Visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru
The Sacred Valley in Peru, or Valle Sagrado, is one of the world’s most impressive valleys for sightseeing ruins and agricultural terraces. It has Inca ruins, snow-capped mountains, salt mines, archeological parks, museums, and hundreds of hiking trails.
If you’re in Cusco, you will definitely be seeing some of it. Machu Picchu is part of the Sacred Valley, and I’m sure you don’t want to miss those ruins. Aside from Machu Picchu, the over 100 km of the Sacred Valley has many more awesome sites, and it’s only an hour away from Cusco.
Some other stunning places you can visit are the terraces at the Moray Ruins, Pisac, and Ollantaytambo. You can also learn about salt mines at Maras Salt Flats.
Peru is a country filled with history, stunning views, and incredible hikes. The beautiful Sacred Valley in Peru will not disappoint!
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Visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru
There are many ways to explore the many sites found in the Sacred Valley and each will require different types of transportation for arriving depending on what your plans are.
For example, you can hike to Machu Picchu on a multi-day trek. Or, you can get there an easier way, by train or by shuttle van with a tour agency.
You can visit the Moray Archeological site and arrive on an ATV at the entrance. You can also arrive by collective or bus to the different villages.
Lastly, you can do it the most common way which is by transportation provided by a tour agency.
The Sacred Valley Pass
To further explain, the Sacred Valley has a lot of sites. Cusco has a Sacred Valley Pass known as the Cusco Tourist Ticket to make it easier and more affordable. This ticket allows you to enter the 16 most popular attractions in Cusco and its surroundings. Sorry to disappoint, but Machu Picchu is not included. If you buy this ticket, you have 10 days to visit the sites.
There are also partial tickets that allow you to enter the places separately. There are 3 circuits to choose from. We bought circuit 3, which had to be used in two days to visit 4 sites, including Moray. Hence, the reason we decided to ride our ATV to Moray the day before doing our Sacred Valley Tour to Circuit 3.
The cost of our partial ticket was 40 soles ($10), and the general ticket with all the sites is 70 soles ($18). This price covers the entrance fee to these places. However, it does not include transportation or guide services. That’s why we still paid for a tour. The ticket is separate and specifically for the entrances. The tour prices are for transportation, a guide, the food, and any other stops the tour makes.
The validity of the ticket starts the day you buy it. So if you buy a short circuit, you must use it immediately. If you buy the full ticket, you have 10 days. Although Maras Salt Flats are part of the Sacred Valley, they are also not included. If you visit Maras, you must pay a 10 sol entrance fee. Check out this site for information about the ticket.
Sacred Valley Tour in Peru: Circuit 3
As mentioned above, we bought the partial Cusco Tourist Ticket for 40 soles ($10). Circuit 3 Pass pays the entrance to Moray, Ollantaytambo, Pisaq, and Chinchero. Because we needed a way to get to the sites, we bought a tour package with the Machu Picchu Sol tour agency.
We paid them 70 soles ($18) to get us to three places from our ticket. Plus, it included a guide, transportation, a few other stops, and food.
Our specific tour took us to Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. We had visited Moray the day before on our ATV tour. So, I’m going to tell you all about our Sacred Valley Tour below.
Sacred Valley Tour Itinerary
Pisac Ruins
After a brief stop at a viewpoint, the first main stop on the Sacred Valley tour is the Pisac Inca Ruins are ancient homes and ceremonial places the Incas created. At the ruins, you can find vegetation terraces and water canals.
The highlight of Pisac is the incredible Inca ruins overlooking the town. The ruins are ancient houses, ceremonial places, water canals, and vegetation terraces.
Our tour guide took time to explain information about the ruins before he let us go explore. You will see ceremonial baths, terraces, tombs on the side of the mountains, and the Temple of the Sun. Make sure to take sunscreen, a hat, and water. It gets hot!
Pisac Village
Pisac is a village in the Sacred Valley and is only 45 minutes from Cusco. It attracts visitors for its large traditional market. In addition, this is the village where you will find souvenirs, food, and other local activities. However, the main reason people come to Pisac is to visit the nearby Pisac Ruins mentioned above.
After visiting the ruins, we stopped in the town. The tour company took us to a jewelry shop where they gave us a demonstration of how its created. It was definitely interesting to see, and it was obviously a sales tactic, but we didn’t complain because these towns depend on tourism. Plus, it was nice to learn the process.
If you aren’t visiting the ruins by tour and you’re staying in Pisac, you can walk to the ruins or take a taxi. Walking to the top of the ruins will take you nearly 3 hours. Because of the high altitude, it can be a bit challenging.
Side Note: Pisac has a large expat community, and you can find lots of cute coffee shops and eateries. The expat community here is known to have a bohemian spirit. Therefore, there are vegan restaurants, medicine and meditation retreats, and spiritual workshops.
Next Stop: Lunch
For lunch, we had nearly 45 minutes. I’m not entirely sure where it was, but we had a very filling lunch. It was buffet-style, so we could pick out the food we wanted. From the tours I took in Peru, I think this was the one with the most choices. There were also clean bathrooms to use and a grassy area where you could relax and soak up the sun after eating.
