Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco

Full Day
Easy
Cultural
Day Tour
Cusco and the Sacred Valley

A guided day through the valley of the Incas: terraced mountainsides, Andean market towns and the living Inca town of Ollantaytambo, returning to Cusco in the evening.

Duration Full Day
Difficulty Easy
Max altitude 3,760 m / 12,336 ft
Best season Year-round
Transportation By road, with pickup in Cusco
Guide Local guide

Overview

The Sacred Valley is the stretch of the Urubamba River that runs below Cusco, between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. For the Incas it was prime farmland, protected by mountains and warm enough for corn, and they filled it with terraces, estates and ceremonial sites. Today it’s a green, lived-in valley of small towns and fields, and it’s the easiest place to understand how the Inca world worked beyond Machu Picchu. For the towns, the plateau above them and when to go, see our overview of the Sacred Valley.

This full-day tour from Cusco visits a selection of the valley’s main sites with a local guide. A typical route starts at Pisac, where curved terraces climb the mountainside above a busy market town, continues along the river for lunch around Urubamba, and spends the afternoon in Ollantaytambo, a town still laid out on its Inca street plan below a hillside of temples and storehouses. Many routes return to Cusco across the high plateau of Chinchero, with its colonial church built on Inca walls and its weaving tradition.

Programs vary, so we confirm the final stops and their order with you. Some travelers prefer to swap part of the day for Moray and the Maras salt pans; others want to finish in Ollantaytambo and take the train to Machu Picchu that evening. We’re happy to plan either.

It’s a relaxed day with a fair amount of walking on stone steps, and because the valley floor is lower than Cusco, it’s a good choice for your first or second day at altitude. If you only want the plateau sites, our half-day trip to Maras, Moray and the salt pans is a shorter alternative.

Highlights

Explore the Sacred Valley, the Inca heartland along the Urubamba River
See the terraced mountainsides and market town of Pisac
Walk the Inca streets and temple hill of Ollantaytambo
Return across the high plateau of Chinchero on many routes
A relaxed, lower-altitude day that suits your first days in Cusco
Option to finish in Ollantaytambo for the train to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Morning
Cusco to Pisac
Pickup in Cusco and the drive down into the valley, with a first stop at the terraces and market town of Pisac.About 1 hour at the site
After pickup at your hotel, the road climbs out of Cusco and drops into the valley, with a viewpoint over the Urubamba River on the way down. At Pisac, your guide leads you along the terraces and paths of the Inca site on the mountain above town, explaining how the terraces created farmland on steep slopes and how the site combined farming, ceremony and defense. Afterward there’s time in Pisac’s market town for crafts, snacks and a look at local life.
Starts
Cusco
Ends
Pisac
Midday
Along the river to Urubamba
A scenic drive through farming villages to the center of the valley for a lunch stop.
The road follows the river past corn fields, eucalyptus groves and small villages such as Calca and Yucay, with the glaciers of the Urubamba range above. Most programs stop for lunch around Urubamba, the largest town in the valley.
Starts
Pisac
Ends
Urubamba
Meals
Lunch stop (included only if shown in your quote)
Afternoon
Ollantaytambo
A guided visit of the temple hill and the Inca streets of Ollantaytambo.About 1 hour at the siteMax altitude 2,790 m / 9,154 ft
Ollantaytambo is one of the few towns in Peru still laid out on its original Inca plan, with narrow stone streets and water channels that still run beside them. Above town, steep terraces climb to a temple area built with huge, finely fitted stones, some of them quarried across the valley. Your guide explains how the site was built and the role it played during the Spanish conquest. If you’re continuing to Machu Picchu, this is where you can leave the tour for the train.
Starts
Urubamba
Ends
Ollantaytambo
The terraces are reached by steep stone steps. You can visit the town and skip the climb.
Late afternoon
Chinchero and return to Cusco
On many routes, a stop on the high plateau at Chinchero before the drive back to Cusco.Max altitude 3,760 m / 12,336 ft
On the way back, many routes cross the plateau to Chinchero, where a colonial church stands on Inca foundations and local weavers keep traditional techniques alive. It’s often the best light of the day, with snowcapped peaks on the horizon. You arrive back at your hotel in Cusco in the early evening.
Starts
Ollantaytambo
Ends
Cusco

What’s Included

Included

Local guide for the day
Transportation from and back to your hotel in Cusco
Visits to the sites on your confirmed route

Not included

Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) for the Sacred Valley sites, unless shown in your quote
Other entrance fees, such as the Maras salt pans
Lunch, unless shown in your confirmed itinerary
Tips for your guide and driver

Your route, pickup time and every inclusion are confirmed in writing with your quote.

