Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco: Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Inca Ruins
Description
Discover the spiritual heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas on a transformative journey from Cusco. Visit the charming villages of Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, where ancient history, vibrant culture, and powerful Andean energy come alive. Savor traditional cuisine, connect with authentic communities, and uncover the mysteries that make this valley an unforgettable destination for the soulful traveler.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Its attractiveness and picturesque town offers an elaborated craft in their fairs of Thursdays and Sundays with a long and colorful tradition. Pisaq is one of the most visited places in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, for its a surprising archaeological monuments only comparable with Machu Picchu. It has an enormous system of Incan andenería that ascends up to the abysses, which resemble enormous hanging gardens. In spite of the step of the centuries, it can still be used for the agriculture. The archaeological place, located in the high part, it is conformed by neighborhoods. The Intiwatana, the biggest pre colombus cemetery in the continent, also its cultivation platforms (andenes) and the masthead turrets of vigilance. Pisaq attends settlers of near towns and thousands of visitors. One of the attractiveness of these fairs is the parade of the authorities or Varayocs who go to the town to listen the mass in Quechua, main language of the region. In the high part they are the Inca ruins of Písaq with a great system of andenerías and with an important solar clock in stone or Intihuatana. Today Pisaq is one of the most important Archaeological Parks in the region and constitutes one of the best tourist destinations; their name possibly derives of a partridge type very common of this well-known area as "p'isaqa". Some specialists suggest that the prehispanic city had the form of a "p'isaqa" that represented the local fauna.
The charming town of Urubamba is enveloped by tall Andean peaks in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Unlike Ollantaytambo and Pisac whose Inca ruins are the main draw, the appeal of Urubamba is the surrounding natural beauty and its laidback vibes. The host of beautiful hotels are the perfect place to disconnect and treat yourself to a luxurious spa treatments. Adventure-packed sports and tours are just a short ride away! We will stop here for lunch.
Ollantaytambo is a lovely village that preserves the designs of Inca buildings located at an altitude of 9160 feet in the province of Urubamba. Among this place's most impressive attractions are the ceremonial temple in worship of water and a fortress that guarded the entrance to the valley to repel any invasions. The temple has a set of terraces lying one atop the other which visitors scale via a steep stairway. The fortress is a stone colossus that was built between two mountains to protect the valley. The area also holds the Temple of Inti (the sun god), Incamisana, the baths of the Ñustas (princesses), the Cachiccata funerary towers, and a group of tiered and very steep terraces on the side of a hill. Ollantaytambo also contains the mountain called Pinculluna or Tunupa, which holds the vestiges of Inca architectural structures which seem to have been a storehouse for various foodstuffs. Ollantaytambo is also a meeting place for nearby communities, such as the Huayruros de Willoc, who can be recognized by their red and black ponchos and hats.
Chinchero is a small Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta at 3765m about 30km from Cusco. There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its major claim to tourism is its colourful Sunday market which is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. The village mainly comprises mud brick (adobe) houses, and locals still go about their business in traditional dress. The village may have been an important town in Inca times. The most striking remnant of this period is the massive stone wall in the main plaza which has ten trapezoidal niches. The construction of the wall and many other ruins and agricultural terraces (which are still in use) are attributed to Inca Tupac Yupanqui who possibly used Chinchero as a kind of country resort. In the main plaza an adobe colonial church, dating from the early seventeenth century, has been built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The ceiling and walls are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs. The church is open on Sundays for mass. Half an hour's walk from the village brings you to Lake Piuri which once fed Cusco with water. It takes about 3 hours to walk around the lake passing through small picturesque villages.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will be picking you up from your hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. Please Note: This service doesn't include pick up in private residencies, example; Airbnb or hotels that are outside the historic centre.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(23)
Must-visit sites to understand Inca civilization. Guide Regi was knowledgeable and cultured. Four restaurants at different locations reserved for 15 people. Decent cuisine. However, there was complete disorganization of the itinerary by the agency in managing the pickup and drop-off times for the client, which were specified in the reservation contract signed three months earlier. The pickup at the hotel, which was supposed to start at 8 AM, was changed the day before, with times moved to 7 AM and then 7:20 AM, knowing that at 7:40 AM the agency was asking us where we were while we were waiting in the hotel lobby for their taxi! which took us elsewhere in Cusco to pick up other clients. We finally started after 8:30 AM and arrived in Pisac inevitably late, only having 30 minutes to climb and freely visit this perched site. 45 minutes to even an hour would have been more realistic! We were then split into four different restaurants, which generated a lot of traffic and wasted time on a program already packed with various visits. What a surprise it was to receive an untimely message from the agency during the meal, demanding that we respect the schedule (sic!), be punctual (!), and not disrupt the normal flow of the excursion at the risk of causing some to miss a train scheduled for Machu Picchu. We, of course, responded that the agency should not shift its own responsibilities, particularly regarding improvisation in the organization, onto the client. At 5:30 PM, as night was about to fall, we were going to visit an archaeological site in Chinchero; the ticket was no longer useful since there were no tourists left. Finally, after 6 PM, still in Chinchero, we were dropped off at a weaving workshop to have the techniques explained and possibly buy souvenirs. We resumed our journey, and at nearly 8 PM, while the drop-off was scheduled at the hotel, we were dropped off more than a kilometer away from the hotel, left to figure out how to get back. The guide immediately found a taxi for us as well as for herself. Traveling regularly, we had never encountered such a situation, such incompetence from a tour operator in managing an excursion, let alone the audacity to demand in a peremptory manner that the client respect the group's constraints. In conclusion, we are taking a 3-week road trip through Peru, and more than halfway through the journey, we can affirm that there are many professional agencies experienced in such tours that have moved beyond improvisation and bad faith to justify themselves.
