Sacred Valley with Moray and Salt Mines + Buffet Lunch

The Chinchero Archaeological Park covers an area of 34,800 hectares. The site was inhabited even before the Inca Empire. During the Tahuantinsuyo period, the Inca ruler Túpac Yupanqui planned the construction of palaces for the elite. Today, visitors can admire the remains of the palace, upon which the colonial church was built. Chinchero is a Peruvian town and the capital of the district of the same name, located in the province of Urubamba, in the Cusco region. It is also recognized as the birthplace of Mateo Pumacahua, a hero of Peruvian independence who played an important role in the 1814 Cusco Rebellion alongside the Angulo brothers.

We will make a stop at a traditional artisan workshop, where local artisans will introduce us to the ancestral techniques of weaving and dyeing alpaca and vicuña wool. You will also learn about their traditional customs, cultural heritage, and much more!

Many archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the ruins of Moray were once used for agricultural experimentation. One of the main pieces of evidence supporting this theory is the intricate irrigation system built into the terraces, which was supplied with water from a reservoir located high in the mountains. The unique microclimate of Moray likely allowed the Incas to conduct agricultural research and identify the optimal conditions for growing different crops. This suggests that the Incas used their deep understanding of the environment to make the most of the natural resources available to them.

The Maras Salt Mines consist of more than 3,000 natural salt pools located near the town of Maras. Each pool measures approximately 5 square meters. These 3,000 pools are supplied by an underground hypersaline spring that originated around 110 million years ago, during the formation of the Andes Mountains. Today, these natural salt pools attract hundreds of tourists, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The people of Maras harvest, market, and sell this salt, continuing a centuries-old tradition established during the time of the Incas.

Ollantaytambo (in Quechua: Ullantaytampu, meaning “Ollanta’s storehouse or resting place”) is a Peruvian town and an Inca archaeological site. It serves as the capital of the district of the same name, located in the province of Urubamba, in the Cusco region. Ollantaytambo is approximately 90 km northwest of the city of Cusco. During the Inca period, Pachacutec conquered the region and established the town and a ceremonial center. Later, Ollantaytambo served as a fortress for Manco Inca Yupanqui, the leader of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest. At Ollantaytambo, you will discover defensive terraces designed to help prevent landslides, rather than the agricultural terraces commonly found at other archaeological sites in the Cusco region.

Písac is a Peruvian town located in the province of Calca, in the Cusco region. It is also the capital of the district of Písac. Situated approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Cusco, at an altitude of 2,966 meters above sea level, the town is well known for its traditional handicraft market, where visitors can discover local crafts, textiles, and souvenirs. At the top of the mountain lies the Písac Archaeological Park, an impressive Inca complex featuring ancient agricultural terraces, ceremonial structures, and remarkable stonework, offering breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley.