Description
The best Sacred Valley Tour of the Incas from Cusco
Best Sacred Valley Tour – Discover all the top spots in the Sacred Valley in just one day! This guided tour is ideal for travelers who have limited time but want to maximize their visit. During this full-day tour, you’ll get to see all the main attractions in the area, such as Chinchero, Moray, the Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac.
Our best Sacred Valley Tour is designed to take you to all the must-see places in the Sacred Valley, including the beautiful Inca site of Moray with its unique circular terraces, the Maras Salt Mines with their extensive salt fields, the historic Ollantaytambo, and the impressive Pisac Ruins. We are one of the few companies that offer a comprehensive Sacred Valley Tour, covering all the key sites.
This Sacred Valley Tour is ideal for individuals interested in history, local culture, and breathtaking landscapes. It’s also perfect for those taking the evening train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo, or for those staying in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba. The tour can start from Cusco, Ollantaytambo, or Urubamba.
If this tour isn’t right for you, no worries! You can check out our Extended Sacred Valley Tour, which starts from Cusco. If you’d like to take things at a slower pace, consider our 2-Day Sacred Valley Tour, which departs from Cusco Airport. You can also customize your tour based on your preferences; please contact us.
Highlights
- Get a feel for the living culture of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Explore the huge agricultural terraces in Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero.
- Enjoy the delicious food of the Sacred Valley, made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Discover Chinchero, another original Inca village, where you can see the whole Inca textile process.
- Visit Ollantaytambo, one of the few Inca villages still inhabited as it was originally built.
Itinerary
Sacred Valley Tour Full Day – Itinerary
Pickup from your hotel will be between 6:20 am and 7:00 am. Once the group is ready, we’ll head north. Our first stop is Chinchero, where we’ll see the entire wool process, from washing to spinning beautiful textiles. This charming town also has agricultural terraces, the ruins of the royal estate of Túpac Inca Yupanqui, and a beautiful colonial temple built on the remains of an Inca structure.
We’ll continue to the Maras Salt Mines, where we’ll watch the natural salt extraction process that has been used since the Inca period. Then, we’ll go to Moray, where we’ll explore the natural depressions that were used as experimental agricultural terraces.
Next, we’ll stop in Urubamba for a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, we’ll visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, which was built to protect the entrance to this part of the valley and to defend it from possible invasions by jungle inhabitants.
Finally, we’ll visit the town of Pisac to see the Pisac Archaeological Complex, which was built during the reign of Inca Pachacutec. Its location at the top of a mountain gives a great view of the valley stretching toward the Antisuyo region. At the end of the tour, we’ll return to Cusco, arriving around 7:30 pm.
Include
Price Includes
- Tourist transportation to and from the Sacred Valley
- Pick up from your accommodation and drop off near the Plaza de Armas
- Bilingual professional guide
- First aid kit and oxygen balloon
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba
Price Excludes
- General Tourist
- Ticket Snacks and Tips
Recommendations
Things To Know
Booking the Peru Sacred Valley tour at the last minute is possible, but during the peak season (May through August), it’s best to book at least a week in advance because there might be a shortage of guides. However, tickets are always available.
- Bottled water can be bought at any of the stops during the Sacred Valley tour.
- Sacred Valley tours leave daily, with a minimum of two people required.
- You should bring cash for buying tourist tickets, as credit cards are not accepted on-site.
Pro Tips:
When you arrive in Cusco, don’t rush to visit the Sacred Valley right away. It’s best to rest at your hotel for at least one day to get used to the high altitude, unless you’re already used to it.
- Even during the dry season, rain can come without warning.
- Being caught in the rain might make your trip less comfortable.
Lost Object:
Please make sure you have all your belongings when you leave our van or the restaurant. You are responsible for your own things.
Group Tours:
Groups consist of people of all ages and different fitness levels. When you join a group, you agree that some people might walk faster or slower than others. Everyone will move at their own pace.
Strikes and Demonstrations:
There are often strikes and protests in Peru, and they can block roads. If a strike occurs during your trip, we will notify you and cancel your plans. We will either provide a refund or assist you in changing your travel date.
Cancellations and Refunds:
Full Refund: If you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts, you will get your full money back.
Partial Refund: If you cancel within 24 hours of the tour but before 7 PM the day before, you will get half your money back.
No Refund: If you cancel after 7 PM the day before the tour, you won’t get any money back.
Solo Traveller:
We’re always happy to welcome solo travelers on our Sacred Valley tour. However, before you book, please get in touch with us via WhatsApp or email to check if there is an existing group you can join. Unfortunately, we can’t operate the tour for just one person because of the costs. If you want a private tour for yourself, you’ll need to pay for two people. I appreciate your understanding.
Tourist Tickets To Access the Inca Sites In the Sacred Valley
To visit the Inca sites in the Sacred Valley, you need to purchase a tourist ticket. You can buy a General or Partial ticket either in Cusco or at the entrance of the site. However, the Salt Mines ticket cannot be bought in Cusco; it must be purchased directly at the site. Here’s more information about each ticket type.
General Tourist Ticket:
This ticket gives access to 16 tourist spots in the Cusco region, including ancient ruins in both Cusco and the Sacred Valley. If you want to explore these areas in full, the “General Boleto Turistico” is the best choice. It costs 130 Soles (about $36 USD), and students can get it for 70 Soles (around $20 USD). This ticket is valid for 10 days.
Partial Tourist Ticket:
This ticket is valid for one or two days and grants entry to the Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley, including Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras, and Chinchero. It is not available for students or children. This is the best choice if you want to visit just the Sacred Valley without including a city tour. It costs 70 Soles (about $20 USD).
Salt Mine Ticket:
The Maras community owns the salt mine. To visit it, you need to pay 20 Soles. There are no student discounts available for this ticket.
price
Sacred Valley Tour Price:
The starting price for the Sacred Valley tour is from $35 USD per person.
The total cost may vary depending on the size of your group — the larger your group, the lower the price per person. For a tailored quote or to plan your trip, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
