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Cusco Sacred Valley Tour Details

Sacred Valley Day Tour from Cusco

Sacred Valley Day Tour from Cusco is a popular full day tour. You will get a complete insight to the culture and traditions of Incas. This is one of the best things to do while you acclimatize in Cusco so you will be able to avoid altitude sickness while visiting Machu Picchu.

As the name suggests, Sacred Valley of the Incas was home to some of the prominent ancient Inca ruins. Some of the Inca sites still continue to be. Like Maras Salt Mines. Even today, salt farmers here use the traditional Solar evaporation method to extract salt here. Infact, this is a prominent source of income to locals here.

On this full day trip from Cusco, we will be visiting three prominent sites: Chinchero, Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

Chinchero:

Chinchero is a small village near the city of Cusco. Sadly, this village is often overlooked by travellers. It houses beautiful agricultural terraces and a white washed church. The church was built by Spanish conquistadors on the remains of the royal palace of Tupac Yupanqui.

The terraces and aqueducts which were built by him are in use even today.

Ollantaytambo:

Ollantaytambo was the administrative capital of the Inca Empire. This beautiful village is a testament to Incas advanced town planning system. It houses two archaeological sites on hill tops.

One of the sites was sacred to Incas and housed many religious centres. Sadly when the Spanish invaded Ollantaytambo, this site became a deadly battleground.

Now when you visit Machu Picchu by train, you will be taking the train to Aguas Calientes from here. This is also the closest town to the trailhead of Inca trail.

Pisac:

This village is home to a flea market and an archaeological site. Pisac market sprawls at the main square every weekend. Farmers and craftsmen from the neighbouring villages sell their handicrafts here.

The archaeological complex is massive and is just second to Machu Picchu. It offers stunning views of the valley.

We offer the Sacred Valley Day Tour from Cusco both in small groups and as private tours.

Do take a moment to check our reviews on Trip Advisor.

Check out our complete Sacred Valley Peru guide and a detailed post on 5 Lesser-known ruins in the Sacred Valley of Incas.

Departure & Return Location

Cusco Hotel Transfer

Departure Time

0800 AM

Price Includes

Professional English speaking Tour Leader.
Pick-up from and drop off in your hotel
Guided tour of archaeological sites
Private Transportation
Buffet lunch in Urubamba (Options for Vegans)
First aid kit

Price Excludes

Tourist Ticket
Any personal expense
Any Private Expenses

Cusco Sacred Valley Tour – Packing list

Original Passport (same as used at time of booking for permits/ tickets)
Sun hat or cap
Protect & hydrate sunscreen lotion (factor 60 or 70+ is recommendable )
Camera and film, fully charged & extra batteries (batteries drain quicker in the cold)
Peruvian Soles in cash
Poncho if you are visiting during the rainy season

Useful info

Sacred Valley Day Tour from Cusco

Maximum Altitude: 4100 metres
Tourist Ticket is required to visit the sites
Tour Availability – Daily departure with minimum 2 people
Weather – Dry season from May to October, Wet from November to April

Itinerary

Cusco Sacred Valley Tour

We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you to Chinchero.

Here our local expert will be introducing you to the life and culture of Andean communities here. They are famous for handicrafts using Alpaca wools.

Once you have had your fill of this beautiful village, we will be driving you to Ollantaytambo. Here we will begin the tour by admiring the beauty and architecture of the village. We will then be visiting the archaeological complex.

Our local expert will be sharing some detailed story about the prominence of the complex. It depicts the Inca mythology.

We will then continue the tour to Urubamba. This is often referred to as the heart of the Sacred Valley due to its centric location. Here we will be stopping in a local restaurant for buffet lunch.

After relishing an authentic Peruvian meal, we will be visiting Pisac. Here we will begin the tour by visiting the traditional market. This is an ideal place to buy souvenirs.

We will then drive you to the hill top to the main entrance of the archaeological complex. Our local expert will be walking you through some of the notable parts of the complex.

After the full day tour, we will be returning to Cusco City.

Photos

FAQs

Sacred Valley Day Tour from Cusco

What is the elevation of Sacred Valley Peru?

The highest point of Sacred Valley is Pisac at 3000 metres (9800 feet) above sea level. Urubamba is lowest in altitude at 2050 metres above sea level (6730 feet). Most travellers often spend a few days in Urubamba if they are unable to cope up to the altitude of Cusco

How to visit Sacred Valley?

Sacred Valley is a group of Andean Villages between Cusco city and Machu Picchu. The easiest and economic way to visit the villages is by joining an organised tour. It is more cost effective and convenient as you won’t have to worry about the transport. The local guides are also knowledgable and will share plenty of worth wile information.

How to get from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu?

The easiest way to get from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu is by taking a tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and by taking a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu citadel. Alternatively, you can also hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

Is Cusco in the Sacred Valley?

No, Cusco City is not a part of the Sacred Valley of Incas. Sacred Valley begins from Chinchero which is around 30 kilometres away from Cusco City.

Is the Sacred Valley in Machu Picchu?

No, villages between Cusco city and Machu Picchu are referred to as the Sacred Valley of Incas.

Is Sacred Valley worth visiting?

Yes, it is totally worth visiting the Sacred Valley of Incas on a full day guided tour from Cusco. Not only will it help you to acclimate to the altitude but also will give you an insight to the culture and history of Incas which is a perfect introduction before visiting Machu Picchu.

Is Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley?

Yes, Ollantaytambo is a part of the Sacred Valley of Incas. Sacred Valley begins from Chinchero which is 30 kilometres away from Cusco and all the villages along the way to Ollantaytambo are a part of the valley

What is the Sacred Valley in Peru?

Sacred Valley are a group of villages between Cusco and Machu Picchu. These villages played a vital role during the Inca civilization and some continue to be important even today. As farming was an important profession to Incas, villages in Sacred Valley were sacred to Incas as they have the most fertile soil in entire Peru.

In places like Moray, the Incas built circular farming terraces with different levels. Each levels had different temperature which helped the Incas to determine the best weather condition needed to grow any crop.

1 Review

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Tori B

Couple Traveller

John was an incredible guide and has a wealth of knowledge of both present day Peru, and it’s history. Not only does he speak both Spanish and English fluently, he also speaks the native Inca language of Quechua. Our tour included multiple locations, so he was able to translate in remote areas where only the native language was spoken. This made for a very unique experience I don’t think we could have found this with other tours.

He was also able to make great recommendations for local food, restaurants, bars, and hidden treasure experiences in the area. Because he has so much experience with tourism in Peru, he was able to take us to private demonstrations by locals. If I am lucky enough to travel back to Peru again, I would most definitely go on another one of his tours!

September 19, 2019