Sacred Valley tour from Cusco: Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Yucay

Three stops in the Sacred Valley, one day from Cusco, without arranging your own transport

A full-day guided tour from Cusco through the Sacred Valley visits Chinchero at 3,780 meters, the Living Museum of Yucay for textile and pottery demonstrations, and the Ollantaytambo fortress and archaeological site. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with lunch and a professional guide in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese; the Cusco Tourist Ticket for Ollantaytambo entry is purchased separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Chinchero, Yucay Museum, Ollantaytambo

• Pick up from hotel in Cusco
• Visit Chinchero town and church
• Tour Chinchero market (Sundays only)
• Visit Living Museum of Yucay
• Transfer to Ollantaytambo
• Free time for lunch in Ollantaytambo
• Visit Ollantaytambo town and archaeological site
• Climb Ollantaytambo fortress
• Return to hotel in Cusco

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Cusco hotel and a drive to Chinchero, a traditional highland town 28 km away where Inca stonework and seventeenth-century colonial architecture sit side by side in the main square. The church, built directly on Inca walls with a gold-leaf Baroque altar, is viewed from outside. On Sundays the stop includes the Chinchero market. From there you travel to the Living Museum of Yucay, a center where artisans demonstrate textile work, adobe construction, pottery and silverware using the same methods as Inca times—you watch the process unfold rather than see finished pieces in a display case.

After demonstrations you transfer to Ollantaytambo for lunch on your own. The afternoon is spent exploring the town and the archaeological site, which has been continuously inhabited since Inca times. The fortress—actually a tambo, a resting lodge for long-distance travelers—sits built into a mountainside, and climbing it is part of the visit. Entry to the fortress requires the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which you arrange separately; the tour guide can advise on where to purchase it. The full day runs nine hours from pickup to return.

The guide speaks English, Spanish, French or Portuguese throughout. Children from age 3 are welcome, and infants sit on an adult's lap. The tour suits all fitness levels, though Ollantaytambo's fortress involves climbing and the high altitude—Chinchero sits at 3,780 meters—affects some travelers.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cusco.
• a professional guide in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese.
• admission to the Living Museum of Yucay.
• and lunch in Ollantaytambo.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LimaTours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Cusco means you do not need a car or arrange your own transport to the Sacred Valley—the guide handles the route, timing and stops, so the day stays organized without you building it.

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Top questions

What is the Living Museum of Yucay and what do you actually see there?

The Living Museum of Yucay is a center where artisans demonstrate traditional Andean crafts—textile weaving, adobe work, pottery and silverware—performed the same way they were in Inca times. You watch the demonstrations rather than view finished goods in cases.

Do I need to buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket separately, or is it included?

The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) is not included and must be purchased separately; it is required for entry to the Ollantaytambo fortress. Your guide can direct you to where to buy it before the visit.

What is Ollantaytambo and why is it called a fortress when the description says it was a tambo?

Ollantaytambo is an archaeological site continuously inhabited since Inca times, built into a mountainside. It was originally a tambo—a resting and lodging place for travelers on long journeys—but its impressive stone structures built on the mountain give it the appearance of a fortress, which is why it is often called that.

Is the Chinchero church included in the tour, or just viewed from outside?

The Chinchero church is viewed from outside only; entrance to the interior is not included. The tour focuses on the exterior architecture, which shows the fusion of Inca stonework and seventeenth-century colonial design.

What happens on Sundays—is the tour different?

On Sundays the Chinchero stop includes a visit to the Chinchero market in addition to the town and church. The rest of the itinerary remains the same.

How high is Chinchero, and will the altitude affect me?

Chinchero sits at 3,780 meters (12,400 feet) above sea level. The high altitude affects some travelers; the tour suits all fitness levels, but you may want to allow time to acclimate if you have just arrived in Cusco.