The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a valley located 35 km (21.7 miles) north of Cusco city. It is famous for its numerous Inca ruins and monuments. The Sacred Valley starts at the archeological site of Pisac, and it ends at the Machu Picchu citadel. Due to its unique climate, the Sacred Valley produces the best maize grains in Peru.
The Sacred Valley was conquered by the Incas between the 10th and 14th centuries. Its fertile lands served to feed the increasing Inca population during the expansion wars led by the Inca Pachacutec in the mid XV century. During the Inca Imperial era, royal palaces such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo were built in the valley.
During the Spanish conquest of Peru, the Sacred Valley became the main battleground between Inca and Spanish forces. The most famous skirmish was the Ollantaytambo battle, which took place in 1537. During this encounter, the Inca army led by Manco Inca defeated a Spanish expedition led by Hernando Pizarro.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas has a rich history. Its most important archaeological sites are Ollantaytambo and Pisac. However, there are some places that are often overlooked by most tourists. Among these places are the beautiful Maras Salt Mines and the Inca Moray terraces.
During this full day tour, you will explore the Inca ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Moray. You will also visit the cozy Chinchero town, and the beautiful Maras Salt Mines. This is one of the most complete day trips in Cusco.
At Sanvil Turismo we offer the best travel packages in the region of Cusco. Our tour guides are professionals authorized by the local government to guide treks and tours in the region. They are experts in the history and traditions of each destination you will be visiting.
We also offer small group tours to the Salkantay Trek, Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Explore the Inca marvels of the Cusco region with us.
Your Hotel in Cusco City
7:30 am
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am. Then, we will drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the Taray viewpoint, located at 3200 meters (10498 feet) above sea level. From there, you will be able to appreciate the incredible scenery of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Urubamba river. Then, we will drive to the archeological site of Pisac.
Pisac is one of the most beautiful Inca sites of the Sacred Valley. During the times of the Inca Empire, Pisac was the residence of the royal Inca family. You will have a guided tour of the most important Inca buildings, including the astronomical observatory, the royal residences, and the Inca neighborhoods.
After exploring Pisac, we will drive to Urubamba town, which is located in the lowest section of the Sacred Valley. We will stop there to have a buffet lunch at a traditional restaurant. The buffet lunch is not included in the tour price.
Then, we will drive to the Ollantaytambo Inca ruins. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was a temple and a royal residence. The most famous feature of this Inca site are its long stone stairs, which are easily visible from a distance. You will have a guided tour of these amazing Inca ruins.
Afterwards, we will drive to the archeological site of Moray. Moray comprises several circular Inca terraces. According to some historians, Moray was used to grow crops from warm climates, such as the high jungles of Cusco. For this reason, Moray is often considered as an ancient Inca research center.
Our next stop will be the Maras Salt Mines. Maras comprises hundreds of small water ponds. After being exposed to sunlight, the water evaporates and leaves the salt behind. Maras is located next to a mountain gorge, which creates a unique landscape.
Then, we will drive to the picturesque Chinchero town, which is famous for its colonial church. The Chinchero church houses several pieces of colonial art, such as paintings and sculptures. The paintings are part of the Cusco Art School, an artistic tradition of the XV century. You will visit the Chinchero church as well as the ruins of the royal palace of Tupac Inca Yupanqui.
Finally, we will return to Cusco city, where we will be arriving around 6:00 pm.
