How long is the Sacred Valley day tour from Cusco?

The tour lasts a full day with multiple stops including Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac.

Is lunch included on this Sacred Valley tour?

Yes, lunch is included—a buffet meal served in Urubamba is part of the tour experience.

Are entrance fees or hotel transfers included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco are included; entry fees are covered as part of your guided visit.

What languages does the guide speak on this tour?

The bilingual guide speaks English and Spanish during the Sacred Valley day trip.

How high is Chinchero compared to Cusco?

Chinchero sits at about 3,765 meters (12,352 feet), which is slightly higher than Cusco.

Is this Sacred Valley tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What are some highlights of Ollantaytambo on this day trip?

You’ll see ceremonial temples dedicated to water and sun gods plus steep Inca terraces and fortress walls.

Can you visit both Moray terraces and Maras salt mines on this tour?

Yes—the itinerary includes stops at both Moray’s circular agricultural terraces and Maras’ salt pools.

Peru » Cusco | 🏛 Moray Agricultural Terraces

Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Maras & Pisac Day Tour

11h–12h

Super deal ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (147 reviews)

Summary

Colorful markets, ancient terraces & salt pools in the Sacred Valley

You’ll meet locals at Chinchero’s market, walk among Moray’s mysterious terraces, taste mineral air above Maras salt pools, and climb Ollantaytambo’s fortress stones—with stories from your guide along the way. Expect laughter, real Andean flavors at lunch, and moments you’ll want to remember long after leaving Cusco.

11h–12h

Step-by-step itinerary

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Cusco and return transport after exploring Chinchero’s market stalls, guided walks through Moray’s terraces and Maras salt pools, entry to Ollantaytambo’s ruins and Pisac’s stonework—all led by a bilingual local guide—with a buffet lunch served in Urubamba along the way.

★★★★★★★★★★

4.86

(147 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

It started with a smile from Rosa at the Chinchero market—she handed me a woven bracelet and said something in Quechua I definitely didn’t catch. The air up there is thin and sharp, but you forget that when you’re watching women in bright skirts laughing over potatoes. Our guide, Edgar, pointed out the old stone wall in the square—ten niches lined up like they’re holding secrets. I tried to ask about the rainbow legend (apparently Chinchero is its birthplace?) but my Spanish tripped over itself and we all just ended up laughing. That felt good.

The drive to Moray was bumpy, not gonna lie. I kept staring out at those crazy green circles—the agricultural terraces look almost unreal from above, like something aliens left behind. Edgar explained how each ring has its own microclimate; he picked up some earth and let it run through his fingers. It smelled sweet and cold. He said the Incas used this as a crop laboratory—honestly, I’d never thought about farming being so scientific back then. There were a few clouds rolling in but the sun still hit the stones just right.

I’d seen photos of Maras before but standing above those salt pools was different—the wind carried this weird mineral tang, almost metallic on your tongue. A couple of kids waved at us from below; their hands were white with salt dust. We didn’t stay long because lunch was calling (buffet in Urubamba—so much quinoa), but that view stuck with me longer than expected.

Ollantaytambo felt like stepping into a storybook—steep stairs, massive stones fitted so tight you can’t slide a coin between them. Edgar told us about princesses bathing in sacred water here, which sounded romantic until I realized how cold that water must be at 9,000 feet. By Pisac my legs were jelly but somehow I found myself tracing the smooth edges of those ancient walls anyway. The word “Pisac” means partridge—a bird I never saw but maybe heard rustling somewhere down the slope.