A great complete day to the Sacred Valley of the Incas awaits you, packed with culture, history, archaeology, and monuments. Delve into a tangible remnant of the Inca empire; enveloped in a fertile agricultural landscape, punctuated by small villages of Quechua-speaking communities; here you will go along diverse attractions such as Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac, all in one day!
Hotels in Cusco Centro Histórico (Google Map)
Water Fountain of Plazoleta Regocijo (Google Map)
6:30 am (Approx)
Full Day
1ST PART: Cusco – Maras – Urubamba
After a hotel pickup or meeting at the departure point, we’ll take you north-west Cusco to Chinchero town, to first visit the same-named archaeological complex, best known for its beautiful dressed villagers, who will make an exhibition on how they perform ancestral weaving techniques using natural pigments extracted from plants and even insects!
Up next, Moray is an unmissable site nearby which was possibly an Inca agricultural research center where crop experiments were carried out at different heights, the layout of its platforms produces a gradient of microclimates, the center of the concentric circular platforms having a higher temperature and gradually reducing outwards at lower temperatures. Just a few kilometers away, you’ll visit the famous Maras Sal Mines, composed of more than 3000 small ponds. In times of drought, these are filled with saltwater that comes from natural springs, when the water evaporates, the salt crystallizes, it is then removed and then packed in cloth sacks and sent to the markets of the region. Nowadays, that salt is being iodized by state standards. Afterward, you’ll have lunch at the bottom of Sacred Valley.
2ND PART: Ollantaytambo – Pisaq – Cusco
The journey across the Valley continues to the majestic ruins of the town of Ollantaytambo for a visit to The Inca complex, a military, religious and agricultural center followed by a walk through its remaining Inca houses. The place will definitely spark your curiosity as it is a fabulous setting exceptionally interesting, due to the size, originality, and detail of its structures.
On the way back to Cusco, have a visit to Pisac ruins lying in spectacular mountain hills. Explore its enclosures, find ceremonial baths, a residential settlement, and the largest known Inca cemetery. The ruins are surrounded by large agricultural terraces that blend harmoniously with the curvature of the mountain. You’ll end with a visit to the typical town of Pisaq, which includes an open-air market loaded with crafts, jewelry, and more. At the end of the visit, you will be returned to Cusco. Drop off at Downtown at 19:00 pm approx.
