Urubamba (possibly from in the

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

spelling ''Urupampa'', flat land of spiders) is a small town in

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

, located near the

Urubamba River The Urubamba River or Vilcamayo River (possibly from Quechua ''Willkamayu'', for "sacred river") is a river in Peru. Upstream it is called Vilcanota River (possibly from Aymara ''Willkanuta'', for "house of the sun"). Within the La Convención Pr ...

under the snow-capped mountain

Chicón Chicón or Chicon (possibly from Quechua ''ch'iqu'' workable stone) is a mountain in the Urubamba mountain range in the Andes of Peru, about high. It is located in the Cusco Region, Calca Province, Calca District and in the Urubamba Province ...

. Located one hour from

Cusco Cusco, often spelled Cuzco (; qu, Qusqu ()), is a city in Southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region and of the Cusco Province. The city is the list of cities in Peru, seventh m ...

, Urubamba is the largest town in the

Sacred Valley The Sacred Valley of the Incas ( es, Valle Sagrado de los Incas; qu, Willka Qhichwa), or the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco. It is located in the present-day Peruvian region of Cusco. In c ...

of the Incas. It is also located near a number of significant ruins of the

Inca Empire The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

, including

Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a mountain range.UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It is located in the Machupicchu District within Urubamba Province above the Sacred Valley, which ...

. The sparse remains of the Inca palace,

Quispiguanca Quispiguanca, also Q'espihuanca and Q'espiwanka, was a royal estate of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac (c. 1464–1525 CE). The ruins of the estate are located in the northern part of the present-day town of Urubamba, Peru at an elevation of . ...

, are within the town. Tourists often come through the town on their way to visit these sites.

Geography

Urubamba is located in the Highlands of Peru. It is regarded as a good location to go to acclimate to the elevation to prevent

altitude sickness Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the harmful effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. People can respond to high altitude in different ways. Sympt ...

prior to going more popular tourist destinations like Cusco.

Economy

There is a popular market selling fresh fruit and vegetables and also pots, pans, and other essential items. As social workers/volunteers visit the city often, the main market does cater to tourists, although locally produced

alpaca The alpaca (''Lama pacos'') is a species of South American camelid mammal. It is similar to, and often confused with, the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas. The two animals are closely related and can successfu ...

garments or ornaments are usually for sale in small stores within the town. There is also a small market selling only fresh produce that is open on select days during the week, and can sometimes be found selling items that are normally not sold in the main market.

Arts and culture

Urubamba is the home of the workshop of

Pablo Seminario Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul. People * Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer * Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer *Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer * Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist *Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer * Pablo Bre ...

and

Marilú Behar Marina Herrera Aragón (18 July 1927 – 16 February 2023), known as Marilú or "La Muñequita que Canta" (The Little Doll that Sings), was a Mexican singer and actress. She began her career in 1939. At the time of her death she was one of the ...

. They create quality ceramics that can be purchased from the workshop or a store in Cusco. There is a large sporting field used for local football matches and also for festivals, including the festival of ''El Señor de Torrechayoc''. During the first week of June the town swells with dancers and visitors from local towns who perform in the streets. The festivities continue the celebration well into the early hours. The dancing culminates with group performances on the local football pitch. Urubamba Peru- bus station

Transportation

Due to the town's proximity to a number of Inca ruins it is a transportation hub with a bus depot and easy access to cabs. *

PeruRail PeruRail is a railway operator providing tourist, freight, and charter services in southern Peru. It was founded in 1999 by two Peruvian entrepreneurs and the British company Sea Containers. The main line between the port of Matarani, Arequipa, ...

Education and service work

Urubamba is the base of operations for a variety of volunteer programs that arrange home stays with Peruvian families for college students.

References

{{Authority control Populated places in the Cusco Region

External links

Website Municipalidad Provincial Urubamba

Categoría:Capitales de provincia del departamento del Cuzco