Located smack-bang in the middle of the Sacred Valley, Urubamba is an attractive little town, making it a good base for traveling around the area, exploring the countryside and visiting the Inca ruins. Urubamba tends to be passed over more than other towns in the region, making it a quieter place to kick back for a few days. The pleasant palm-fringed Plaza de Armas has a small fountain at the center. The town boasts a decent array of services, hotels and restaurants and is close to Cusco, within about an hour's drive. There are excellent hiking opportunities surrounding the town, especially in the area of Moray, a town close-by with Inca terraces that have been sculpted into the hillsides. Alternatively, nearby Salinas makes for an interesting stop with its Inca salt pans, still in production, following an ancient tradition.