, and the ruins are wonderful.

Ollantaytambo has spectacular mountains and incredible archaeological landscapes, while Calca provides easy access to countryside and trails. All that said, even Urubamba, despite being the valley’s busiest town, has beautiful rural areas surrounding the centre, as well as archeological sites.

Which town is best for everyday convenience?

Urubamba wins here, hands down.

It’s the largest town and has the broadest range of shops, restaurants, services and businesses.

Calca comes next for people who want a more local environment while still having most everyday necessities nearby.

Pisac has plenty of amenities, but many are geared toward international residents and tourists.

Huaran and Arin are more dependent on neighbouring towns, and while Ollantaytambo has plenty of restaurants and tourist services, but fewer of the practical businesses that residents need for everyday life.

Which town is best if you don’t speak much Spanish?

Pisac or Urubamba will generally be the easiest places to start.

Because of their larger international communities, you’ll encounter more English-speaking residents and businesses.

But that doesn’t mean you can avoid learning Spanish! In fact, learning Spanish will make life dramatically easier anywhere in the Sacred Valley.

That said, if you’re arriving with very limited Spanish, a larger expat community can make the transition less intimidating.

Calca will require more Spanish for everyday life, which can be either a challenge or a wonderful opportunity depending on your goals.

Where is the best place to retire in the Sacred Valley?

There’s no universal answer.

Urubamba can be appealing if access to services and convenience is your priority.

Pisac works well for retirees who want an active international social life.

Huaran and Arin are attractive if you want peace, gardens, nature and community.

Calca could suit someone looking for a quieter, more authentically Peruvian lifestyle.

And Ollantaytambo is hard to beat if your dream retirement involves historic streets and spectacular scenery.

Before retiring anywhere in the valley, however, consider healthcare access, transportation, internet, housing and how often you’ll need to travel to Cusco.

Where is the cheapest place to live?

This is one question where we wouldn’t give a simple town-by-town ranking.

Housing prices vary enormously depending on the property.

A modern house with a garden and mountain views in a small community can cost considerably more than a basic apartment in a larger town.

And prices change as demand changes.

Instead of asking which town is cheapest, ask:

“What kind of lifestyle am I looking for, and where can I find the best value for it?”

Calca may offer good value for someone who wants a simple, local lifestyle, while Huaran and Arin may offer better value if you’re looking for outdoor space but are willing to live farther from services. And Urubamba may be worth paying more for if convenience is important.

What about living outside the towns?

Don’t assume you have to live in the centre of a town! Some of the most attractive places for expats are actually in the rural areas between the major communities.

You can find houses surrounded by gardens, fields and mountains while remaining within driving distance of shops and restaurants. The trade-off? Convenience, of course.

Before choosing a rural property, investigate:

• Internet
• Water
• Electricity
• Road access
• Transportation
• Security
• Agricultural activity
• Nearby construction
• Distance to shops and healthcare

A remote house can be idyllic—but only if you’re comfortable with the practical realities of rural living.

So, where should you live in the Sacred Valley?

Here’s the short version:

Choose Pisac if you want the biggest international community, alternative lifestyles, yoga, wellness and lots of activities.

Choose Urubamba if you want convenience, restaurants, shops, services and a sizeable expat community.

Choose Huaran or Arin if you want greenery, space, hiking and a smaller, friendly international community.

Choose Calca if you want an authentic Peruvian town, practical services and fewer tourists.

Choose Ollantaytambo if you want history, spectacular scenery and the unique experience of living in an Inca town.

But there’s one piece of advice we’d give everyone:

Rent before you buy

A town can feel completely different when you’re actually living there.

The restaurant you loved during a holiday might be less exciting after you’ve eaten there ten times.

The charming cobbled street might turn out to be noisy at night.

The peaceful rural house might have unreliable internet.

And the town you barely noticed during your first trip might turn out to be exactly where you want to live.

If possible, rent for several months before buying property.

Try living in the area during different seasons. Shop at the local market. Take public transportation. Find a doctor. Test the internet. Talk to your neighbours.

Most importantly, experience ordinary life rather than holiday life.

The Sacred Valley has something for almost everyone—but there is no single “best” town.

The best place to live is the one that fits your priorities, budget, personality and idea of what everyday life in Peru should look like.

And that’s why it’s worth exploring beyond the obvious choices.

Your perfect Sacred Valley home may be somewhere you haven’t even considered yet.