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Thi W TripadvisorSacred Valley of the Incas Full Day Tour
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OVERVIEW
Trip Overview
The Sacred Valley is one of those places where Cusco opens up slowly — wide farmland, old Inca terraces, stone towns, mountain roads, artisan markets, and a river that has shaped life in the valley for centuries.
This full-day route takes you through three of the most important stops in the valley: Pisac, known for its archaeological terraces and artisan market; Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town with massive stone structures and water channels; and Chinchero, where weaving traditions, natural dyes, and Inca remains still form part of daily life.
With Pullman Machu Picchu, this tour is designed for travelers who want a complete first look at the Sacred Valley without arranging transport, tickets, lunch, and guiding separately. You travel with a professional guide, stop at key viewpoints, have a buffet lunch in Urubamba, and return to Cusco the same evening.
It is a long day, but not a hard one. The walking is moderate, the route is rich in detail, and the places you see help explain why this valley was so important for Inca agriculture, religion, trade, and political control.
Itineraries & Prices
Accomodation
Accommodation
Up to 12 people
Group size
15,090 feet (4,600 meters)
Max. altitude
Easy
Difficulty
by Bus
Transport
1B, 1L, 1D
Meals
Trip Details
- Tour name: Sacred Valley of the Incas Full Day Tour
- Duration: 1 day, approximately 12 hours
- Departure city: Cusco
- Return city: Cusco
- Pick-up time: Between 7:00 and 7:30 AM
- Approximate return time: Around 7:00 PM
- Main places: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Urubamba
- Transport: Tourist transport by road
- Meal included: Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Walking level: Easy to moderate
- Best for: First-time visitors, families, couples, cultural travelers, photography lovers, and travelers who want a full view of the valley
- Main ticket needed: Cusco Tourist Ticket for Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero
- Altitude: Similar to Cusco and the valley towns; altitude may still affect some travelers
- Route style: Full-day shared or private cultural tour
- Important note: This tour does not include Machu Picchu
The official Cusco Tourist Ticket system includes Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero among its listed archaeological sites.
Day by Day Schedule
Day highlight: Today gives you a complete look at the Sacred Valley — terraces, markets, Inca stonework, valley food, weaving traditions, and mountain views in one long but rewarding route.
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. The road leaves the city and climbs toward viewpoints where the valley begins to open below. In the morning, the light often falls across the mountains and fields in a way that makes the first part of the route feel calm and spacious.
The first main stop is Pisac, one of the most recognized archaeological areas in the Sacred Valley. Here, the Incas built terraces across the slopes to make agriculture possible on steep land. The site also has ceremonial areas, stone paths, and wide views of the valley below.
Your guide will explain how the terraces worked, why Pisac held such an important position, and how the valley connected agriculture, religion, and movement between regions.
Technical details at Pisac
- Walking time: Short to moderate walking, depending on the group pace
- Ground type: Stone paths, steps, dirt trails, and uneven sections
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Climate feel: Sunny and open; wind is possible in exposed areas
- Best moments: Agricultural terraces, valley viewpoints, stone structures, guide explanation
- Transport: Tourist vehicle before and after the visit
After the archaeological visit, you continue to the Pisac artisan market. This stop gives you time to see textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and small handmade items. Bring cash in soles if you plan to buy something, since not every seller accepts cards.
Later, the route continues through the valley toward Urubamba, where you will have a buffet lunch with typical regional dishes. This break is important because the day is long, and the afternoon still includes two major stops.
After lunch, the tour continues to Ollantaytambo, one of the most impressive Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. The terraces rise above the town in strong stone lines, and the site shows how the Incas combined defense, ceremonial use, agriculture, and water management in one place.
Ollantaytambo is also a living town, not just an archaeological site. People still move through narrow streets built over old Inca planning, and water channels still run through parts of the town.
