Cusco: Sacred Valley Full Day with Moray, Maras & Ollantaytambo

Four stops in the Sacred Valley, one day from Cusco

You start at a textile workshop where weavers show you traditional dyeing, then visit Moray's circular agricultural terraces and the salt pools of Maras cascading down the mountainside. Lunch is included in the Sacred Valley, followed by exploration of Ollantaytambo's fortress, temples, and continuously inhabited Inca streets. Hotel pickup and a professional guide handle all logistics, leaving you to focus on the landscape and history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ollantaytambo Ruins1h · entry included
2. Maras Salt Pools45m · entry included
3. Moray Agricultural Terraces1h · entry included

Sacred Valley cultural and historical tour

• Visit Andean Colors Textile Center
• See alpaca wool dyeing and weaving
• Explore Moray agricultural terraces
• Visit Maras salt pools
• Lunch in the Sacred Valley
• Explore Ollantaytambo ruins and town

The experience

Why does a textile workshop come first on a Sacred Valley tour? Because the weavers at Andean Colors show you something most visitors miss, the dyes come from plants still growing on these mountains, and the patterns are not souvenirs, they are family records. You watch the process, ask questions, and if you want to buy, you are buying directly from the hands that made it. After that, the rest of the day makes more sense. You are not just looking at ruins and salt pools. You are seeing how people have lived and worked here for centuries.

The drive takes you to Moray next, and the first time you see those circular terraces from above, you understand why the Inca built them. They are not decorative. They are an agricultural laboratory, each ring a different microclimate, used to test which crops would survive at which altitude. Your guide walks you down into them, and the temperature actually shifts as you descend. Then comes Maras, where the salt pools cascade down the mountainside in a patchwork of pink and white. Local families still harvest salt here the same way their ancestors did, and the pools are so vivid they do not look real. Lunch happens in the Sacred Valley itself, giving you time to rest before the afternoon push to Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is the town that never stopped being a town. The fortress sits above cobblestone streets that have been walked continuously since Inca times, and your guide takes you through both: the temples and terraces carved into the mountainside, then down into the living village where people still use the same water channels the Inca built. It is a full day of walking, and the altitude is real (you are between 9,000 and 11,000 feet), but the pace is steady and your guide sets it. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you do not have to arrange transport or worry about timing the return to Cusco.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, a professional guide and private driver for the full journey, entry to the Andean Colors Textile Center where you watch traditional weaving and dyeing, exploration of Moray's circular agricultural terraces and Maras salt pools, lunch in the Sacred Valley, and guided access to Ollantaytambo's fortress, temples, and Inca streets. Bottled water is provided throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (19 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (7 to 18 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Kaypi Peru tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want the Sacred Valley's main sites in one day without arranging transport, timing, or entry logistics yourself: the private guide and driver handle all of it, which is what makes visiting four distinct places possible in a single day from Cusco. Plan for a full day of walking at altitude. That is what lets you move between terraces, salt pools, and ruins without rushing.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 18 years). Under 7: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Sacred Valley tour from Cusco?

It is a full day, typically 8 to 10 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off.

What is included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide and private driver, bottled water, lunch, and entry to all activities including the textile workshop, Moray, Maras, and Ollantaytambo.

Is the tour physically demanding?

You need a moderate level of fitness. There is walking at altitude (9,000 to 11,000 feet) and descending into Moray's terraces, but the pace is steady and your guide adjusts to the group.

How many people are on the tour?

It is a private tour, and a minimum of 2 people per booking is required.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a light jacket. The altitude means temperature swings between sun and shade. Your passport details are required at booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included and served in the Sacred Valley during the tour.

Can I buy textiles at Andean Colors?

Yes, the workshop is a working space where weavers sell directly. You buy from the artisans themselves, and prices are fair because there is no middleman.

What is the best time to visit the Sacred Valley?

May to September is dry season with clear skies. December to March is wet season but fewer crowds. The tour runs year-round.