Sacred Valley Vip Full-Day Tour – Explore the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley VIP tour (Full Day) is a half-day journey from Cusco that will take you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley is known for being one of the most fertile regions in southern Peru and has been of great importance since the time of the Inca civilization, which persists to this day.

The Sacred Valley VIP tour is designed for people with little time, allowing them to visit several important places in a single day.

On the Sacred Valley VIP tour, the attractions are visited in the following order: Chinchero (40 minutes), Salineras de Maras and Moray (30 minutes), lunch in the Sacred Valley, then we will visit Ollantaytambo (30-40 minutes), and finally we will visit Pisac. We usually arrive at the latter place when the archaeological center is closing, so if we are lucky, we will have the opportunity to take our last tour here.

In Ollantaytambo, the group splits between those who board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo and those who finish the tour visiting Pisac and returning to Cusco. If you wish to connect with Machu Picchu Pueblo to then visit Machu Picchu, we recommend our Sacred Valley Tour with VIP Connection to Machu Picchu (2 Days).

If you want to spend more time visiting the attractions of the Sacred Valley, we recommend the Classic Sacred Valley Tour (approximately one and a half hours per location).

Itinerary

Day 1: Sacred Valley VIP (Full Day)

On this day, we will pick you up from your hotel between 6:35 am and 6:45 am to start our tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Sacred Valley is located at an altitude of 2,790 meters above sea level and includes Chincheros, Moray, Salineras, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac. Each of these locations houses archaeological remains built by different Incas. The Sacred Valley holds great historical significance as one of the main agricultural centers, recognized for its fertile lands that produce the best corn grains today.

Our first stop will be Chincheros, a place that has preserved its traditional textile and ceramic art. Here we will stay for about 40 minutes, and we will visit the colonial church, known for its outstanding paintings from the 15th and 17th centuries. Next, we will visit Moray, an agricultural research center where crop experiments were conducted at different altitudes. Afterward, we will explore the Salineras de Maras, also known as the Maras Salt Pools, which consist of over 3,000 wells of different sizes and dimensions. These wells are owned by local families who harvest the generated salt and treat it with iodine before selling it in the market. We will spend 30 minutes in Maras and Moray.

Continuing our journey, we will arrive in Urubamba, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch. After the meal, we will visit the city of Ollantaytambo, which dates back to the 15th century. Finally, we will explore Pisac, known for its archaeological site and vibrant craft market. The tour in Pisac will last 30 to 40 minutes. At the end of the tour, we will drop you off approximately 2 to 3 blocks from the main square of Cusco.

Inclusions

Included:

Pick-up from your hotel. Hotel pickups start from 6:35 am for group tours. For private tours to the Sacred Valley, the pick-up time can be arranged.
Bilingual professional guide (Spanish and English). In group tours, the tour is conducted in Spanish and English, one after the other. In private tours, you can choose to have the tour in Spanish, English, or Portuguese.
Transportation. Includes tourist transportation to the attractions.
Buffet lunch. We will enjoy a buffet meal in Urubamba.
For the lunch, you can serve yourself spaghetti, white meat (chicken crackling, loin, loin stew, trout crackling), red meat (lamb stew, loin meat, pork crackling), quinoa fried rice, legumes, Andean potatoes, as well as white rice or garden rice (Peruvian dish with vegetables). At lunch, you also have 2 varieties of salads: cooked (carrot, broccoli), raw (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, excellent vegetarian options). If you want soup, you can serve yourself quinoa soup. For dessert, you can try mazamorra morada or rice pudding (both are among the most popular Peruvian desserts), gelatin, or a peach stew. Hot drinks are included: muña tea, coca tea, coffee.

In private tours, breakfast and lunch are provided at higher-end restaurants that offer a greater variety of gastronomy.

Not Included

This tour requires a General Tourist Ticket or a Partial Tourist Ticket to visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. For more information about Tourist Tickets, see the ‘Recommended to Bring’ tab.

Partial Tourist Ticket
- ( S/. 70.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 40.00 Soles – Peruvians)
Entrance to the Maras Salt Mines
- ( S/. 20.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 10.00 Soles – Peruvians)

Recommmendations

Tourist Ticket. To visit various cultural attractions in Cusco, you require a Partial Tourist Ticket or a General Tourist Ticket.