Technical details at Ollantaytambo
- Walking time: Moderate walking with stairs and uphill sections
- Ground type: Stone steps, dirt paths, uneven surfaces
- Difficulty: Moderate for travelers sensitive to stairs or altitude
- Climate feel: Warmer than Cusco on sunny days; strong sun is common
- Best moments: Terraces, stone walls, town views, water channels, guide explanation
- Transport: Tourist vehicle between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo
In the late afternoon, the route continues to Chinchero, a highland town known for weaving, natural dyes, Inca remains, and views of surrounding fields. Here, local artisans often explain the textile process: washing wool, using plants and minerals for color, spinning, and weaving.
Chinchero also has archaeological remains included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket system, so the visit connects both living tradition and Inca history.
Technical details at Chinchero
- Walking time: Short walking around the town, textile area, and archaeological zone
- Ground type: Stone paths, paved areas, dirt sections, and steps
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Climate feel: Cooler than the valley floor, especially in the late afternoon
- Best moments: Textile demonstration, Inca terraces, local craft explanation, highland atmosphere
- Transport: Tourist vehicle back to Cusco
After Chinchero, you return to Cusco. Arrival is planned around 7:00 PM, depending on traffic, weather, group pace, lunch timing, and local conditions.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Professional tour guide
- Tourist transport
- Hotel pick-up in Cusco, according to hotel location
- Visit to Pisac Archaeological Site
- Visit to Pisac artisan market
- Visit to Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site
- Visit to Chinchero town and textile demonstration
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Return transport to Cusco
- Basic assistance before the tour
What’s Not Included
- Cusco Tourist Ticket, unless clearly specified in your reservation
- Drinks during lunch
- Snacks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Purchases in markets or textile centers
- Travel insurance
- Extra stops not listed in the itinerary
- Special private lunch upgrade
More Tour Information
- Stand above the terraces of Pisac — long agricultural platforms curve along the mountain, showing how the Incas shaped difficult terrain into productive land.
- Walk through Pisac’s artisan market — a lively place for textiles, ceramics, silverwork, small souvenirs, and local craft traditions.
- Have a buffet lunch in Urubamba — a comfortable break in the middle of the valley, with regional dishes and time to recharge before the afternoon visits.
- Visit Ollantaytambo, one of the strongest Inca sites in the valley — stone terraces rise above the town, with walls, stairways, ceremonial spaces, and water channels that still show careful planning.
- See Chinchero’s textile traditions — local artisans show how wool is cleaned, dyed with plants and minerals, and woven using techniques passed through generations.
- Travel through one of Cusco’s most important agricultural valleys — the landscape changes from highland roads to fertile fields, riverside towns, and mountain views.
- A complete cultural day without a demanding hike — ideal for travelers who want archaeology, markets, textiles, food, and valley landscapes in one route.
- Good for first-time visitors to Cusco — this tour gives useful context before visiting Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, Salkantay, or other Andean routes.
Hotel Pick-Up
Pick-up is scheduled between 7:00 and 7:30 AM from your hotel in Cusco. Some streets in the historic center are narrow or restricted for tourist vehicles, so we may coordinate a nearby meeting point if direct access is not possible.
Please send your hotel name and address in advance so our operations team can organize the route properly.
Luggage Storage
This is a full-day tour, so travelers should bring only a small daypack.
If you are continuing to Ollantaytambo for a train connection or staying in the Sacred Valley after the tour, please inform us before booking. Luggage space in shared transport is limited and must be approved in advance.
Payment Conditions
A reservation payment may be required to confirm your space. This allows us to organize transport, guide assignment, lunch coordination, and daily logistics.
Any remaining balance must be paid before departure or according to the terms given by the reservations team. Local tickets may require direct payment in soles because some entrance systems are managed separately from the tour operation.
Availability
This tour does not include Machu Picchu, so availability is usually easier than tours involving Machu Picchu tickets or Inca Trail permits.