Ollantaytambo
After having a filling lunch, we headed towards Ollantaytambo. It was a long drive there, but it was our favorite part of the Sacred Valley Tour we were on. The views are just gorgeous from these ruins. Climbing the stairs of the ruins was a 200 stair workout. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but with the altitude, you will feel it!
Ollantaytambo is a small village with cobblestone streets and a stunning view of the ruins next to it. These ruins are temples built out of terraces that go up the steep mountain.
Ollantaytambo is also the starting point for the multi-day walking trails that lead to Machu Picchu and the famous train ride to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town).
Chinchero
Our last stop on the tour was at Chinchero. The village of Chinchero has ruins that are considered sacred sites. You can also view terraces where crops once grew. The archeological park has a focal point, a colonial church that sits atop the terraces. You can explore the church for an additional small fee.
Unfortunately, our tour only stopped at a viewpoint to look at the ruins. We didn’t explore. I’m not sure why. Perhaps because we arrived late in the day and they were closed.
However, after briefly stopping at a viewpoint, we went to a handicraft market.
Chinchero Handicraft Market
Chinchero is well known for handicrafts. The local women set up their work and sell it. Therefore, the village is a great place to buy souvenirs and things for yourself. I got myself some leg warmers, gloves, and a beanie.
At the handicraft market, we got a demonstration of how they make the dye colors of the thread. It was an interesting demonstration, and we got to sip on hot coca tea while listening. It was freezing! So the tea came at a perfect time.
In the demonstration, we learned that the ladies go collect items to make dyes. They use all sorts of things such as bugs, flowers, plants, and various things. We got to watch them make a few colors and then turn the thread into those colors.
After the demonstration, we got to walk around the handicraft store. My friend and I befriended two kids who taught us words from their local language (not Spanish). It was fun to spend time with them.
Tour Itinerary Outline
I can’t remember the exact times, so I looked at the properties on my pictures to find out the times we were at each place. Unfortunately, I don’t entirely remember the pick-up time and breakfast information. However, this is what our day looked like.
- Pick up
- Drive to Pisac
- 9:20-9:45 Scenic Viewpoint
- 9:45-11:00 Drive/2 Short Stops
- 11:00-12:00 Pisac Ruins
- 12:00-1:00 Pisac Village
- 1:00-2:00 Drive to Lunch Spot
- 2:00-2:45 Lunch
- 2:45-3:30 Drive to Ollantaytambo
- 3:30-5:00 Ollantaytambo Ruins
- 5:00-6:00 Drive to Chinchero
- 6:00-6:15 Chinchero Viewpoint
- 6:20-7:00 Chincero Handicraft Market
- 7:00-8:00 Drive to Cusco
Booking a Tour
There are many tour companies to choose from in Cusco. I booked all my Peru tours with Machu Picchu Sol and had great experiences with them. This tour cost us 70 soles, plus we paid the 40 soles extra for the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
Although you can book many Peru tours online, I highly recommend booking upon arrival in Cusco. There are a lot of tour companies, and you can compare prices. You can also get a discount by booking more than one tour with the same company.
Overall Thoughts on the Tour
I will be sincere here. If I had the opportunity to explore all these sites independently, I would have. The problem is I would have needed more days. Although I was slow traveling and backpacking through Peru, more days in Cusco would have been great so I could explore these sites independently.
However, we did this tour to better take advantage of our short time in Cusco. But, unfortunately, from all the tours we did, this is the only one that felt rushed. Although it was only 3 sites, it was a lot for one day.
It isn’t the tour agency’s fault. The tour is popular in Peru, and they are all like this. So, the tour itself is fine if you want to see a lot and are on a time crunch.
I’ve become a slow traveler in recent years because I like to take in the culture entirely. It’s the only reason the tour wasn’t ideal for my taste. However, the sites were incredible and I admired their beauty. Plus, we had a fantastic tour guide who we befriended during our day trip.
So, I still recommend you do this tour if you want to fit a lot into your stay in Cusco. But, if you’re a backpacker, I suggest you slow travel through the Sacred Valley and go to these villages yourself.
How to Get to Sacred Valley Sites on Your Own
If you do choose to go on your own, there are multiple ways to arrive. The villages are accessible by collectives and minibusses. The collectivos are quicker and are considered safe. Buses are cheaper but tend to take a little more time to arrive.
Where to Stay in Cusco
Finding accommodation in Cusco is easy. There are places for all types of travelers. You can find hostels, guesthouses, and luxury hotels. However, the city is usually busy, so hotels do fill up. Therefore I recommend booking early and ahead of time.
I’ve seen hostels run at about $7-$12 a night in shared dorms. They also have private rooms. Guesthouses can be as lows as $10, and hotels depend on the star rating.
I stayed at Kokopelli Hostel and loved the social atmosphere. My friend and I booked the first days, but we ended up booking the rest of the week with them. I did go to another budget hotel, but I won’t recommend it because it was freezing. Many places in Cusco don’t have central heating, and the rooms will be cold.
What to Pack
Here is a short list of some things to pack and bring along with you.
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
Visiting The Sacred Valley in Peru
Visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru
