Tour from Cusco
Sacred Valley of the Incas
A full day at Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, with an official tour guide and a buffet lunch in Urubamba. Pickup between 7:00 and 7:50 a.m.; the valley is lower than Cusco, ideal for your first days.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your hotel in downtown Cusco between 7:00 and 7:50 a.m.
Explanations in English or Spanish throughout the tour
Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero in one day, with an official guide and buffet lunch
The Sacred Valley of the Incas tour covers the valley’s three most representative archaeological sites in a single day. It starts in Pisac, with its farming terraces above the Vilcanota River and one of the best-known craft markets in the region, and continues to Urubamba, where a buffet lunch is served.
In the afternoon you visit Ollantaytambo, an archaeological site that is also a living town built on its original layout, with monumental terraces, astronomical remains and a hydraulic canal system that still works. The tour ends in Chinchero, where ancestral techniques of natural dyeing and weaving with Inca iconography are still alive.
It costs US$ 60 per person and includes tourist transportation, an official guide and a buffet lunch. Entry is with the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), whose rates COSITUC publishes on its official price list. Since the valley is lower than Cusco, it’s an ideal tour for your first days. If you’re looking for the extended version, with Moray and Maras, there’s the Sacred Valley VIP; and if you want to continue to Machu Picchu without returning to Cusco, the Sacred Valley with connection to Aguas Calientes.
Pisac: archaeological complex and craft market
Inca terraces above the Vilcanota Valley and one of the best-known craft markets in the region, great for buying textiles and souvenirs.
Ollantaytambo, the living fortress
An archaeological site that is also a living town, with monumental terraces, astronomical and administrative remains and a hydraulic canal system still in use.
Chinchero and the art of weaving
A demonstration of ancestral farming and weaving traditions with Inca iconography, with natural dyeing and an explanation of the symbols.
Relaxed pace and lunch included
A full day with tourist transportation, an official tour guide and a buffet lunch in Urubamba, with the best of local and international food.
Itinerary
Your full day, step by step: from Cusco to Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero
- 7:00–7:50 a.m. · Pickup from your hotel in downtown CuscoWe leave in tourist transportation for the Sacred Valley of the Vilcanota.
- Pisac · Archaeological complex and craft marketGuided visit to the archaeological site and time at the town's craft market.
- Urubamba · Buffet lunchLunch stop, with the best of local and international food.
- Ollantaytambo · Archaeological town and fortressGuided walk through the terraces, ceremonial buildings and canal system of this ancient Inca fortress.
- Chinchero · Farming and weaving traditionsVisit to the town and a demonstration of weaving with Inca iconography and ancestral farming techniques.
- ≈6:30 p.m. · Return to CuscoReturn in tourist transportation and end of the tour in the city.
What's included in your Sacred Valley of the Incas tour?
No surprises and no fine print: here’s exactly what the service covers and what you’ll pay separately on the day of the tour.
1 day (full day), approx. 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Up to 5,000 m (16,410 ft)
Daily morning departure, with pickup between 7:00 and 7:50 a.m.
English or Spanish
Included
- Guided visit to the archaeological sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero
- Round-trip tourist transportation in comfortable vehicles equipped for the Sacred Valley
- Official tour guide with detailed historical explanations (English-speaking guides)
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba, with local and international food
- Support from Tari Tours before and during the tour
Not included
- General Tourist Ticket (BTG: S/ 130 foreigners, S/ 70 Peruvians) or Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP: S/ 70 foreigners, S/ 40 Peruvians)
- Extra drinks at lunch
- Craft purchases and personal expenses
- Tips
Note: entry to the Sacred Valley archaeological sites is with the General Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico General, BTG) or the Partial Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico Parcial, BTP), bought separately and not included in the tour price. The BTG costs S/ 130 for foreign visitors and S/ 70 for Peruvians; the BTP, S/ 70 and S/ 40, respectively.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with confidence.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Sacred Valley tour?
It’s recommended, although the Sacred Valley is lower than the city of Cusco, which is why many travelers choose it precisely for their first days. The pace is relaxed and the walks inside the archaeological sites are moderate.
How difficult is the tour?
Moderate. At Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero there are ups and downs over stone terraces and stairways, so wear comfortable shoes. There are no long hikes, and the guide adapts the pace to the group.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The General Tourist Ticket (BTG) or the Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP), which give access to the Sacred Valley archaeological sites. The BTG costs S/ 130 for foreigners and S/ 70 for Peruvians; the BTP, S/ 70 and S/ 40. They are not included in the tour price.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
We pick you up at your hotel in downtown Cusco between 7:00 and 7:50 a.m. The tour runs from about 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., when we return to the city.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes for walking on stone, layers and a windbreaker, a rain jacket, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, cash for the tourist ticket and market shopping, and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
You can book right on this page by choosing your date and number of travelers. We confirm your booking in under 2 hours and agree with you on the exact pickup time. If you have questions before booking, you can also contact us on WhatsApp.
What happens if the weather affects the tour?
The tour runs year-round. In the rainy season, bring a rain jacket, since much of the visit is outdoors. If exceptional conditions keep the tour from running, we’ll agree with you on a new date or the best alternative.
How much does the Sacred Valley tour cost?
The price is US$ 60 per person. It includes the guided visit to Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, round-trip tourist transportation in vehicles equipped for the valley, the official tour guide and the buffet lunch in Urubamba. The General Tourist Ticket (S/ 130 foreigners, S/ 70 Peruvians) or the Partial one (S/ 70 and S/ 40) is paid separately.
Which tourist ticket do I need and where is it sold?
You need the General Tourist Ticket (BTG) or the Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP), which give access to the valley’s archaeological sites. They are sold at the sites themselves or at COSITUC offices; current rates and circuits are on the official price list. The ticket is not included in the tour price, so bring cash in soles.
Is it better to do the Sacred Valley before or after Machu Picchu?
Before, for two reasons. The valley is lower than the city of Cusco, so it helps with acclimatization, and the visit to Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero gives you the historical context that makes the sanctuary much easier to understand. If you want to combine them, the 2-day program ends the first day with the train to Aguas Calientes.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).