Sacred Valley of the Incas

The entire area of the valley between Pisac and Ollantaytambo is known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On this tour, we will pass through the mountains to reach the “Sacred Valley of the Incas” – which had a great significance in Inca culture. The Valley has a milder climate than Cusco and we will see a series of picturesque villages, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites.

This tour is the “Traditional” or Classic tour, designed to see the entire Sacred Valley in just one action-packed day! If you have more time, we recommend spending the night in the Sacred Valley (either Ollantaytambo or Urubamba is recommended) so you can absorb some of the relaxed atmosphere.

Highlights: The ruins and market of Pisac, Inca fortress in Ollantaytambo.

• LOCATION: Sacred Valley, Cusco (Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Chincheros)
• MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 3390 meters above sea level
• DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy
• BEST TIME TO VISIT: All year round
• Departure dates: any day.

Tour Itinerary:

We start early at 7:30 to 8:00 am and head to the town of Chincheros high up in the mountains, famous for its textiles and spectacularly located at a high altitude (3,800 m/12,500 ft). We will visit a weaving house and have a demonstration on dyeing and weaving techniques, as well as visit the famous market of Chincheros.

We continue to Moray, a place believed to have been used by the Incas as an agricultural research center. The terraces are arranged in concentric circles and separated at intervals from the lowest to the highest region – bearing a great resemblance to a Greek theater. After Moray, we will descend to the base of the Sacred Valley for a buffet lunch in Urubamba and then continue to Ollantaytambo, which features an impressive set of terraces that extend from the center of the town. Pisac is our final stop of the day, where we will first visit the attractive ruins, built with imposing boldness by the Incas, and then descend to the Pisac market before returning to Cusco. This is a long but rewarding day for those who want to experience the best of the Sacred Valley in a short time.

Approximate Time: Departure from Cusco 8:00 a.m., return to Cusco 6:00 p.m. Market days in Chincheros: Sunday Market days in Pisac: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday Our Sacred Valley tour operates every day, but if clients have a particular interest in visiting it on market days, they should arrange their itinerary to fit these days.

The program is subject to changes due to weather and other unexpected circumstances.