Sacred Valley, Moray & Maras: Full-Day Tour with Lunch

Summary

Experience Sacred Valley’s textures, flavors & ancient echoes on a full-day journey from Cusco

You’ll walk ancient terraces at Moray, sip muña mate in Chinchero’s cool morning air, taste chocolate flecked with Maras salt, share a hearty Peruvian buffet lunch, and watch goldsmiths shape silver in Pisaq—all with a local guide who brings these places alive. This Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco leaves you full—in every sense.

What’s the experience like?

We started out from Cusco before I was fully awake, but that first sip of muña mate at Chinchero sort of snapped me into the day. Our guide, Rosa, handed it to me with a grin—she said it helps with the altitude and honestly, I just liked how minty it smelled in the cold air. The weavers were already working outside their homes; one woman showed us how she uses cochineal bugs for red dye. My hands got tangled in the wool when I tried spinning it (Rosa laughed and said even locals need years to get it right).

The drive to Moray was bumpy—dust kicking up behind us—but those circular terraces just appeared out of nowhere. I’d seen photos before but standing there, you can really feel how weirdly futuristic it looks for something so old. Rosa explained how the Incas experimented with crops at different levels; I kept thinking about all that work just for potatoes and corn. Later at Maras, we tasted chocolate with pink salt—never had that combo before. It sounds odd but works somehow? The salt pools shimmered under the sun and you could smell minerals in the air. Some guys were scraping salt by hand; their arms white up to the elbows.

Lunch was this big buffet in Urubamba—honestly more food than I expected. Tried aji de gallina and some purple corn juice (chicha morada). There was a family at the next table who kept passing me plates to try; people here don’t let you leave hungry. Ollantaytambo after lunch felt quieter than I thought it would be—maybe everyone else was napping? The stonework is wild up close and Rosa told us about an old prophecy tied to those walls. She pointed out a condor carved high above us—I squinted forever before seeing it.

Pisaq’s goldsmiths were our last stop; by then my brain was kind of fried but watching them hammer silver into tiny shapes was oddly calming. The ride back to Cusco was mostly silent except for someone’s playlist leaking out of their headphones (a lot of 90s ballads for some reason). I still think about that first breath of cold air in Chinchero and how nothing really went as I expected—which is probably why I’d do this Sacred Valley tour again if I could.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Sacred Valley attractions

• Travel 40 min to textile center
• Learn about Andean textiles
• Travel 10 min to next site
• Visit and photograph site
• Travel 40 min to agricultural terraces
• Discover Inka agricultural experimentation
• Travel 15 min to tasting spot
• Taste chocolate with salt
• Travel 20 min to salt mines
• See pink salt extraction
• Travel 30 min to restaurant
• Enjoy buffet lunch
• Travel 30 min to Inka citadel
• Visit Inka citadel
• Travel 110 min to next location
• Visit site for 30 min
• Travel 20 min to goldsmith center
• Visit Pisaq goldsmith center
• Travel 60 min back to Cusco
• Return to Cusco

Top questions

How long does the Sacred Valley tour take from Cusco?

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

Is lunch included on this Sacred Valley day trip?

Yes, a buffet lunch at a recognized restaurant in Urubamba is included.

Do you visit both Moray and Maras on this tour?

Yes, both Moray’s agricultural terraces and Maras’ salt mines are included as main stops.

Are guides provided during the tour?

An expert local guide leads the entire Sacred Valley tour and provides cultural context at each site.

Is pickup from my hotel in Cusco included?

The tour includes tourist transport from Cusco; check details for specific pickup locations.

What food can I try during lunch?

The buffet features Peruvian dishes like aji de gallina and chicha morada along with other options.

Is this Sacred Valley tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the operator’s info.

Can I see traditional Andean weaving on this trip?

Yes, there’s a weaving demonstration in Chinchero where you can learn about Andean textiles.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip tourist transport from Cusco, guidance by an expert local throughout each stop, entrance to sites like Moray and Maras salt flats, demonstrations by Andean weavers and goldsmiths, plus a generous buffet lunch at one of Sacred Valley’s most recognized restaurants before returning in the evening.