Cusco Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Chinchero & Yucay Museum

Three Inca Towns in One Day: From Chinchero's Colonial Church to Ollantaytambo's Fortress

You're picked up from your Cusco hotel and driven through the Sacred Valley to three stops: Chinchero's colonial church built on Inca walls at 3,780 meters; the Living Museum of Yucay for textile and pottery demonstrations; and Ollantaytambo's fortress, a five-hundred-year-old town still inhabited and climbed in the afternoon. Hotel return is included, and your guide speaks both Spanish and English throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Chinchero, Yucay Museum, and Ollantaytambo

• Pick up from hotel in Cusco
• Visit Chinchero town and church
• Explore Yucay Living Museum demonstrations
• Transfer to Ollantaytambo
• Free time for lunch in Ollantaytambo
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological site and fortress
• Return to hotel in Cusco

The experience

The drive out of Cusco climbs fast. Within an hour you're at Chinchero, 28 kilometers up and 3,780 meters above sea level, where the main square sits in that strange overlap between Inca stonework and Spanish colonial buildings. The church here is the real thing: built directly on top of Inca walls, with a gold-leaf Baroque altar inside that catches light in a way you don't expect in a small mountain town. Your bilingual guide walks you through the square and the church itself, pointing out how the Inca foundations hold up the colonial structure above them. On Sundays the market fills the plaza, which changes the whole rhythm of the visit.

After Chinchero you're transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay, a working center where you watch demonstrations of textile work, pottery, adobe-making and silverware the way it's been done since before the Spanish arrived. It's not a performance: people are actually working, and your guide explains the techniques and the materials. Then comes the drive to Ollantaytambo, where you have time to eat lunch on your own before the afternoon climb. The town itself has been continuously inhabited since Inca times, which means you're walking streets that have held people for five centuries. The fortress (technically a tambo, a resting station for travelers on long routes) sits built into the mountainside, and the climb up takes real effort but the views back down the valley make it worth the altitude.

The whole day runs on your hotel's schedule. Your driver picks you up in the morning and brings you back in the evening, which means no negotiating transport between three different towns or figuring out how long each stop should take. The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) for Ollantaytambo entry is not included, so you'll need to arrange that separately before the tour. Your guide can advise on where to buy it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco.
• professional bilingual guide in Spanish and English throughout the day.
• admission to the Living Museum of Yucay.
• admission to Chinchero church.
• private transport to Chinchero (28 km from Cusco), Yucay, and Ollantaytambo.
• free time for lunch in Ollantaytambo.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LimaTours

Is this one for you?Best for travelers staying in Cusco who want to see the Sacred Valley's main towns and archaeological sites without arranging separate transport, guides or tickets: the private pickup and all-day itinerary let you move through three locations on one schedule.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the full day tour?

The itinerary covers a full day from hotel pickup to return, with stops at three locations and free time for lunch in Ollantaytambo. Exact duration depends on your hotel location in Cusco and traffic.

Is the Cusco Tourist Ticket included?

No. You need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) separately to enter Ollantaytambo fortress. Your guide can direct you to where to buy it before the tour.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a bilingual guide in Spanish and English, and admission to the Living Museum of Yucay and Chinchero church. Lunch is not included.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The Ollantaytambo fortress climb involves walking uphill at altitude, but you set your own pace and can rest as needed.

What happens if I visit on a Sunday?

On Sundays, the Chinchero market is open in the main square, which is included as part of your visit to that town.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between towns?

No. Private transport between all three locations is included, and your driver handles all transfers from your hotel.