Pisac & Ollantaytambo Private Tour: Farm Visit & Andean Food

Summary

Hands-On Sacred Valley Day: Inca Sites, Farm Life & Pachamanca

If you want to really get your hands into Sacred Valley life—not just snap photos—this tour is for you. You’ll explore ancient Inca sites at your own pace with a local guide, help harvest food on a family farm, learn to make chicha beer and cook Pachamanca underground, then see traditional weaving up close in Chinchero. It’s personal, authentic, and full of moments you won’t find anywhere else.

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Pisac feels crisp—almost sweet—especially as you climb up the old stone terraces. Our guide, Maribel, pointed out the faint scent of eucalyptus drifting from the valley below. We wandered through the ancient ruins, tracing the same paths Inca families once used centuries ago. The sun hit the stones just right and you could almost picture what life was like before the Spanish arrived. Pisac’s market was already buzzing when we passed by; a woman selling chuta bread waved us over for a taste.

In Urquillos, things slowed down. We met Don Ernesto’s family at their small farm—he handed us rough wooden tools and showed us how to dig up potatoes and pull onions straight from the earth. My hands got dirty fast, but honestly, that’s half the fun. The kitchen smelled like alfalfa and wood smoke; guinea pigs squeaked underfoot as we fed them fresh greens. Making chicha was a surprise—it’s tangy and earthy, nothing like beer back home. Lunch was Pachamanca: veggies and meat buried under hot stones in the yard. Everyone pitched in, then we ate together outside while kids ran past chasing each other with sticks.

Ollantaytambo felt different—livelier somehow. Its cobbled lanes echoed with footsteps and laughter from locals heading to market or chatting on doorsteps. Our guide explained how this is still a living Inca town; you can see it in the water channels running beside every street and in the way neighbors greet each other by name. Climbing up to the fortress ruins gave us a view over patchwork fields and red-tiled roofs—a real highlight if you ask me.

Last stop: Chinchero’s textile center. Here, women sat weaving under a shaded awning, their fingers moving so fast I could barely follow. They let us touch raw alpaca wool—soft but oily—and showed how they use saqta root as natural shampoo for washing fibers. The smell of dye pots (sort of herbal and metallic) hung in the air as skeins changed color before our eyes using cochineal beetles or wild plants picked nearby. I tried spinning wool on a pusca wheel—not easy! But it made me appreciate every scarf or blanket I saw after that.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sacred Valley Highlights and Traditions

• Explore Pisac Inca citadel
• Farm visit: cultivate, harvest, feed guinea pigs, prepare Chicha and Pachamanca
• Visit Ollantaytambo Inca town and archaeological site
• Learn alpaca wool washing and dyeing in Chinchero textile center

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for kids?

Yes! Kids usually love feeding guinea pigs and helping on the farm. Just be ready for some walking at archaeological sites.

Do I need any special gear?

No special gear needed—just comfortable shoes for uneven paths and layers for changing weather in the valley.

Are vegetarian options available for lunch?

Absolutely! Let us know ahead of time if you have dietary needs—the Pachamanca can be made with just veggies if you prefer.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience takes most of the day—usually around 8-9 hours including all stops.

What’s included

Your private transport is covered all day, plus entry tickets to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero sites are included too. Lunch is part of the experience (you help make it!), so come hungry—and curious!