Sacred Valley: Maras Moray Salt Pools & Pisac Market Day Tour

Summary

Explore Maras salt pools Moray terraces Pisac market in one full Sacred Valley day trip with lunch and expert guide

You’ll sip muña tea for altitude, walk ancient Moray terraces with an expert guide, taste chocolate salted fresh from Maras pools, shop Pisac Market’s colors, and share lunch overlooking fields — all in one Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco. Expect laughter, local stories, and moments that linger long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Sacred Valley and local culture

• Travel 40 min to textile center
• Acclimate and learn about textiles
• Travel 10 min to next site
• Visit and take pictures
• Travel 40 min to agricultural terraces
• Explore Inka agricultural terraces
• Travel 15 min to chocolate tasting
• Taste chocolate with salt
• Travel 20 min to salt pools
• Visit Maras Salt Pools
• Travel 30 min to restaurant
• Enjoy buffet lunch
• Travel 30 min to Inka citadel
• Visit Inka citadel
• Travel 110 min to Pisac Market
• Visit Pisac Market
• Travel 20 min to goldsmith center
• Visit Pisac goldsmith center
• Travel 60 min back to Cusco
• Return to Cusco

Top questions

How long is the Sacred Valley tour from Cusco?

The full-day tour lasts around 10-11 hours including travel time between sites.

Is lunch included on this Sacred Valley day trip?

Yes, a buffet lunch at a recognized restaurant in the Sacred Valley is included.

What are the main stops on this tour?

You’ll visit Moray terraces, Maras salt pools, Pisac Market, and local goldsmith centers.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, tourist transport with pickup is included for convenience.

Are guides knowledgeable about local culture?

Yes, expert guides share stories about Andean textiles, agriculture, and history throughout the tour.

Is this Sacred Valley tour suitable for children or infants?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants can ride in strollers or sit on laps.

Can I buy souvenirs during the Pisac Market visit?

Yes, there’s time to browse stalls for textiles and crafts at Pisac Market.

Will I have time to take photos at each site?

You’ll have dedicated visiting time at each attraction for photos and exploring.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Cusco by tourist transport, guided visits to Moray terraces, Maras salt pools (with chocolate tasting), Pisac Market shopping time plus entry fees where needed. A buffet lunch at one of Sacred Valley’s most famous restaurants is part of it too before returning to Cusco in the evening.

What’s the experience like?

"Try the muña tea — it helps with the altitude," our guide Julia said, handing me a steaming cup before we even left Cusco. I took a sip and it tasted sharp and minty, almost like wild herbs after rain. The van was already humming with chatter as we wound out of the city, and I caught glimpses of patchwork fields through the window — greens and golds that didn’t look real. Julia kept pointing out little villages tucked into the hills, telling stories about Andean weaving patterns that I still can’t quite remember but loved hearing anyway.

The first stop was Moray. Those circular terraces are stranger in person than any photo — like someone pressed giant fingerprints into the earth. Julia explained how Inkas experimented here with crops at different altitudes. There was this silence for a moment while we all looked down into the rings; you could hear wind moving through dry grass. Then someone’s phone went off (classic) and we laughed about ruining the ancient vibes. After that, chocolate with pink salt in Maras — honestly, I didn’t expect to like it so much. The salt is harvested right there from thousands of shallow pools; you can smell minerals in the air when you get close.

I think my favorite part was wandering Pisac Market near the end of the day. It’s noisy and bright — women selling fruit in shawls, kids darting between stalls, everything smelling like corn cakes and incense. Julia introduced us to a goldsmith who showed how he works silver by hand (I tried to say “thank you” in Quechua but definitely butchered it). Lunch was earlier at this big buffet place overlooking fields; lots of potatoes, stews, something spicy I never figured out but kept eating anyway.

By late afternoon my head felt full — not just from altitude but from all these colors and stories crowding together. On the drive back to Cusco everyone got quiet for a while watching shadows stretch over the valley floor. I still think about that view sometimes when things get too busy at home.