Cusco: Sacred Valley Pisac & Ollantaytambo Private Day Trip

Two Inca fortresses in one day, starting before the market crowds arrive

You're picked up from your Cusco hotel at 8:30 a.m. and driven to Pisac, where you explore the temple ruins and agricultural terraces with a bilingual guide. Then visit the artisan market in the town below. After a buffet lunch in Urubamba, you head to Ollantaytambo fortress for a guided walk through its main sectors, with the option to hike to the top. Private transport and guide are included. You return to your hotel by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sacred Valley Inca Ruins and Market

• Pick up from Cusco hotels
• Travel to Pisaq ruins
• Explore Pisaq agricultural terraces
• See intiwatana and Inca buildings
• Visit Pisaq artisan market
• Enjoy buffet lunch in Sacred Valley
• Travel to Ollantaytambo town
• Tour Ollantaytambo fortress
• Return to Cusco city
• Drop off at hotels in Cusco

The experience

There's something about standing in front of Pisac's agricultural terraces that makes you want to understand how the Incas thought. The ruins climb the mountainside in a pattern that looks almost mathematical: thousands of stepped fields that fed an empire, built 500 years ago without mortar or machinery. Your guide walks you through the temple at the center, where an intiwatana (a solar clock carved from stone) still sits exactly where Inca nobility once stood. It's the kind of detail that stays with you.

After Pisac, you drop into the modern town below, where the artisan market fills the main plaza. Descendants of the Incas still trade here much like their ancestors did: exchanging goods, haggling over alpaca wool and silver jewelry. It's not a tourist trap dressed up as tradition. It's the actual thing, which means it's messier and more real. You'll have time to walk through, buy something if you want, or just watch how the market moves. Then comes lunch in Urubamba, in the heart of the valley itself, before the afternoon push to Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is the second fortress, and it's steeper. The hike up takes effort (bring water, wear shoes that grip), but the view from the top shows you why the Incas chose this spot. Your private guide explains the construction as you move through the main sectors, and you start to see how these two sites were part of the same system, the same vision. The Sacred Valley wasn't just beautiful. It was engineered. By the time you're back in Cusco around 7 p.m., you've covered the two most important Inca architectural remains in the region without arranging transport, timing yourself, or waiting for a group to move.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to Cusco.
• private transport throughout the day.
• bilingual private guide.
• lunch buffet in Urubamba.
• entry to Pisac ruins and market.
• entry to Ollantaytambo fortress.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (19 to 60 years) · Youth (9 to 18 years) · Child (1 to 8 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Esteban Adventure Agencia de Operadora de Turismo.

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see the two most important Inca sites in the Sacred Valley without renting a car, hiring a separate guide, or timing yourself around a group schedule: the private transport and fixed itinerary handle all three.

Traveler reviews

4.67★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 18 years); Child (1 to 8 years).

How long is the full day trip from Cusco?

Approximately 10.5 hours, including pickup at 8:30 a.m. and return to your hotel around 7 p.m.

What's included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and return, private transport, bilingual guide, lunch buffet in Urubamba, and entry to both Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins.

Is the hike at Ollantaytambo difficult?

The hike to the top is steep and recommended at a slow pace. Bring water and wear comfortable, grippy shoes. You can also explore the main sectors at ground level if you prefer not to climb.

Can I buy souvenirs at Pisac market?

Yes. The market sells alpaca wool items, silver and gold jewelry, and other local crafts. You'll have time to browse during the visit.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, a hat and sunscreen, a light jacket or fleece, a rain jacket, and a small day pack. Bring extra cash for drinks, snacks and souvenirs beyond what's included.

Is this tour private or in a group?

It's a private tour with your own guide and transport, though the reference does not specify maximum group size.

What's the difference between Pisac and Ollantaytambo?

Pisac is known for its temple, solar clock (intiwatana), and vast agricultural terraces that fed the empire. Ollantaytambo is a fortress built on a steep mountainside. Both are major Inca sites in the Sacred Valley.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, bring your original passport. If you're booking as a student, bring your ISIC student card as well.