Sacred Valley Full Day Trip (Route)

Operating Schedule: 6:15 am

1. Chinchero District
CHINCHERO: Chinchero is a quaint Andean village situated on the high plains of Anta at an elevation of 3765m, approximately 30km from Cusco. It offers stunning views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped Salkantay peak gracing the western horizon. Chinchero is traditionally considered the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its main tourist attraction is the vibrant Sunday market, which is less tourist-focused than the market at Pisac. The village is primarily composed of adobe houses, and locals often wear traditional attire. Historically, Chinchero may have been a significant town during the Inca era. The most notable remnant from this period is the massive stone wall in the main plaza, featuring ten trapezoidal niches. The wall’s construction, along with other ruins and agricultural terraces still in use today, is attributed to Inca Tupac Yupanqui, who possibly used Chinchero as a country retreat. In the main plaza, an adobe colonial church from the early seventeenth century stands on the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The church’s ceiling and walls are adorned with beautiful floral and religious designs and is open for mass on Sundays. A half-hour walk from the village leads to Lake Piuri, which once supplied water to Cusco. It takes about three hours to walk around the lake, passing through charming villages. Chinchero lacks tourist hotels but offers a couple of basic hostels.

2. Moray
Cusco showcases the advanced agricultural techniques of the Incas, such as terracing and aqueduct irrigation. In Moray, circular terraces highlight the high level of Inca civilization. Located 4.5 miles from Maras and 39 miles from Cusco, Moray’s circular agricultural terraces, up to 330 feet deep, impress visitors. These terraces, built with retaining walls and connected by an irrigation system, served as a crop laboratory, creating micro-climates for growing various products.

3. Maras
The salt mines, or the renowned “salt pools” of Maras, are situated in the rural community of Pichingoto. This site is a must-visit for photography enthusiasts due to its breathtaking landscape. It is also ideal for hikers and mountain bikers, as the trail connects the salt mines with the villages of Tarabamba and Pichingoto. Highlights include the Moray archaeological site, resembling an amphitheater with circular terraces, and the Sanctuary of Tiobamaba, a colonial adobe church housing Cusco paintings like The Last Supper.

4. Urubamba
Upon arrival, visitors are dropped off at a tourist restaurant to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. Options include the HATUCHAY or PUKAPUNKU restaurants, with 45 minutes allocated for lunch, providing ample time to enjoy the meal.

5. Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is a charming village preserving Inca architectural designs, located at 9160 feet in the Urubamba province. Notable attractions include the ceremonial temple dedicated to water worship and a fortress that guarded the valley entrance against invasions. The temple features terraces stacked atop each other, accessible via a steep stairway. The fortress, a stone colossus built between two mountains, protected the valley. The area also includes the Temple of Inti (the sun god), Incamisana, the Ñustas’ (princesses) baths, the Cachiccata funerary towers, and steep terraces on a hillside. Ollantaytambo is a gathering place for nearby communities, such as the Huayruros de Willoc, identifiable by their red and black ponchos and hats.

6. Pisac
Pisac’s fascinating stone block walls exhibit balanced proportions, with perfectly joined stones forming a captivating architectural ensemble in the Sacred Valley. The name Pisac originates from Quechua, meaning partridge, a bird native to the area. The complex is believed to resemble the “Hacienda Real” of Inca Pachacutec, featuring terraces, a ceremonial hall, palaces, walls, and towers, all seamlessly connected. Intihuatana, the most important ceremonial and religious site in Pisac, is constructed from sedimentary rocks. Its name translates from Quechua as “sun dial” and is located atop a mountain, offering a view of the entire valley. The Intihuatana served as an astronomical observatory during the Inca Empire, with its finely carved rock walls aligning perfectly with the sunrise during the June solstice (early winter). The city of towers’ housing estates likely served as water channels, still existing today, with fine finishes similar to Sacsayhuaman’s constructions. Approximately 20 towers were erected on the mountain’s edges. Ñusta Encantada is a rocky complex visible from the Ñustáyoc hill to the south, named after its resemblance to a woman carrying saddlebags. An Andean legend tells of the Pisac chief Huayllapuma’s daughter, Inquill Chumpi, who was to marry a prince capable of building a bridge overnight. After rejecting many suitors due to the task’s difficulty, Inca prince Asto Rimac appeared, and they fell in love. However, Inquill Chumpi had to climb the hill without turning around until the bridge was completed; otherwise, they would turn to stone. When the bridge was nearly finished, she turned to see her fiancé, and they both turned to stone. Pisac’s diverse and incredible Inca architecture, enduring through the years, captivates travelers with its history and ancestral culture.

7. Calle Plateros
The tour concludes between 6:30 pm and 7 pm. Visitors are dropped off at the Plaza de Armas or on Calle Plateros, from where they can proceed to their hotel.

Points of Interest

• Archaeological Park Ollantaytambo

• Pisac Market

• Complejo Arqueologico Chinchero

• Salinas de Maras

• Buffet lunch
• Hotel pickup
• Tourist transport
• Permanent
• Tour guide

• the entrance to the sacred valley is 70 soles you can buy it in cash in chicheros, salineras 15 sole

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.