Nous vous remercions pour votre commentaire et pour avoir pris le temps de partager votre expérience. Cependant, nous souhaitons apporter quelques précisions, car certains points mentionnés ne correspondent pas aux faits. Concernant la prise en charge, l’horaire de ramassage entre 7h10 et 7h20 avait été préalablement convenu avec vous et accepté de votre part. Notre personnel était présent à l’heure indiquée devant votre hôtel et vous a attendu. Comme vous ne vous présentiez pas et ne répondiez pas à nos appels, le bus a dû poursuivre son itinéraire afin de ne pas retarder les autres participants du groupe. Les employés de votre hôtel peuvent également confirmer cette situation. Afin d’éviter que vous ne manquiez l’excursion, nous avons organisé et pris en charge à nos frais un taxi pour vous permettre de rejoindre le groupe. De la même manière, à la fin de la journée, nous avons également payé un taxi pour vous permettre de rentrer plus facilement. Nous souhaitons également préciser que le point de fin de l’excursion indiqué dans le programme est la Plaza Regocijo, comme mentionné dans la réservation, et non votre hôtel comme vous l’affirmez dans votre commentaire. Pendant le circuit, le guide a également dû attendre à plusieurs reprises votre retour afin que le groupe puisse poursuivre l’itinéraire prévu. Malgré cela, l’excursion s’est déroulée normalement et les autres participants se sont montrés satisfaits du service reçu. Nous comprenons que votre expérience n’ait pas répondu à toutes vos attentes. Toutefois, il est important de rappeler que la prestation réservée était une excursion partagée et non une excursion privée. Dans un circuit partagé, les horaires et le temps consacré à chaque visite doivent être respectés afin de garantir une expérience équitable pour l’ensemble des voyageurs. Si vous souhaitiez davantage de flexibilité concernant les horaires, les arrêts ou le temps passé sur chaque site, nous vous recommandons de réserver une excursion privée, spécialement conçue pour ce type de demande. Notre objectif est toujours d’offrir le meilleur service possible à nos voyageurs. C’est pourquoi nous communiquons les horaires à l’avance, expliquons le déroulement des circuits et faisons de notre mieux pour éviter tout désagrément. Nous regrettons que vous ayez gardé cette impression, mais nous estimons important que les faits soient présentés de manière complète et objective.
Highly recommend. They thought of everything and answer fast
We spent a beautiful day exploring some less traveled places in the Sacred Valley. We organized everything the night before, the agency was super helpful and flexible to meet our needs. We visited the Perolniyoc waterfall and Naupa Iglesias, our guide was very knowledgeable and passed on the passion for Inca culture. Highly recommended!
Grazie di cuore per il tuo bellissimo commento! Ci fa davvero piacere sapere che abbiate vissuto una giornata speciale esplorando gli angoli meno conosciuti della Valle Sacra. Siamo felici di essere riusciti a organizzare tutto in poco tempo e di aver soddisfatto le vostre esigenze. La cascata di Perolniyoc e Naupa Iglesia sono luoghi magici, e sapere che la nostra guida vi ha trasmesso la passione per la cultura inca è per noi la soddisfazione più grande. Grazie per averci scelto e per consigliare la nostra esperienza. Speriamo di rivedervi presto per una nuova avventura in Perù! 🇵🇪✨ Un caro saluto!!!
My two friends and I took the Sacred Valley tour from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, and it was incredible! Our guide, Jose, was outstanding punctual and knowledgeable. He met us at our hotel right on time, and we jumped straight into the adventure. Jose was with us every step of the way, sharing so much fascinating information that we wanted to keep learning even after the tour ended. I especially loved how everything was customized to fit exactly what we wanted to see and do. Highly recommend this tour 10/10!
It is a great reward to know that our team was able to create such a special experience for you and your friends. Jose is passionate about history and we love that he was able to pass that passion on to you. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope you come back soon.
We just finished a 4-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour with Encuentros Peru Adventure, and it was perfect. Our guide, Stevin, was with us the whole time and gave us a clear idea of what to expect. The people of Peru are incredibly friendly, the scenery is breathtaking, and we learned so much about the culture. Stevin truly made this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
We are so glad you had an unforgettable experience in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Stevin is a great member of our team and we are delighted that he was able to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with you. Peru has so much more to offer, so we invite you to come back soon.