It is often possible to reserve this tour with at least 24 hours of notice, but last-minute bookings depend on transport space, guide availability, hotel location, lunch coordination, and local conditions.
For private service, earlier booking is recommended, especially for families, groups, travelers with mobility needs, or passengers requesting a custom drop-off in Ollantaytambo.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Light jacket or windbreaker
- Warm layer for the late afternoon
- Rain poncho during rainy season
- Sun hat or cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Small daypack
- Reusable water bottle
- Passport or valid ID
- Student card, if applicable
- Personal medication
- Motion sickness medication, if needed
- Camera or phone with enough battery
- Cash in Peruvian soles
- Personal snacks
- Any personal medical or mobility support item you may need
If you travel with special requirements such as mobility aids, professional filming equipment, service animals, medical devices, dietary restrictions, or any condition that needs additional support, please inform our reservations team in advance.
Cusco Tourist Ticket for Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero
Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero are included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket system. COSITUC lists these sites among the attractions covered by the official ticket.
The original tour information lists the following ticket references:
- General Cusco Tourist Ticket: S/130 for foreign travelers, S/70 for national travelers
- Partial Cusco Tourist Ticket: S/70 for foreign travelers, S/40 for national travelers
COSITUC also lists the full foreign tourist ticket at S/130, valid for 10 days.
Transportation Included
The tour includes tourist transport from Cusco to Pisac, then through Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and back to Cusco.
The route includes mountain roads, valley highways, town streets, rural access roads, curves, and highland sections. Travelers sensitive to motion should bring personal medication.
Lunch Included
The tour includes a buffet lunch in Urubamba. Drinks, special menu upgrades, or personal orders may not be included unless your reservation says so.
If you have dietary restrictions, inform the reservations team before the tour.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included because this is a one-day tour from Cusco. Travelers usually take this tour while staying in Cusco, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, or the Sacred Valley area.
Travel Restrictions
Strikes and Demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may interrupt some tours. Roads can be blocked, transport may be delayed, and access to certain areas may change without much notice.
Under these circumstances, the tour may be modified, delayed, rescheduled, or canceled. If this happens, our operations department will coordinate directly with you. Your safety comes first, and all decisions will be made with that priority.
Lost Objects
Please pay attention to your belongings during the tour. Check your seat before leaving the vehicle and keep your phone, passport, wallet, and camera with you.
You are responsible for your personal items during the tour.
Health and Mobility
This tour is easy to moderate. It does not require a long hike, but it includes stairs, stone paths, uneven ground, and several stops during a long travel day.
Some travelers may feel tired because of altitude, sun exposure, early departure, or the length of the route.
Travelers with mobility concerns should request private service and inform the reservations team before booking. Older travelers, pregnant travelers, or people with heart, respiratory, or serious medical conditions should ask their doctor before traveling to high-altitude areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
It is an official ticket that gives access to several archaeological sites and cultural attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero are included in this ticket system.
Is the tour good for children and older adults?
Yes. The tour is suitable for families, children, and older adults. However, Ollantaytambo has stone stairs and uphill sections, so private service is better for travelers who need a slower pace.
Is lunch included?
Yes. The tour includes a buffet lunch in Urubamba. Drinks or special menu upgrades may not be included unless your reservation says so.
Do I need to buy the Tourist Ticket before the tour?
You can bring the Cusco Tourist Ticket already purchased or carry cash in soles to buy it during the route, depending on availability and the official sales process on the day of travel.
Can I end the tour in Ollantaytambo?
In private service, yes, this can usually be arranged. In group service, it may be possible only if coordinated before departure and if the operation allows it.
Is this tour physically hard?
No, but it is a long day. The most demanding part is usually walking up stone steps at Ollantaytambo. Move calmly, drink water, and tell your guide if you need a slower pace.
What time does the tour finish?
The tour usually returns to Cusco around 7:00 PM, depending on traffic, weather, group pace, lunch timing, and local conditions.
Require More Information
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