Classic Sacred Valley Tour (Full Day), Discover one of the most fertile valleys in southern Peru, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which has been an important region since ancient times due to the richness of its lands nourished by the waters of the Willkamayu River (Vilcanota River). Within this valley, you will appreciate beautiful towns that still cultivate products such as corn and potatoes, along with three important archaeological centers that had great significance during the Inca era.Our first stop will be in Pisac, where we will explore both its artisan market and its impressive archaeological zone. Here you can appreciate and purchase unique crafts, such as textiles, ceramics, and jewelry, handmade by talented local artisans.
Next, we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in the heart of the Sacred Valley. This lunch is offered in a three-star restaurant and features a wide variety of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts made with fresh regional products, allowing you to savor the best of local cuisine.
We will continue to Ollantaytambo, an Inca archaeological complex characterized by its imposing agricultural terraces and fascinating history. For those wishing to continue to Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo is the ideal connection point to take the train to Aguas Calientes. For the others, the tour proceeds to Chinchero, where we will learn about the rich Andean textile tradition and enjoy the charm of this town, surrounded by spectacular Andean landscapes.
In comparison to the VIP Sacred Valley Tour, which includes five stops (Chinchero, Moray, Salineras de Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac) and offers shorter stays at each site (30 to 40 minutes), the classic tour focuses on three main destinations and provides more time to explore each place, ensuring a more relaxed and enriching experience.
- Start Time
- Departure from Cusco: 8:00 am
- Passenger pickup at hotels: from 7:30 am
- Places to Visit In the Classic Sacred Valley, three main sites are visited, dedicating between one hour and one and a half hours to each place:
- Pisac
- We will visit the archaeological zone and the Pisac market, where you can learn about and acquire local crafts.
- Ollantaytambo
- Here, the group divides: some passengers take the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, while the rest continue the tour back to Cusco.
- Chinchero
- Our last stop, where we will visit the archaeological zone and have an introduction to the local culture and traditions.
- Pisac
- Lunch
- We will have lunch in the Sacred Valley at 2:00 pm, with a break of approximately one hour.
- Return to Cusco
- Estimated return to Cusco: 7:00 pm
- Transportation ends two blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.
Comparison with the VIP Sacred Valley Tour
- In the Classic Sacred Valley, we visit 3 places: Pisac (archaeological zone and market), Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. We will stay between one hour and one and a half hours at each place.
- In the VIP Sacred Valley, 5 places are visited (Chinchero, Moray, Salineras de Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac) and between 30 and 40 minutes is dedicated to each place.
Itinerary
Day 1: Classic Sacred Valley
On this day, we will pick you up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. to begin our tour at 8:00 a.m. In Inca times, the Sacred Valley held immense importance in agricultural production, especially in the cultivation of large-grain corn, a tradition that endures to this day. During the tour, you will visit the picturesque towns of the valley that showcase a unique blend of cultures, arts, and architecture.
First, we will explore THE TOWN OF PISAC AND ITS ARTISAN MARKET, along with the adjacent ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, where you will spend approximately 40 minutes enjoying the history and scenery. Next, we will head to Urubamba, where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch featuring typical regional dishes, scheduled for 2 p.m. The duration of lunch will be approximately 1 hour.
The journey will continue to the ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF OLLANTAYTAMBO, a site with origins dating back to the 15th century, where you will spend approximately 1 hour. Finally, we will visit CHINCHERO, a place that has preserved its textile and ceramic traditions. Here, you will explore its colonial church, which houses notable paintings from the 15th and 17th centuries.
We will return to Cusco, where the transportation will drop you off just 2 or 3 blocks from the main square. This concludes our tour, which ends around 7 p.m.
Inclusions
Included:
- Pickup at your hotel. Hotel pickups start from 7:30 AM for group tours. For private tours to the Sacred Valley, the pickup time can be arranged.
- Bilingual professional guide (Spanish and English). In group tours, the tour is spoken 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.
- In the lunch, you can serve spaghetti, white meat (fried chicken, loin, stew of loin, fried trout), 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). For lunch, there are also 2 varieties of salads: cooked (carrots, broccoli), raw (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, excellent vegetarian options). If you want soup, you can serve yourself a quinoa soup. For dessert, you can try mazamorra morada or rice pudding (both are some of the most popular Peruvian desserts), jelly, or peach stew. Hot drinks are included: muña tea, coca tea, coffee.
