Peru · Archaeology

1-Day Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour with Pisaq and Ollantaytambo

1 Day Round trip from Cusco Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Admire strategic viewpoints over the Sacred Valley and learn about Inca history
  • 02 Visit Pisaq's famous traditional craft market and impressive mountain terraces
  • 03 Explore Ollantaytambo Fortress, a key military, agricultural, and religious Inca center
  • 04 Discover the picturesque village of Chinchero and its colonial temple built on Inca foundations
  • 05 See artisan demonstrations of natural wool and textile dyeing in Chinchero

Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this one-day tour from Cusco, visiting Pisaq, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. Learn about Inca history as you admire strategic viewpoints over the valley, impressive agricultural terraces, temples, and one of the most important Inca archaeological sites in the region. Along the way, discover traditional craft markets, a picturesque Andean village, and colonial heritage built on Inca foundations.

This archaeological site comprises a series of overlapping terraces, showing impressive large stone blocks that were finely carved and placed on the upper terrace, where the descendants of the Incas are still living in Inca houses.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Cusco, Urubamba, Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero
Languages English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Cusco, Pisaq, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero

The tour starts in Cusco at 7:30 AM. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby in Cusco. We will travel by private car to the Sacred Valley of the Incas for around 45 minutes. On the way, we will stop at strategic viewpoints, where we will be able to see the Sacred Valley and learn about Inca history.

Once we arrive at Pisaq, we will visit the famous traditional craft market. Then, we will drive towards the ruins of Pisac, where we will see impressive agricultural terraces on the mountain and beautiful Inca temples.

After exploring, we head to the town of Urubamba, about a one-hour drive away, where we will stop for lunch at a local Andean restaurant. This meal is not included in the tour. They usually offer a buffet lunch, which costs USD 20 per person.

After lunch, we will drive along the Urubamba River towards Ollantaytambo. Once we reach this village, we will visit the Inca City and the important area of Inca construction built during the height of the Inca period. Ollantaytambo Fortress constituted a strategic military, agricultural, and religious center used to administer and control the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This is deduced from the constructions that were presumably used as agricultural deposits and for military purposes, such as walls and watchtowers, probably to protect themselves from jungle ethnic groups.

This archaeological site comprises a series of overlapping terraces, showing impressive large stone blocks that were finely carved and placed on the upper terrace, where the descendants of the Incas are still living in Inca houses.

On the way back to Cusco, we will visit the picturesque village of Chinchero, where there are remains of the "Royal Hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui." You will admire its well-preserved Inca wall in the Main Square and visit the beautiful colonial temple with impressive frescoes on the portico.

This temple was built on the foundations of an Inca building. Here, we can also visit its artisan market and enjoy a demonstration of the natural dyeing of wool and textiles.

The tour of the Sacred Valley ends in Cusco at approximately 6:00 PM.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Cusco 5 cities · 1 Day

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Pick-up from the hotel.
  • Tourist transport.
  • Official tour guide service in English and Spanish.
  • Buffet lunch in Urubamba.
  • Entrance tickets to all places visited.
  • Transfer to the hotel at the end of the tour.

What's Not Included

  • Tips
  • Extra drinks

What to bring

  • Bring your original passport, with an expiration date of no less than 7 months.
  • Wear sneakers or light tennis shoes.
  • Bring a bottle of water or canteen.
  • Drink plenty of fluids during your excursions.
  • Carry a raincoat or long poncho during the rainy season.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts.
  • Wear long pants.
  • Carry sunscreen and a brimmed hat for sunny days.
  • Carry binoculars.
  • Carry sunglasses and plastic bags.
  • Carry medicine and/or personal items, including liquid for contact lenses.
  • Carry a backpack or lightweight suitcase, with a maximum weight of 5-6 kilos.
  • Carry a camera or camcorder.
  • Have checks in small denominations and coins in soles or dollars on hand.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Cusco, Peru
Tour start
Cusco, Peru
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 1 day finish where they began, in Cusco.

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USD 75 /person
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