Sacred Valley tour from Cusco: Pisac, Ollantaytambo & salt mines

Four archaeological sites in one day, from terraced farms to royal palace ruins

A full-day Sacred Valley tour from Cusco visits Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo and Pisac with a guide in English or Spanish, private transportation and lunch included. The day runs 12 to 13 hours, departing at 7am and returning around 7pm. Groups must be two or more people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sacred Valley ruins and markets

• Depart Cusco at 7:00 am
• Visit Chinchero archaeological site
• Arrive at Moray agricultural terraces
• Explore Maras Salt Mines
• Drive to Urubamba for buffet lunch
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological complex
• Explore Ollantaytambo town and buy souvenirs
• Visit Pisac archaeological complex and market
• Return to Cusco around 7:00 pm

The Experience

The tour leaves Cusco at 7am and heads first to Chinchero, an archaeological site in the highlands. From there, a 25-minute drive takes you to Moray, where the Incas built circular agricultural terraces into the mountainside—historians believe they used these rings to experiment with growing crops from warmer climates at high altitude. The terraces drop in concentric circles, each one slightly lower and warmer than the last.

After Moray, another 25 minutes brings you to the Maras Salt Mines, where dozens of square salt pools sit on a hillside, fed by underground salt water. The water evaporates in the sun, leaving salt crystals that local people harvest and sell. You walk among the pools and see how the system has worked for centuries. Then the route drops into Urubamba town in the warmer lowlands of the valley, where you stop for a buffet lunch before heading to Ollantaytambo, a 30-minute drive away.

Ollantaytambo was an Inca royal palace, built with massive stone blocks and long staircases that climb to the main structures on the hillside. You explore the ruins and the town below, where vendors sell local crafts. The final leg is a 90-minute drive to Pisac, where the archaeological complex sits on a hilltop above a traditional market town on the Urubamba river. The ruins here were also noble residences, with stone buildings spread across the slope. After time at both the market and the ruins, the return to Cusco takes the evening, arriving around 7pm.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Cusco.
• lunch in Urubamba.
• a guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to all four archaeological sites and the salt mines.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Peru Jungle Trips

Is this one for you?The 12-to-13-hour day with an early 7am start and 90 minutes of driving at the end suits travelers who can handle a full schedule and don't mind spending time in a vehicle to reach multiple sites. If you prefer a shorter outing or a later departure, look for a half-day Sacred Valley tour instead.

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Top questions

What exactly is Moray and why did the Incas build it that way?

Moray is a series of circular agricultural terraces carved into the mountainside, with each ring sitting lower and warmer than the one above it. Historians believe the Incas used this natural temperature gradient to test growing crops from warmer climates at high altitude, making it an open-air laboratory for agriculture.

How do the salt mines at Maras actually work?

The Maras Salt Mines contain dozens of square pools fed by underground salt water. The sun evaporates the water, leaving salt crystals behind, which local people then harvest and sell at markets. The system has operated the same way for centuries.

What's the difference between the ruins at Ollantaytambo and Pisac?

Both Ollantaytambo and Pisac were Inca royal palaces built with massive stone blocks. Ollantaytambo is known for its long stone staircases leading up to the main structures, while Pisac comprises numerous stone buildings spread across a hilltop above a traditional market town on the river.

When do we eat, and is lunch included?

Lunch is included and served in Urubamba town, in the warmer lowlands of the valley, after you visit Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. The meal is a buffet, and it comes before the afternoon visits to Ollantaytambo and Pisac.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or Spanish, and you choose which when you book.

How much walking is involved at each site?

Each site requires walking to explore the ruins and terraces. Ollantaytambo involves climbing long stone staircases to reach the main structures. Pisac requires walking on the hilltop where the ruins sit. Moray and Maras involve walking among the terraces and salt pools on sloped ground. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.