exploring the sacred valley of the incas

Sacred Valley Tour

120 Comments | Cusco

Explore the magic of the Sacred Valley on a full-day tour from Cusco that combines history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Visit iconic Inca sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo, wander through colorful artisan markets, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Andes and the Urubamba River. With expert guides, comfortable transportation, and authentic local experiences, this tour is perfect for travelers who want to connect with the heart of the Inca Empire. Reserve your spot today and step into Peru’s most sacred land.

During our Machu Picchu day trip By Train from Cusco, you’ll dedicate a day to the exploration of Machu Picchu, the famous Inca Citadel. This comprehensive day trip departs from Cusco and offers a chance to uncover the secrets of this iconic mountaintop Inca site with the guidance of a local expert. Gain insights into its construction, historical significance, and the daily routines of its inhabitants. The tour maintains a leisurely and non-taxing pace, making it an excellent choice for newcomers, families, and solo adventurers alike.

From

115

USD

This price is applicable for groups of 02 people or more. If you are traveling alone, please consult with our travel consultants.

What's included

Experienced Guides
Medical Kit
24/7 Customer Service
Transportation

Tips for your guide.
Cusco Tourist Ticket
Lunch

Itinerary

Day 1

Cusco - Sacred Valley - Cusco

8:00 AM – Pick-up from Your Accommodation

Your adventure begins with a prompt pick-up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 AM. Settle in for a scenic ride into the Sacred Valley.

9:00 AM – Visit to Chinchero

Your first stop is the beautiful town of Chinchero, known for its traditional weaving and stunning Inca terraces.

Chinchero Archaeological Site: Explore the Inca ruins and the colonial church, built on ancient foundations.
Weaving Demonstration: Watch local artisans demonstrate traditional weaving techniques.
Tourist Ticket Purchase: Before continuing, you’ll stop by the ticket office to purchase the partial tourist ticket, which grants access to several of the sites you’ll visit throughout the day.

11:30 AM – Moray Archaeological Site

Next, head to the fascinating Moray terraces, a unique Inca agricultural site.

Circular Terraces of Moray: Marvel at these impressive, concentric terraces and learn about their historical significance as an ancient agricultural laboratory. Take time to capture stunning photos of the view.

12:30 PM – Maras Salt Mines

After Moray, continue your journey to the Maras Salt Mines.

Salt Mines of Maras: A striking network of terraced salt pools, still in use today. Learn how these salt mines have played a significant role in Peruvian gastronomy.

1:30 PM – Lunch in Urubamba

Stop for a well-deserved lunch and rest in the town of Urubamba, often referred to as the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Buffet Lunch: Enjoy traditional Andean cuisine while surrounded by beautiful mountain views.

3:00 PM – Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site

Recharged and ready to continue, head to Ollantaytambo, one of the most important Inca ruins.

Ollantaytambo Fortress: Explore the fortress, known for its impressive terraces, steep staircases, and strategic views. Learn about its historical role in the defense against Spanish invaders and how it complements your Machu Picchu visit.

4:30 PM – Return to Cusco

After a day full of exploration and discovery, head back to Cusco, arriving around 6:00 PM, with unforgettable memories and a camera full of photos.

Certified local guide

GUIDE

guided from 1 to 1:30 hours.

Sacred valley tour

Dificulty

easy

Meeting and pick-up

Pickup points

Free pickup from hotels, hostels, houses, and apartments near the historic center of Cusco.

Start time

8:00 a.m.

Pickup details

After making your reservation, you can contact us to provide the necessary information for pickup. It is very important that your hotel has vehicle access; otherwise, we will arrange a meeting point.

Information about the Sacred Valley

What Is the Sacred Valley?

The Sacred Valley, or Valle Sagrado de los Incas, is one of Peru’s most important and beautiful regions. Located near Cusco, this fertile valley was once the heart of the Inca Empire—home to powerful cities, advanced agricultural systems, and spiritual sanctuaries. Today, it is a must-visit destination filled with archaeological sites, local markets, traditional villages, and dramatic Andean landscapes.

Important information

Weather and Best Time to Visit

The Sacred Valley enjoys a milder climate than Cusco, with sunny days and cooler nights.

Dry season (April to October): Clear skies, perfect for exploring ruins and markets.
Rainy season (November to March): Lush and green, but some trails may be muddy.

Average daytime temperatures range from 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F).

How Far Is the Sacred Valley from Cusco?

The Sacred Valley is only about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Cusco, but the time to reach it depends on your destination within the valley:

Pisac: ~45 minutes by car
Urubamba: ~1.5 hours
Ollantaytambo: ~2 hours

Most full-day tours from Cusco include stops at Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, with lunch included in the middle of the journey.

What Is the Altitude of the Sacred Valley?

The Sacred Valley sits lower than Cusco, which makes it a great place to acclimate before hiking or visiting Machu Picchu.

Cusco: 3,400 m (11,155 ft)
Pisac: 2,972 m (9,751 ft)
Urubamba: 2,871 m (9,419 ft)
Ollantaytambo: 2,792 m (9,160 ft)

This lower altitude helps many travelers breathe more easily and sleep better.