In private tours, breakfast and lunch are provided at higher-category restaurants that offer greater culinary variety.
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)
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 important tourist sites in Cusco during your stay, we recommend purchasing the General Tourist Ticket to save costs on entries 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, Folk Art Museum, Pisac, Qorikancha Site Museum, Ollantaytambo, Qosqo Native Art Center, Chinchero, Inca Pachacutec Monument, Moray, Sacsayhuaman, Tipon, 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, Folk 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
- Sunglasses
- Windbreaker
- Long-sleeve shirt
- Hiking or trekking shoes
- From November to March: it is recommended to bring a rain poncho.
- Appropriate clothing for a one-day excursion
- Peruvian soles in cash
To purchase your Tourist Ticket, you must bring Peruvian soles.
It is not necessary to carry a passport.
Faqs
THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS is located at an altitude of 2790 meters above sea level.
ARCHEOLOGICAL CENTER OF PISAQ
Pisac is divided into two zones: the old one, located in the upper part, is an Inca archaeological site, and the current one, situated in the valley, dates back to colonial times. The main square is a lively place filled with colorful handicrafts for sale. This town is renowned for its astronomical observatory.
Pisac’s architecture reflects a mix of indigenous and mestizo influences, with Viceroy Toledo’s constructions built upon Inca remains. Here, you can attend a mass in Quechua, amidst indigenous people and regional mayors. Moreover, you can witness how the Inca agronomists ingeniously solved the problem of planting crops on the slopes of the hills.
Pisac is a prominent tourist attraction due to its Inca archaeological site, forming part of the archaeological circuit of Cusco, along with Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, making it a significant source of income for the town, aside from subsistence agriculture.
Pisac is also home to famous Inca legends. Notably, a statue represents the story of Chief Huayllapuma’s daughter, Inquill. According to the legend, she was to marry the man who could build a bridge over the Willcamayu River (now “Vilcanota” or “Urubamba”) in just one night, as it was essential for the place’s defense. Despite the challenging task, Asto Rímac, a handsome prince, accepted the challenge and asked for the princess’s hand. The local authorities arranged everything for Asto Rímac to begin the work, while the princess had to climb a hill without looking back; otherwise, she and her fiancé would turn to stone. Almost at dawn, the prince finished the work, but Inquill, unable to bear the wait, turned around and has remained turned to stone ever since.
PISAQ MARKET
Pisac is a Peruvian town located in the Cusco region, in the province of Calca, and is the capital of the Pisac district. Situated at an altitude of 2,966 meters above sea level, the town is well-known for its craft fair.
At the mountain’s peak lies the archaeological park of Pisac, constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER OF OLLANTAYTAMBO
Ollantaytambo (in Quechua: Ullantaytampu, “warehouse or inn of Ollanta”) is a Peruvian town and Inca archaeological site, serving as the capital of the homonymous district located in the province of Urubamba, in the department of Cuzco. It is situated approximately 90 km northwest of the city of Cuzco.
During the Inca period, Pachacutec conquered the region and built the town along with a ceremonial center. At the time of the conquest, it served as a fort for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Unlike other archaeological sites in Cusco, Ollantaytambo features resistance platforms (to prevent landslides) rather than agricultural ones. Today, it is an important tourist attraction due to its Inca constructions and is a common starting point for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
ARCHEOLOGICAL CENTER OF CHINCHERO
Chinchero is a Peruvian town and the capital of the homonymous district located in the province of Urubamba, in the department of Cuzco. It is the birthplace of the hero of Peruvian independence, Mateo Pumacahua, who participated alongside the Angulo brothers in the Cuzco Rebellion of 1814.
The town had a population of 3,765 inhabitants according to the 2017 census. It is situated approximately 30 km from the city of Cuzco, at an elevation 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 with the National Directorial Resolution No. 515 of the year 2005.
The Chinchero Archaeological Park covers an area of 34,800 hectares. Chinchero was inhabited before the Inca Empire. During the Tahuantinsuyo, the Inca Tupac Yupanqui planned the construction of palaces for the elite. Currently, you can see the remains of the palace upon which the colonial church stands.
