Tour from Cusco
Sacred Valley of the Incas VIP
Five sites in the valley in one day: Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Písac. Private transport, 6 a.m. departure and buffet lunch in Urubamba.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local Cusco agency since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your hotel in central Cusco between 5:30 and 5:50 a.m.
Commentary in English, Spanish or Portuguese along the whole route
Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Pisac
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
Five Sacred Valley sites in one day, with private transport and a buffet lunch
The Sacred Valley VIP tour expands the classic circuit to cover the valley’s five most important sites in a single day, with private transport and a bilingual guide. It starts in Chinchero, known for its textiles and pottery, with a colonial church that holds paintings from the 15th to 17th centuries and an archaeological site that was the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui.
It continues to the circular terraces of Moray, an Inca center for agricultural experiments, and the Maras salt mines, just 7 kilometers away. After a buffet lunch in Urubamba, the afternoon is for the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the archaeological center of Písac, whose Inca town was laid out in the shape of a condor.
It costs US$ 65 per person and leaves at 6 a.m. to allow real time at each site, returning to Plaza Regocijo around 7:30 p.m. It’s the best option if you only have one day for the valley and don’t want to miss Moray and Maras; if you prefer the standard three-site circuit and a later start, the classic Sacred Valley tour costs less. Tourist Ticket prices are listed in the official COSITUC price list. If you also want to walk through the salt mines and spend more time at the sites, you can add the Maras and Moray tour.
Five sites in one day
Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo and Pisac: the most complete Sacred Valley itinerary, with private transport to every site.
Moray and the Maras salt mines
The circular terraces of the Inca experimental farming center and, just 7 kilometers away, the salt pans that are still worked today.
Ollantaytambo, the living Inca town
Visit to the military fortress built to protect the Sacred Valley from invaders, in a town that is still lived in on its original layout.
Condor-shaped Pisac
The archaeological center on top of a steep mountain, whose Inca town was laid out in the shape of a condor.
Itinerary
Your full day, step by step: the five Sacred Valley sites
- 5:30–5:50 a.m. · Pickup from your hotel in central CuscoPrivate transport picks you up to start the tour, which leaves at 6 a.m.
- ChincheroVisit to this traditional town known for its textiles and pottery, its colonial church with paintings from the 15th to 17th centuries, and the archaeological site that was the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui.
- MorayA walk through the circular farming terraces that served as an experimental agricultural center in Inca times.
- Maras salt minesVisit to the salt pans, just 7 kilometers from Moray, which produce one of the finest salts in the world.
- Midday · Buffet lunch in UrubambaLunch included at a traditional Sacred Valley restaurant, with the best of Peruvian cuisine.
- OllantaytamboVisit to the military fortress of the living Inca town, built to protect the Sacred Valley from invaders.
- PisacOn the way back, a walk through the archaeological center on top of a steep mountain, with the Inca town laid out in the shape of a condor.
- ≈7:30 p.m. · Return to CuscoArrival at Plaza Regocijo and end of the tour.
What does your Sacred Valley of the Incas VIP tour include?
No surprises and no fine print: this is exactly what the service covers and what you pay separately on the day of the tour.
1 day (full day), approx. 6 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
2,900 m (9,510 ft) above sea level
Daily morning departure; the tour starts at 6 a.m.
English, Spanish or Portuguese
Included
- Visit to Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Pisac
- Pickup from your hotel in the city center and private transport to all the sites listed
- Bilingual tour guide (English, Spanish or Portuguese)
- Buffet lunch in the town of Urubamba
- Tari Tours support and coordination before and during the tour
Not included
- General Tourist Ticket (BTG: S/ 130 for foreigners, S/ 70 for Peruvians) or Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP: S/ 70 for foreigners, S/ 40 for Peruvians)
- Entrance to the Maras salt pans (S/ 20 per person)
- Snacks and services not mentioned in the program
- Tips and personal expenses
Note: entry to the archaeological sites is with the General (BTG) or Partial (BTP) Tourist Ticket, and the Maras salt pans have their own entrance fee of S/ 20 per person. Both are paid separately, directly at each site, and are not included in the tour price.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Sacred Valley VIP tour?
It’s a good idea, although the Sacred Valley is lower than the city of Cusco, which makes it a good option for your first days. It’s a long day, so get a good night’s sleep beforehand.
How difficult is the tour?
Moderate. There’s no trekking, but you walk on terraces, stone stairways and slopes at Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Wear comfortable shoes.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The General Tourist Ticket (BTG: S/ 130 for foreigners, S/ 70 for Peruvians) or the Partial one (BTP: S/ 70 and S/ 40), and the Maras salt pans entrance fee of S/ 20 per person.
What time does it start and how long does it last?
We pick you up at your hotel in central Cusco between 5:30 and 5:50 a.m., and the tour starts at 6 a.m. You’re back in the city around 7:30 p.m., at Plaza Regocijo.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes for walking on stone, layers and a windbreaker, a rain poncho, a warm hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, cash for the Tourist Ticket, the salt mines entrance and handicraft shopping, and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
You can book right on this page, choosing your date and number of travelers. We confirm your booking in under 2 hours and agree on the exact pickup time with you. You can also message us on WhatsApp before booking. We have English-speaking guides.
What happens if the weather affects the departure?
The tour runs year-round. In the rainy season, bring a rain poncho, since almost all visits are outdoors. If exceptional conditions make it impossible to complete the route, we’ll agree on a date change or a suitable alternative with you.
How much does the Sacred Valley VIP tour cost?
The price is US$ 65 per person. It includes visits to Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo and Písac, pickup from your hotel in central Cusco, private transport to all sites, a bilingual tour guide and the buffet lunch in Urubamba. You pay for the Tourist Ticket and the Maras salt pans entrance (S/ 20 per person).
How is it different from the classic Sacred Valley tour?
The classic tour visits Písac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero and leaves between 7 and 7:50 a.m. The VIP adds Moray and the Maras salt mines, uses private transport and starts at 6 a.m. so all five sites fit without rushing. If you’re short on days in Cusco, the VIP covers in one day what would normally take two tours.
What time does it start and end?
We pick you up at your hotel in central Cusco between 5:30 and 5:50 a.m., and the tour starts at 6 a.m. You’re dropped off at Plaza Regocijo around 7:30 p.m., so plan a late dinner and nothing strenuous for early the next morning.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to a travel advisor in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).