Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Maras Salt Mines & Ollantaytambo Day Trip

Chinchero weaving, Moray terraces, Maras salt pools and ancient Ollantaytambo in one day

You’ll feed alpacas in Chinchero, try weaving with locals, walk among Moray’s ancient terraces, taste salt straight from Maras pools, enjoy lunch at Tunupa restaurant, then climb Ollantaytambo’s fortress stones with your guide. Expect real moments: laughter over language slips, quiet mountain air, and stories you’ll remember back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Sacred Valley of the Incas1h
2. Moray Agricultural Terraces1h
3. Ollantaytambo Ruins1h

Explore Sacred Valley highlights

• 6:45 am pickup from Cusco hotel
• 1 hour drive to Chinchero
• Meet Roxana and feed alpacas
• Learn traditional weaving techniques
• Visit Moray agricultural terraces
• Explore Maras Salt Mines and take photos
• Enjoy lunch buffet at Tunupa restaurant
• Visit Ollantaytambo terraces and ruins
• Option to drop at Ollantaytambo train station
• Return to Cusco hotel by 5:35 pm

The experience

Hands already dusted with alpaca feed before I’d even had my coffee. That’s how our Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco started. Roxana waved us into her courtyard in Chinchero, her laugh bouncing off the adobe walls. She showed us how she dyes wool with crushed cochineal and some kind of leaf I still can’t pronounce (Li laughed when I tried). The smell was earthy, like wet grass after rain. Her guinea pigs scurried underfoot: apparently they’re not just pets here. I think that’s when it hit me how much tradition lives in these small gestures.

The drive to Moray was quiet except for the crunch of gravel and our guide’s stories about Inca science. Something about microclimates and potatoes, which made me hungry. Standing above those circular terraces with the Andes behind us felt surreal. There’s a kind of silence there you don’t get in cities, broken only by wind and someone’s camera shutter. We took our time, no one rushed us along, just soaking up the patterns cut into the earth. I still think about that view sometimes.

Maras came next: thousands of salt pools glinting in the sun, like scales on a giant fish. The air tasted sharp and mineral-rich. Our guide offered to take photos but honestly I was more interested in watching an old man scoop salt by hand, his movements slow and practiced. Lunch was a blur of flavors at Tunupa. I remember something spicy and sweet at once (and yes, plenty for vegetarians). After eating we all felt sleepy but Ollantaytambo woke us up again: climbing those stones while our guide pointed out battle scars from centuries ago. There were kids playing soccer below the ruins. Life goes on around all this history.

You can end your Sacred Valley tour at Ollantaytambo if you’re catching the train to Machu Picchu or ride back to Cusco together. Either way you’ll carry a little dust home on your shoes, and maybe a new word or two if you’re braver than me with your Spanish.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable hotel pickup and drop-off from Cusco, private transportation between each site in the Sacred Valley (no cramped buses), hands-on weaving demonstration with local families in Chinchero (plus feeding their alpacas), guided visits through Moray terraces and Maras Salt Mines with plenty of time to wander or take photos, buffet lunch at Tunupa restaurant right by the river (vegetarian/vegan friendly), plus flexible drop-off options if heading onward to Machu Picchu or returning to Cusco together.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small Group TourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Pickup is included

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Private tour: a private guide for you alone. Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 12h, runs every day at 06:30, from US$ 139 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

AgesAdult (3 to 70 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 26

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by exploor

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco?

The full-day tour lasts about 11 hours including travel time between sites and stops for lunch.

Is hotel pickup included for this Sacred Valley tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco are included.

What sites are visited on this Sacred Valley day trip?

The tour visits Chinchero village (weaving demonstration), Moray agricultural terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo ruins.

Is lunch provided during the Sacred Valley tour?

Yes, buffet lunch at Tunupa restaurant is included with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Can I be dropped off at Ollantaytambo train station?

Yes, you can choose to end your tour at Ollantaytambo if taking the train to Machu Picchu.

How many people are on this Sacred Valley group tour?

The group size is limited to 8 travelers for a more personal experience.

Are entry fees included in the Sacred Valley day trip?

No mention of entry fees being included. Bring extra money for tickets or souvenirs just in case.

Is this Sacred Valley tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal/cardiovascular issues.