Historical Importance

The Sacred Valley was vital to the Incas due to its fertile soil, perfect climate, and proximity to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It was used for agriculture, spiritual ceremonies, and as a base for royal estates. Key historical sites include:

Pisac: A large Inca fortress with agricultural terraces and ceremonial areas.
Ollantaytambo: An ancient military, religious, and agricultural center, and the best-preserved Inca town still inhabited today.
Moray: Circular agricultural terraces believed to be an Inca farming laboratory.
Maras Salt Mines: Thousands of salt pools still used today by local families.

What to Do in the Sacred Valley

Visit archaeological sites – Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray
Shop at artisan markets – Especially in Pisac and Chinchero
Explore the Salt Mines of Maras
Enjoy traditional Peruvian food in Urubamba
Go hiking, biking or horseback riding in scenic landscapes
Stay in charming boutique hotels or eco-lodges
Take the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo

Are There Hotels and Restaurants in the Sacred Valley?

Hotels

Yes, there are excellent hotels across the valley, ranging from budget hostels to luxury lodges:

Luxury: Tambo del Inka, Sol y Luna, Explora
Mid-range: Tierra Viva, Hotel Pakaritampu, La Casona de Yucay
Budget: Hostels and guesthouses in Urubamba and Ollantaytambo

Restaurants

You will find many traditional and fusion restaurants, especially in Urubamba and Ollantaytambo:

Tunupa (Urubamba) – buffet lunch for tours
Chuncho (Ollantaytambo) – farm-to-table cuisine
El Huacatay (Urubamba) – cozy Peruvian gourmet spot

Summary

Feature	Info
Distance from Cusco	45 min to 2 hrs by car
Average Altitude	2,700 – 3,000 meters
Duration of Day Tour	10–12 hours
Major Sites	Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras
Best Time to Visit	April to October (dry season)
Services	Hotels, restaurants, markets, train station
Activities	Archaeology, shopping, hiking, photography

Why You Should Visit

The Sacred Valley offers the perfect mix of Inca history, natural beauty, and authentic local culture. Whether you are on your way to Machu Picchu or looking for a peaceful day away from Cusco, this valley will give you a true sense of the Andean spirit.

Prices

Rainbow Mountain Tour Full day

From $115 USD – General Price

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel or reschedule your Sacred Valley tour up to 24 hours before the departure date without any penalty. For last-minute changes, please contact us directly as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Sacred Valley Tour

What does the Sacred Valley tour include?

Our full-day tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cusco, transportation in a tourist vehicle, a professional English-speaking guide, entrance to archaeological sites (if ticket is included), and a buffet lunch in Urubamba.

Ratings and comments

         Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Tamis219 
 
 
 
 Verified  Yes! We totally loved our hiking experience with Adventure in Peru/ Andean Soul Yes!!! We totally loved our experience with Adventure in Peru/ Andean Soul.We did the Salkantay Trek, Machu Picchu Tour, Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley with them. Fran the very beginnung we‘ve had a good communication with Juan-Carlos, the owner. He is a very honest and well experienced guy, used to be a guide himself and knows the areas and tours very good. During the trek, our guide Victor shared a lot of peruvian and inka history knowledge, as well as a lot of info about the local flowers and plants and their medicinal usage. He also chose the best camping spots, so that eventhough Salkantay is a crowded trek, we were always away from the crowds. The same for Rainbow Mountain and Macchu Picchu 😀 (very important!)Ferdinand and his helpers (John and the mulleteer Victor) took mega good care of us by preparing delicious vegetarian dishes upon our request. We even had cakes prepared on top of the mountain (such a nice surprise!)The Pachamanca experience and the Vertikal Zipline, a spontaneuous unplanned change in our vacation totally made our day, we loved it!So all in all, we took the best decision by organizing our hikes with Adventure in Peru/ Andean Soul.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Roxana V 
 
 
 
 Verified  Best experience with Adventure in Perú All I can say is: f…. amazing. All the guys from the Team were amazing. The guide, Victor, has a lot of knowledge about the history, nature…ask him anything and you’ll get smarter:). Ferdinan is a very pasionate Chef, he loves to cook and we ate like Queens:). John, helped the Chef and us with everything. Victor, the muleteer helps with the luggage and he did an amazing job. Thank you for the trip. We really recommend Adventure in Peru because they have knowledge, very good communication and helped us to plan the trip to Salkantay, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain. All the time we were in front of the crowd, because, believe me, there are some at Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Joe S 
 
 
 
 Verified  Must do tours in addition to Machu Picchu. Did Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake tours. Both were great. Roger Mamani, our guide did an excellent job of having us get the best and most full experience possible. Started early, beat the crowds, even took the back trail and saw Condors. Also gave us advice that proved to be spot on. Highly recommend.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Bob N 
 
 
 
