Sacred Valley, Cusco
Sacred Valley Full Day: Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
A full day exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas: Andean weaving in Chinchero, the agricultural terraces of Moray, the salt pans of Maras, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the hilltop ruins and market of Pisac, with a buffet lunch in Urubamba.
Discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on a full day tour that combines living Andean culture, Inca engineering and impressive mountain scenery. We start early in the morning from Cusco toward Chinchero, an Andean town known for its weaving traditions, and continue to Moray, where concentric agricultural terraces reveal the Incas’ knowledge of farming and microclimates.
The route continues to the salt pans of Maras, more than three thousand small pools of salt built into the mountainside since Inca times, followed by a buffet lunch in Urubamba. In the afternoon we visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo and finish the day at the hilltop archaeological park and traditional market of Pisac, before returning to Cusco.
Salt from the mountain: the salt pans of Maras, an Inca legacy still in use today.
A special stop at the salt pans of Maras, where a natural spring has been channeled into thousands of small pools for centuries. We walk among the pools, learn how local families still harvest the salt by hand today, and enjoy a short salt tasting before continuing toward Urubamba.
Sacred Valley full day tour itinerary
Chinchero · Moray · Salineras de Maras · Urubamba · Ollantaytambo · Pisac
Times below are approximate and may vary depending on traffic, weather and group pace.
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1
06:00 – 07:00
Hotel pickup & drive to Chinchero
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco early in the morning and drive toward Chinchero, at 3,762 meters above sea level.
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2
07:00 – 08:30
Chinchero — acclimatization, weaving & the Inca’s palace
We make a stop to acclimatize and visit an exhibition of traditional textiles by local weavers. We continue into the archaeological park of Chinchero and what is believed to have been an Inca palace, built on massive polished stone terraces, with views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks.
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3
08:30 – 09:45
Drive to Maras & Moray
We continue along the road toward the town of Maras and then to Moray, enjoying valley views along the way.
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4
09:45 – 10:30
Moray — the Incas’ agricultural laboratory
A set of concentric circular terraces descends into a natural depression in the land. Our guide explains how the Incas used this site as an agricultural laboratory, growing different crops at different depths to study how altitude and microclimates affected them.
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5
10:30 – 11:45
Salineras de Maras — the salt pools
We travel toward the salt pans of Maras and walk along the paths that overlook the more than three thousand pools carved into the mountainside. We enter the salt pools themselves, learn about the traditional harvesting process passed down through generations, and enjoy a short salt tasting.
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6
11:45 – 13:00
Urubamba — buffet lunch
We descend into the Urubamba valley, at a lower and warmer altitude than Cusco, where we stop for a buffet lunch featuring traditional Andean dishes. It is a good moment to rest before continuing to the second half of the tour.
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7
13:00 – 14:45
Ollantaytambo — the living Inca town
After a short drive, we arrive in Ollantaytambo, one of the few towns in Peru still inhabited on its original Inca urban layout. We view its impressive terraced fortress, built to protect the entrance to the valley and used as a temple and ceremonial center.
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8
14:45 – 16:30
Drive to Pisac
We travel along the Sacred Valley toward Pisac, with scenic stops for photos of the valley and the surrounding mountains along the way.
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9
16:30 – 17:15
Pisac archaeological park — hilltop ruins and terraces
We climb to the archaeological park of Pisac, perched high on the mountain above the valley. From here we walk among Inca terraces, ceremonial buildings and lookout points carved into the rock, with sweeping views over the Urubamba river and the Sacred Valley below.
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10
17:15 – 18:15
Pisac — traditional market, silverwork & jewelry
We descend into the district of Pisac and explore its lively traditional market, known for its handicrafts, textiles and produce from surrounding communities. Our guide also explains the traditional metalworking techniques used by local artisans, and we enter a jewelry workshop to see the process up close.
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11
18:15 – 19:30
Return to Cusco
We head back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel in the evening at the end of a full day through the Sacred Valley.
Have a question or ready to book?
Write to us directly on WhatsApp and we will confirm your Sacred Valley Full Day tour, answer any questions and arrange your hotel pickup.
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Good to know before your Sacred Valley tour
What’s included +
Hotel pickup in Cusco
Professional bilingual tour guide
Round-trip tourist transportation
Buffet lunch in Urubamba
Salt tasting at Maras
Entrance tickets (Tourist Ticket / boleto turístico)
Personal expenses
What to bring +
- · A light jacket or windbreaker for Chinchero and Moray
- · Comfortable walking shoes
- · Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- · Water and cash in soles for the market and snacks
- · Your Boleto Turístico del Cusco (tourist ticket), if you already have one
Frequently asked questions +
What time does the Sacred Valley tour start?
Pickup from your hotel in Cusco is around 6:00 am, and we arrive at our first stop in Chinchero by 7:00 am. The tour runs for approximately 13 hours, returning to Cusco in the evening.
Are Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisac all included?
Yes. This full day tour visits all five stops of the classic Sacred Valley route: Chinchero, Moray, the Salineras de Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisac (including its hilltop archaeological park and market), with a buffet lunch in Urubamba between stops.
Do I need the Boleto Turístico (Cusco Tourist Ticket)?
Yes, entrance to Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and the Pisac archaeological park requires the Boleto Turístico del Cusco. If you don’t already have one, our guide can help you purchase it before or during the tour; the cost is not included in the tour price.
Is this tour suitable for children and older travelers?
Yes, the walking sections are short and mostly on flat or gently sloped ground, so the tour is suitable for families and most fitness levels. Some walking at altitude is required in Chinchero, Moray and the Pisac archaeological park.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a buffet lunch with traditional Andean dishes is included in Urubamba, at the midpoint of the tour.
Does this tour include Machu Picchu?
No, this is the Sacred Valley full day tour and does not include Machu Picchu. If you’re interested in visiting the citadel, write to us on WhatsApp and we can tell you about our Machu Picchu tours.
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