Sacred Valley, Peru

The famed Sacred Valley was the breadbasket of the Inca Empire, nourished by the ever-flowing, fertile waters of the Urubamba River, which is aligned with the Milky Way. This valley thrived until the conquistadors pillaged the land in search of gold veins. Today, some of the villagers are direct descendants of the Inca, who still cling to their ancestral home, living in the shadow of Machu Picchu and the metropolitan city of Cusco. This photo captures the gentle spirit of these humble people who cherish nature and their ancestral heritage.