They picked us up at Ollantaytambo Station at the time of the train arrival from Machu Picchu according to our itinerary. We communicated in simple English during the tour. They carefully explained the history and background of the ruins, and answered our questions accurately. They also flexibly responded to our needs with the tour schedule, and stopped at places where we could buy the same items cheaper than in Cusco or Machu Picchu. I recommend it.
A must do trip in Peru and we were truly amazed the way Encuentros Peru Adventure, especially our guide, Jose Luis conducted the tour. He was very passionate in sharing his knowledge on local civilization and made sure that every individual in group were comfortable and felt the Ändean Vibes¨as he called it as. This is vcertainly a perfect day trip from Cusco city.
Dear Flavia, We're truly honored by your feedback, highlighting the must-do nature of your Peru trip with Encuentros Peru Adventure. It's heartening to hear that the tour, led by our guide Jose Luis, left you truly amazed. His passion for sharing his profound knowledge of local civilization and ensuring the comfort and connection of each individual in the group truly stands out. Creating an atmosphere of "Andean Vibes," as he called it, showcases our dedication to delivering immersive experiences. We're thrilled that your day trip from Cusco was perfect in every sense, and we're grateful for your recommendation. Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your remarkable adventure, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more extraordinary journeys in the future! Warm regards, Miguel. Customer Service Manager Encuentros Peru Adventure
Just got back from the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Maras Moray tour with Encuentros Peru Adventure, guided by Jose Luis. The trip was flawless and the company was very professional. Jose knew a lot about the local traditions and customs and was fluent in English as well. He was more of a friend than a guide which we really appreciated. The whole experience was incredible and the highlight of the trrip was the lunch stop at a local restaurant in Urubamba town. We savoured some traditional Andean farm fresh food. A dream come true.
Greetings, Welcome back from your Sacred Valley of the Incas and Maras Moray tour with Encuentros Peru Adventure! We're thrilled to learn that your journey, led by guide Jose Luis, was flawless and marked by our professionalism. It's heartwarming to hear that Jose's deep knowledge of local traditions and customs, coupled with his fluent English, enriched your experience. We're delighted that he went beyond being a guide and felt like a friend, emphasizing our commitment to creating personal connections. The whole experience sounds truly incredible, with the highlight being the lunch stop at a local restaurant in Urubamba town, where you indulged in traditional Andean farm-fresh food. It's rewarding to know that we contributed to making your dream come true, and we're grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of your extraordinary journey. We eagerly await the chance to welcome you back for more remarkable adventures in the future! Warm regards, Miguel. Customer Service Manager Encuentros Peru Adventure
Encuentros Peru Adventure provided an exceptional Sacred Valley Tour. Our guide was informative, enthusiastic and passionate about sharing the beauty and history of the region. The tour was efficiently organised and all arrangements were handled seamlessly. Every stop had its unique charm and offered breathtaking views. The journey with Encuentros Peru Adventure was an insightful, unforgettable experience. A must do when in Peru!
Dear James, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with Encuentros Peru Adventure. We are thrilled to know that our Sacred Valley Tour was not just a tour, but an insightful, unforgettable journey for you. We always aim to bring enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion to our tours, so we're delighted to hear that our guide's efforts made a significant positive impact on your experience. Our team strives to seamlessly manage all arrangements, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of the region. It is wonderful to know that we achieved this during your tour. Each stop is indeed chosen to offer a unique view and to showcase the richness of the Sacred Valley, and we're pleased to hear that you enjoyed each one of them. We're grateful for your recommendation and thrilled to hear that we are a 'must do' when in Peru! Your kind words inspire us to continue delivering exceptional service and experiences. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another adventure in the future. Warm Regards, Ram. Customer Service Manager Encuentros Peru Adventure
The Sacred Valley of the Incas day trip with Encuentros Peru Adventure was a highlight of my trip. Their organization and experise made the day seamless, while their in-depth knowledge added depth the stunning vistas and historic sites we visited. A must-do tour that was both informative and inspiring. Kudos to Encuentros Peru Adventure and guide Jose Luis for a spectacular adventure.
Dear Elsoe, Thank you for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. We are delighted to hear that our Sacred Valley of the Incas day trip was a highlight of your adventure in Peru. At Encuentros Peru Adventure, we strive to provide both an educational and inspirational experience, and we're thrilled to hear that you found the tour to be just that. We put a great deal of effort into planning and organizing our trips to ensure a seamless experience, and we're glad that this was evident during your time with us. Your kind words about Jose Luis are greatly appreciated. He is indeed a valued member of our team and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his tours. We'll be sure to pass on your compliments to him, which we're sure will brighten his day. Thank you once again for your feedback and for choosing Encuentros Peru Adventure. We hope to see you on another of our tours in the future! Best Regards, Ram. Customer Service Manager Encuentros Peru Adventure
