Urubamba

Spanish naturalist Antonio de León Pinedo rhapsodized that Urubamba must have been the biblical Garden of Eden, but you'll be forgiven if your first glance at the place causes you to doubt that lofty claim: the highway leading into and bypassing the city, the Sacred Valley's administrative, economic, and geographic center, shows you miles of gas stations and convenience stores. But get off the highway and get lost in the town's tidy streets, awash in flowers and pisonay trees, and enjoy the spectacular views of the nearby mountains. You might agree with León Pinedo after all. Urubamba holds little of historic interest but the scenery, a growing selection of top-notch hotels and restaurants, and easy access to Machu Picchu rail service make the town an appealing place in which to base yourself.