 Verified  The other rainbow mountain tour and Inca rope bridge, Queswachaca, from Cusco I wanted to do the Palccoyo rainbow mountain tour and also walk across the Queswachaca Inca rope bridge.Andean Soul adventures seemed to be the only tour company offering this. I contacted them months before our trip and Juan Carlos sorted everything thing for our tour. We used WhatsApp together and seemed to be available anytime of the day. (Me being in Australia and Juan in Peru).We did our tour the 27th September 2023. Everything ran very smoothly indeed. Our guide was Flor, she spoke very good English and catered for our needs excellently. We teased/joked with each other throughout the day. I would definitely recommend this tour company whilst in Cusco for your tours. 5 stars from me.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Travis S 
 
 
 
 Verified  Very helpful and professional. Everything was great.. picked up from the airport when I landed in cusco. Every question and concern I had was answered.The machu picchu tour guide was great.Just an all around great experience that I super appreciate and highly recommend 🙋‍♂️
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Callum B 
 
 
 
 Verified  Best tours for Cusco area The whole experience was amazing. Juan is an amazing tour guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating to all needs. Alberto cooked us incredible food which had us full all day - with local dishes which Juan told us about.I'd highly recommend Andean Soul Adventures to anyone. The whole team gives a great overview of what you'll visiting. And gives you time to explore at your pleasure.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   anu1804 
 
 
 
 Verified  Best tour experience in Peru! Our family of 6 went on the Palccoyo and Q'ueswachaca bridge tour with Andean Soul Adventure and had an incredible time! The food was amazing and the tour guides really went above and beyond to make sure we had everything that we needed. I cannot recommend this tour enough as the mountain is incredible and so is the service and care of the company. If you're looking to go to rainbow mountain, Palccoyo with Andean Soul is the way to go!!
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Jens and Chloe 
 
 
 
 Verified  One of my favorite adventures yet! To start off, I had accidentally scheduled a tour for the month prior to the date I was actually going. Not realizing this until the night before I thought I was supposed to have the tour, I called and found out I booked the wrong date. Juan was absolutely amazing with helping me sort that mistake out and we rescheduled. Come the day of the tour, he was right on time when picking us up,and the rest of our day greatly exceeded my expectations. It says they provide breakfast and lunch, so I figured we'd be getting bagged lunches and eat on the way to each stop. To my surprise we stopped in a beautiful location overlooking the mountains, and the personal chef started setting up a tent and cooking extensive meals. The food was so delicious, even better than restaurant quality, and they were very accommodating to our vegetarian needs. The tour itself was amazing from the natural wonders of Peru, but even better with the guide. He spoke great English and is more than happy to answer any questions. He's very personable as well as approachable, and my group and I learned so much about the cultures, land, and cuisine. I personally don't take time to write reviews, however, Andean Soul Adventures is a highly respectable and well-deserved organization that was one of the highlights to my experience. Totally worth every penny!
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Alyssa O 
 
 
 
 Verified  Amazing! Juan Carlos is an amazing guide. He speaks very good English, is very knowledgeable, is friendly, and is punctual. Sometimes in Cusco you take a tour where the guide just doesn’t seem to care about you- this is not the case at all with Juan Carlos. I highly recommend Andean Soul Adventure.
  
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   beccash 
 
 
 
 Verified  Absolutely Breathtaking! :) First of all THANK YOU for this amazing experience! :) The organisation was just awesome and our tourguide is so seasoned :) he knows everything and his english is high-class.Would you like to have a short insight? Okey here it is:One day before the tour started, the tourguide visited us in our apartment and gave us a briefing and all our questions were answered. Then we got a „duffle-bag“ where we could put our clothes & things in it. He explained the tour and and which sealevel we would be. It is important to carry warm stuffs with you!1. dayThe tour began an 5 oclock in the morning where we drove to the startpoint. We met our whole crew (1 chef, 2 assistents, tourguide, 5 horses)After the amazing selfmade breakfast in a tent, we started our hiking to the humantay lake. Then we went further to soraypampa (4200m) where we slept in brand new „northface-tents“. They were so isolated and the rented sleepingbags kept us warm during the night. (You can rent sleepingbags directly at the agency for 20$)Furthermore, the crew built up a eco-toilet and of course they cooked delicious selfmade dinner!2. dayThey woke us up with fresh made coca-tea at 5 oclock and after breakfast we hiked to the salkantaypass (4620m). You have to concentrate on your breath but it was so amazing at the top! 3. dayThis time we woke up am 4:30 with fresh brewed coca-tea and hiked 4 hours to our lunchplace. We reached during this walk the rainforest and the nature is incredible! Of course it is getting hotter but with this amazing views it is all worth it! Around 1:30 we reached our camp and at the afternoon we went to the hotsprings where we could relax and took a shower. When we came back to the camp, our dinner was already ready ;)4. dayAt day 4 we hiked to Llactapats where we could have a peek to the machupicchu! Of couse it was far away but the view is amazing! :) We went further and at 4 oclock we reached the machupicchu town (aguas calientes). This city is touristic but really beautiful. We spent the evening with our superfunny tourguide and went to bed early5. dayWe woke up at 4 oclock because we had the queue for the busline. And then we finally saw the famous machupicchu!!! :)Great experience, great people, great equipment :) Was every penny worth it! :)
  
 
 
  
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