Sacred Valley Tour From Cusco 2023

DAY TRIP

DAY TRIP | ENGLISH SPEAKING | FREE LUNCH

$149 PER PERSON

What to Expect for the Sacred Valley Tour From Cusco

Spend a day on the guided tour of the beautiful Sacred Valley. Two options here for the trip. One option is to visit Chinchero, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo. The second option is to visit Maras, Moray, and Salineras.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is centered as the agricultural, political, and spiritual center of the Incan Empire in Peru. We will visit the agricultural terracing of Chincero, which is considered the birthplace of the rainbow. We will also visit the Incan marketplace of Pisac. Stare in amazement at each terrace level, which provided a surplus of food for the people of the Incan Empire. Finally, we will finish the day in Ollantaytambo, a fortress that guarded the northern entrance to the Sacred Valley.

Maras is a colonial village. It has an amazingly beautiful colonial architecture with intricate stonework. Maras is famous for its textiles and you will have the opportunity to purchase textiles at the markets. We then drive to Moray where we will explore the agricultural Inca experimentation site. Finally, we will visit the salt mines (Salineras) where you can view the 3000 salt pools and watch the salt miners harvesting the salt of the Incas!

Option 1:

Chinchero:

Chinchero is located 28 km from Cusco. Chinchero is a town built with colonial-style construction and was a major agricultural center for the Incas. The city has stone walls, which are trapezoidal in nature, that provide the setting for the traditional market. It is mostly composed of homes made of mud bricks. It is said, Chinchero is the magical birthplace of the rainbow.

Pisac:

Pisac is a small Peruvian village in the heart of the Sacred Valley. It is situated approximately 34 km from Cusco on the Willkanuta River. Pisac is thought to have defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley for the Inca. In the city of Pisac, the Incas created agricultural terraces that helped grow a surplus of food which normally would not have been able to be produced at an elevation of nearly 3000 meters. Pisac is most famous for its Incan Ruins, and the various shops and handicraft markets, that draw people to the main square to barter for the various products being sold.

Ollantaytambo:

Ollantaytambo is 60 km northwest of Cusco. This city served as the royal estate of the Incan Emperor Pachacuti. This is possibly the most magnificent of the Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley. The beautiful architecture is preserved from the 15th century. Magnificent storehouses are built high into the walls of the mountains, which protected the items that were stored there, from decay. There is an elaborate network of interconnected roads, ramps, and slides that provide water to the inhabitants from the quarries. For those doing the Inca Trail, this marks the starting point for the trekkers.

Option 2:

Maras:

The Maras Salt Pools are a complex of salt extraction pools, located in the area known as Qoripujio. Salt extraction was important for the Inca people.

Each of the salt mines is still important and used today, as families still own and maintain their ponds. The salt mines were available to anyone wanting to harvest the salt. The only requirement was that the person had to be a member of the community and the size of the pond the person got depended on the size of their family.

Moray:

The Moray Inca site is approximately 7 miles from Cusco. Moray is thought to be a greenhouse or Inca agricultural laboratory. It consists of four dugout amphitheaters or overlapping concentric circular stones at a depth of 150 meters.

It is thought that the Inca tested crops on each stone level as each terrace level simulated different elevations for growing their crop. The temperature difference varies as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit between the top and the bottom terrace. Additionally, the soil at each level comes from different parts of Peru, further supporting the theory that this was an agricultural test site.

Included in Sacred Valley Tour Package:

English-speaking tour guide
Permit to historical archaeological sites
Personal transportation to and from hotel
Lunch

Not Included in the Sacred Valley Tour Package:

Guide tip
ATV – $125
Horseback – $125

My friend and I added a last minute day trip excursion to see some sights, while we visited the Sacred Valley Tour and were told by a friend to book with Cachi Life. We were greeted and picked up at the airport, as we had just flown in from the States, by David our guide.

We had an amazing time with David. He spoke great English and was so knowledgeable with all the questions we had to ask about Peru. He took us to multiple sights and had us try corn and queso, the local pop corn, and the local corn beer Chicha! All were delicious and so glad David made sure we had the best experience for sights and food! David was easy-going about time schedule, allowing me to take a ridiculous amount of photos, as we went along on our trip. They were so accommodating from picking us up from the airport and dropping us off at our Airbnb in Urubamba, which was kind of out of the way.

Lindsey C.

OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When should I make reservations for the Sacred Valley Tour?

As far in advance as possible is best so that we may reserve your spot for
transportation. You may book this tour up until 7 days prior to the tour.

How fit do I need to be?

Some mild fitness is necessary. However, it is not required to be in excellent shape to participate in this tour. This is a bus/walking tour. For Ollantaytambo, it is best if you have some moderate cardiovascular fitness, as it can be difficult to hike up the temple. There are many steps up and extensive elevation gain at this stop.

Is there an age restriction?

Unlimited. This is a bus tour with walking and moderate stair climbing at each of the Incan sites.

What sort of meals do you offer?

Sorry, but no meals are provided on this trip. You are responsible for your own meals (breakfast and dinner). We will stop in Urubamba, which is a town located between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. We will eat lunch here prior to arrival at Ollantaytambo.

When's orientation for the Sacred Valley Tour?

Orientation will take place at your hotel the night prior to the trip. We know everyone’s travel plans are different therefore we try and accommodate. Once your trip is booked you will be assigned a travel expert who will help you organize a time and place for your guide to meet you.

Where do I store my luggage?

You will have to make your own arrangements. Most hotels will hold your luggage for free or with a fee.

How's the weather?

You should prepare for any type of weather. We run rain or shine. January through March tend to be the rainy season. Check out our blog post on the best time to visit. This goes into extensive detail about the weather.

Can I do the Sacred Valley Tour by ATV or Horse?

Yes. We charge an extra $125 per person. Maras, Moray, and Salineras can be done by either horse or ATV to add a little more excitement to your trip.

What is the cancellation policy?

Unfortunately, no refunds can be provided within 30 days of departure. The payment is used to purchase and reserve your spot on the private bus and secure your permits. Any cancellation over 30 days is subject to a cancellation fee as outlined in the terms and conditions.

When is payment due for the Sacred Valley Tour?

A non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking. The full payment is due at 30 days prior to tour departure. If booking within thirty days of the tour, full payment of $250 is required.
This provides payment for your Sacred Valley transportation, tour guide, etc. You will be responsible for your meals (breakfast and dinner). We provide lunch.

What should I bring?

We recommend you bring a water bottle, camera, sunscreen, hat, rain jacket, hiking/comfortable walking shoes, money for lunch and souvenirs.

Do I need a passport for the Sacred Valley Tour?

No. But we recommend that you carry a copy of your passport on you at all times to have some sort of identification.

What is the transportation like?

We require you to notify us of your accommodations in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the tour. We will pick you up at your hotel the morning of the tour. Failure to notify us of your hotel location will result in cancellation of your tour. You will be transported by bus to each location on the itinerary.

Upon return to Cusco, the bus will drop you off at your hotel.

What can I expect from my tour guide?

Our tour guide all speak excellent English. All our guides provide the highest level of service. Ask as many questions as you like and ask to see what you want. Our guides will tailor your experience to your needs! This is your trip!

How many people can be in a group?

We have no minimum. However, if we are unable to combine you with a Cachi group due to group size we will place you with another company. If that happens you will have your own Cachi guide with that group.

Need to know more about the Sacred Valley?

Check out our complete guide here for everything you need to do to see and do in the Sacred Valley.

Have Questions? Contact us!