What to Bring

Documents

Cash in Peruvian soles for the market, snacks and any tickets not included
Passport or a copy, in case a student or ID check applies to your ticket

Clothing

Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Layers: a warm top for the morning and a light one for the sunny valley
Rain jacket from November to March

Gear

Small daypack and reusable water bottle

Health & personal

Sunscreen, sun hat and sunglasses

Food, Lodging & Transport

Food & meals

Most Sacred Valley days break for lunch around Urubamba, in the middle of the valley, where restaurants serve Peruvian and Andean dishes, often as a buffet. Lunch is only included if it’s shown in your quote. Pisac’s market also has snacks and fresh fruit, and it’s a good idea to carry water and something small to eat between sites.

Difficulty & Altitude

Difficulty: Easy
Highest point: 3,760 m / 12,336 ftChinchero, on the plateau above the valley (if included in your route)

Fitness

This is an easy tour, but not a sit-down one. At Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the ruins are reached by stone steps and terrace paths, some steep and without handrails. Across the day you’ll walk for two to three hours in short stretches, and you can skip the steepest parts or wait below while others climb.

If anyone in your group has limited mobility, tell us: we can choose sites with easier access and plan more time in the towns.

Altitude

The valley floor sits around 2,800 to 2,900 m (9,200 to 9,500 ft), several hundred meters below Cusco at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft). The upper terraces at Pisac are higher than the town, and Chinchero, on the plateau between Cusco and the valley, is the highest point of the usual route at about 3,760 m (12,340 ft).

For most visitors this is a comfortable day soon after arriving. Walk slowly on the steps, drink water and let your guide set an easy pace.

Permits, Tickets & Rules

Cusco Tourist Ticket. Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray are covered by the Boleto Turístico del Cusco, managed by the regional tourism committee (COSITUC). A partial ticket covers the Sacred Valley sites and is sold in person, not online. We’ll tell you whether it’s included in your quote.
Separate fees. The Maras salt pans are run by the local community and charge their own small entrance fee.
Bring cash. Tickets and market purchases are usually paid in soles, and card payment isn’t always possible outside Cusco.

Traveling with Family

The Sacred Valley is a good day out for families. There’s variety, from terraces to climb to a market and a real Inca town, and the drives between sites give children a break. The lower altitude also helps early in a trip.

It is a full day, so with younger children we often suggest fewer stops and a longer lunch. Tell us their ages and we’ll shape the route around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which places does the tour visit?

A typical route includes Pisac, a lunch stop around Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and, on many routes, Chinchero. Programs vary with the season and your interests, so we confirm the final stops with you.

Do I need the Cusco Tourist Ticket?

Yes. The main Sacred Valley sites are covered by the Boleto Turístico del Cusco, sold in person. We’ll tell you whether it’s included in your quote or bought separately.

Is lunch included?

Only if it’s shown in your confirmed itinerary. Most programs stop for lunch around Urubamba, and we can recommend a place that suits your tastes and budget.

How much walking is there?

About two to three hours across the day, in short stretches. The ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo involve stone steps, and you can skip the steepest sections.

Can I finish in Ollantaytambo and take the train to Machu Picchu?

Yes, and it’s an efficient way to plan your trip. Tell us your train time, or let us book the full combination as our Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour.

Can we include Moray and the Maras salt pans?

Some programs swap part of the day for Moray and Maras. Including every site in one day makes for a very long day, so we’ll help you choose, or you can see them on a separate half day.

Is it a good tour for kids?

Yes. The variety and the lower altitude make it one of the easier days for families. With young children we usually suggest fewer stops.

Route

Route map coming soon

Route at a glance

Cusco, about 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
Pisac, town about 2,970 m (9,740 ft)
Urubamba, about 2,870 m (9,420 ft)
Ollantaytambo, about 2,790 m (9,150 ft)
Chinchero, about 3,760 m (12,340 ft), on many routes
Back to Cusco

A loop from Cusco down into the Sacred Valley and back across the Chinchero plateau. Stops depend on your confirmed route. A route map is being prepared.

Tour Video

Travel Tips for This Trip

How Many Days in Cusco? Sample Itineraries from 3 to 7 Days
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Cusco Altitude: How to Acclimatize and Avoid Altitude Sickness
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Things to Do in Cusco: A Local’s List
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Why DSL Adventures

Planned by a Local Team in Cusco

Based in Cusco

Your trip is planned by people who live here and know the region’s seasons, roads and trails.
Local Guides

Guides from the region who know the trails, the history and the communities along the way.
Direct Communication

One conversation with the team organizing your trip, from your first question to your last day.
Personalized Planning

Dates, pace and details shaped around your group.
Visual Storytelling

Photos and stories from our routes help you picture each day before you go.

Plan your trip

Let’s Plan Your Trip Together

Tell us your dates, who’s traveling and what you’d like to see. Our team in Cusco will reply with availability, ideas and clear next steps.

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Sacred Valley Tour Price on request

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Trip facts

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Cusco to Pisac

Along the river to Urubamba

Ollantaytambo

Chinchero and return to Cusco