Explore the Most Significant Archaeological Sites Around Cusco
When people visit Cusco, they tend to head straight to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. But, there are many other highly important archaeological sites in and around the city that were also significant during the Inca empire. Join us on this exciting trip to the Sacred Valley of the Incas to visit key sites during the ancient civilization’s reign.
On this day out, you can expect to stop at Ollantaytambo, Pisac's archeological site and colorful market, the Inca site of Chinchero, and the Andean Textile Center. On the tour, from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, you’ll have the chance to stop at some fantastic lookout points to witness the Andean Mountain's beauty and the stunning valley landscape.
Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour Map
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Before You Go
- Packing List
- Pricing
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Do you want to get out of the city and see the most significant archaeological complexes during the Inca empire? They can be found in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and our tour will take you to them all on a fun day out full of culture, history, and astounding views. You can join us whether you’re by yourself, in a couple, or as part of a larger group.
Our company specializes in organizing trips through the Sacred Valley ensuring that travelers take home a unique and unforgettable experience while soaking up the valley´s beauty, culture, and history.
On this exciting day out, you’ll get an opportunity to visit the most important Inca archaeological complexes in the valley and experience the Andean culture reflected in the art pieces, traditional markets, customs, and popular traditions in the towns of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. The warm weather throughout the valley perfectly complements the trip to make this tour even more enjoyable.
Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history of the Incas, see some beautiful views throughout the valley, and observe small communities and towns going about their daily lives. It’s the perfect addition to your vacation in Cusco.
Highlights
- Enjoy the extensive Pisac Inca complex, which boasts many impressive examples of Inca architecture.
- Wander around the colorful Pisac market and observe local people who are keeping traditional culture alive.
- Take in the stunning views as you drive through the Sacred Valley and observe locals going about their daily lives and lots of local produce growing in the fields.
- Hike around that amazing site of Ollantaytambo and learn all about its history.
- Visit the Chinchero Weaving Cooperative to learn about local textile techniques and a tradition that goes back generations.
Detailed Itinerary
Cusco | Qorao - Sacred Valley Lookout - Pisac - Urubamba - Ollantaytambo - Chinchero - Cusco
Highlight of the day: Learning a lot about the Inca empire and understanding more about the different sites.
Explore the Most Significant Inca Sites in the Sacred Valley
We’ll collect you from your accommodation and set off on our day out in the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is at Qorao where you can explore the market and buy gifts. Next, we’ll make our way to Pisac. Here, you’ll get to wander around the colorful market and visit the fascinating archaeological site that boasts some unique features. After, we’ll head on to Urubamba where we’ll enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
This afternoon, we’ll drive to Ollantaytambo—a quaint Inca town. You’ll explore the archaeological site and enjoy stunning views. Our final stop is in Chinchero. You’ll observe a colonial temple and the plaza before enjoying a lesson on textiles from local women. Finally, it’ll be time to head back to Cusco city where we’ll drop you off at your hotel.
Our exciting day out begins between 7:20 and 7:50 am when we collect you from your accommodation and set off in our private transport to our first destination of the day.
On our way to Pisac, we’ll make our first stop of the day, about thirty minutes from Cusco. We’ll be visiting Qorao market, to wander around and see locals selling their handicrafts. There are handmade souvenirs and some stunning art pieces that you can buy as a reminder of your trip or for some thoughtful gifts for friends and family back home. Here, you’ll also get the chance to take some photos of the incredible landscapes and local wildlife, like llamas.
Next, we’ll keep heading to “El Mirador Del Valle Sagrado.” This lookout over the valley will provide you with the perfect opportunity to photograph the Andean mountain range and the Sacred Valley together.
We’ll soon arrive at Pisac to visit its colorful market and archaeological site. The Pisac complex is well-known because of its terraces that rise from the bottom of the mountain to the top in a harmonious way. You’ll also see the biggest Inca cemetery and Pisac’s Intihuatana, which is famous for predicting the solstice and equinox that determined the ancient culture’s agriculture calendar.
Once finished, we’ll drive for another hour to Urubamba and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of traditional Peruvian dishes. There’ll be a wide range of options available and it’s the perfect chance to try many foods.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Ollantaytambo town to tour its unique and extensive archaeological site that’s home to water sources, high terraces, temples, and more. The site is surrounded by towering mountain peaks and colorful valleys (plus a view of a faraway glacier)!
This town is the most well-preserved layout of a typical, Incan-built city with its narrow, cobbled streets and stone walls. It’s the only original Inca town where people still live to this day. Its conservation allows for the enduring legacy of the Incan people to live on and for us to understand the ancient culture better.
On our way back to Cusco, we’ll make a final stop at the town of Chinchero. You’ll have the opportunity here to visit a beautiful colonial temple, best known for its mural painting above the entranceway (this temple was built on top of Inca foundations). We’ll also get to see the Incan walls in the main plaza.
The highlight in this town is watching local women making textiles. They’ll teach you the process and you’ll get the chance to support them by purchasing their handmade pieces if you wish. Finally, we’ll continue onto Cusco and drop you off at your accommodation early evening.
Why Travel with us
At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
What Is Included?
High Quality Service & Safety
Experienced Tour Guide - All our guides have professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness and passion, which will make your trip safe and comfortable.
English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
Medical Kit or First AID Kit - Our guides are trained to deal with basic emergencies.
All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
24/7 Customer Service - We have 24 hours a day telephone service.
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.
Meals
Buffet Lunch in Urubamba
Transportation
Transport
All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel to explore the Sacred Valley. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel.
What Is Not Included?
Cusco Tourist Ticket
This ticket is necessary and allows you admission to many of the most popular attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, including archaeological sites and museums.
- From PEN 70.00 (US$ 20.00) to PEN 150.00 (US$ 45.00) per person.
Breakfast & Dinner
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is the norm on any excursion in Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Please note:
- All pickups are within Cusco City, but we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
- Our guide or staff will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.
- Due to traffic conditions, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
- Cusco is an old city and has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?
ESSENTIAL
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
RECOMMENDED
The "Sacred Valley of the Incas" can leave any day of the week, the whole year.
2024 Land Cost
Group Price: US$ 100.00 per person
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 5%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.
Note | Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!
Feel free to reach us via email at info@salkantaytrekking.com or by calling us directly at (+51) 958 191 179
Every Day: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Triunfo Street 346 - Main Square of Cusco, Peru