If you plan to visit most of the major tourist sites in Cusco during your stay, we recommend purchasing the General Tourist Ticket to save on entrance fees and simplify your trip.

General Tourist Ticket: S/. 130.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 70.00 Soles – Peruvians. Includes entry to 16 tourist sites in Cusco, which are the Regional Historical Museum, Puca Pucara, Contemporary Art Museum, Tambomachay, Popular Art Museum, Pisac, Qorikancha Site Museum, Ollantaytambo, Qosqo Native Art Center, Chinchero, Inca Pachacutec Monument, Moray, Sacsayhuaman, Tipón, Q’enqo, and Piquillacta.
Partial Tourist Ticket: S/. 70.00 Soles – Foreigners | S/. 40.00 Soles – Peruvians. Includes entry for 1 day to 1 circuit of attractions. There are three circuits: Circuit I (Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara), Circuit II (Regional Historical Museum, Contemporary Art Museum, Popular Art Museum, Qorikancha Site Museum, Qosqo Native Art Center, Inca Pachacutec Monument, Archaeological Park of Tipón, Archaeological Park of Pikillacta), Circuit III (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray).
Camera
Sunblock
Water bottle
Sun glasses
Windbreaker jacket
Long-sleeve shirt
Hiking or trekking shoes
From November to March: it is recommended to bring a rain poncho.
Clothes suitable for a day trip
Peruvian soles in cash

To purchase your Tourist Ticket, as well as the entrance to the Maras Salt Mines, you will need to bring Peruvian soles

It is not necessary to carry a passport

Faqs

ARCHEOLOGICAL CENTER OF CHINCHEROS

Chinchero is a Peruvian town and the capital of the homonymous district, located in the province of Urubamba in the department of Cusco. It is renowned as the birthplace of Mateo Pumacahua, a hero of Peruvian independence who played a significant role in the Cuzco Rebellion of 1814, alongside the Angulo brothers.

According to the 2017 census, Chinchero had a population of 3,765 inhabitants. It is situated approximately 30 km from the city of Cusco, at an altitude of 3,754 meters above sea level.

The monumental zone of Chinchero was declared a historical heritage of Peru on December 28, 1972, through the R.S.N° 2900-72-ED Archaeological Park, as stated in the National Directorial Resolution No. 515 of 2005.

The Chinchero Archaeological Park spans an area of 34,800 hectares. It was occupied even before the Inca Empire. During the Tahuantinsuyo period, Inca Túpac Yupanqui planned the construction of palaces for the elite. Presently, you can witness the remains of the palace upon which the colonial church stands.

MORAY

Many archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the Moray ruins were once used for conducting agricultural experiments. Part of the evidence supporting this theory is the intricate irrigation system built into the terraces, which was supplied by water from a reservoir located high in the mountains.

Another fascinating aspect is the temperature variation within the terraces. Each terrace experiences a temperature difference of 5°C, and the sun shines on each terrace at a unique angle and intensity.

The microclimate of Moray likely enabled the Incas to conduct agricultural research and identify the optimal conditions for various crops to thrive. This suggests that the Incas utilized their environmental knowledge to capitalize on natural resources.

MARAS SALT MINES

The Salineras de Maras (The Salt Mines of Maras) consists of over 3,000 natural salt wells located near the town of Maras. Each well has a dimension of 5 square meters.

These 3,000 pools are supplied by an underground hypersaline spring that originated 110 million years ago during the formation of the Andes Mountains.

Currently, these natural salt pools attract hundreds of tourists, providing a breathtaking view of the landscape.

The people of Maras market and sell this salt, continuing the tradition established by the Incas centuries ago.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF OLLANTAYTAMBO

Ollantaytambo (in Quechua: Ullantaytampu, meaning “warehouse or inn of Ollanta”) is a Peruvian town and an Inca archaeological site. It serves as the capital of the homonymous district located in the province of Urubamba, in the department of Cusco. Ollantaytambo is situated approximately 90 km northwest of the city of Cusco.

During the Inca period, Pachacutec conquered the region, establishing the town and a ceremonial center. It served as a fortress for Manco Inca Yupanqui, the leader of the Inca resistance during the time of the Spanish conquest. In Ollantaytambo, you will find defensive platforms (used to prevent landslides) instead of agricultural terraces, which are more commonly seen in other archaeological sites in Cusco. Today, Ollantaytambo is an important tourist attraction due to its Inca constructions and being one of the main starting points for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.