Discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas with Locals
Step beyond the classic circuit. Starting from the Inca gateway town of Ollantaytambo, this tour explores the valley's most photogenic and culturally rich corners, from Ollantaytambo archaelogical site.
The Salt Mines of Maras, salt terraces carved into a hillside, Moray, circular agricultural experiments, and Chinchero, a highland town where Inca walls still hold colonial churches. Visit the most colorful traditional textile centers where Quechua weavers demonstrate natural dyeing with plants and minerals, then hand-weave intricate patterns on backstrap looms, preserving ancient Andean techniques while selling handmade alpaca and wool textiles directly to visitors.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
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WHY CHOOSE THE SACRED VALLEY TOUR FROM OLLANTAYTAMBO?
Departing from Ollantaytambo, the living Inca town and most famous site along the Sacred Valley, explore its farming terrazes, temples and impressive architecture , this full-day tour takes you through the heart of the Sacred Valley to three of its most spectacular and lesser-crowded highlights. It's an ideal complement to any Inca Trail or Machu Picchu trip, or a standalone adventure for travelers already staying in the valley.
You'll trace the valley's western reaches, climbing to Maras for its extraordinary salt pans still harvested by local families since Inca times, continuing to Moray to stand at the edge of the Incas' remarkable circular terracing experiment, and finishing in Chinchero, a highland town where Inca stonework meets colonial art and living textile traditions.
The tour will finalize with a drop off at your hotel located in Cusco.
- Depart from Ollantaytambo: No need to travel back to Cusco first. Pick up will be from your hotel and visit the archaeological site.
- Explore the Maras Salt Mines: Explore the Maras Salt Mines, a breathtaking cascade of over 3,000 salt pans still actively harvested by local Andean families using the same techniques passed down since Inca times.
- Visit Moray: A remarkable Inca feat of engineering where each ring creates its own microclimate, believed to have been used as an agricultural research station for growing dozens of crop varieties.
- Discover Chinchero: Explore the colonial church built directly over an Inca palace, and watch local women demonstrate the full process of natural-dye textile weaving, a tradition kept alive for generations.
- Small Group Tour: Travel in a small private group of up to 8 people with a certified bilingual guide who brings the history, culture, and stories of the Sacred Valley to life at every stop along the way.
Highlights: Moray and Salt Mines
Available: All year around
Considerations: Permit needed
Itinerary at a Glance
- Day01
Ollantaytambo - Urumbamba - Salt Mines - Moray - Chinchero - Cusco
Discover the richness of culture and stunning landscapes along the Sacred Valley and stunning landscapes.
SACRED VALLEY OLLANTAYTAMBO TOUR ITINERARY
Ollantaytambo - Salt Mines - Moray - Chinchero - Cusco
Ollantaytambo: Most impressive Inca archaeological site after Machu Picchu.
Salt Mines: More than 3,000 salt ponds used to harvest natural salt.
Moray: Circular agricultural terraces used to study and cultivate different crops in the highlands.
Chinchero: A perfect place to admire both Inca and Spanish colonial architecture.
Your Sacred Valley adventure begins with hotel pickup in Ollantaytambo between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. After meeting your expert guide, you'll walk to the first destination: Ollantaytambo archaeological site, explore its enigmatic buildings, farming terraces and stunning views. Optional to stop at Sacred Valley Brewing
Continue to the impressive Maras Salt Mines, home to more than 3,000 ancient salt ponds that have been used since Inca times to harvest natural salt from an underground spring. Next, visit the fascinating archaeological site of Moray, famous for its remarkable circular terraces. These agricultural laboratories were designed by the Incas to experiment with different crops and microclimates, showcasing their extraordinary engineering skills.
The journey continues to Chinchero, a traditional Andean village renowned for its well-preserved Inca walls, beautiful colonial church, and vibrant textile traditions. You'll have the opportunity to visit a local weaving center, where artisans demonstrate ancient weaving techniques and the use of natural dyes passed down through generations.
After exploring the highlights of the Sacred Valley, relax on the scenic drive back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel at approximately 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
At Vidal Expeditions we are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our Sacred Valley tours. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your tour.
What Is Included?
Vidal Expeditions Team Provide
Pre-departure briefing
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your adventure guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Sacred Valley Maras Moray Salt Mines departure.
Professional English Speaking Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service. Through their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for adventure and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our tour guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore the the Sacred Valley Tour.
Transportation
Private Transport
We included all the transportations during your tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo and take you to each places to visit, the bus returning once you done with this activity to Cusco will drop off you at your hotel.
Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides of Vidal Expeditions are very well trained in First aid. They received training courses every 6 months how to assist to someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
Meals
Meals
At Vidal Expeditions, we know food is such an important part of any vacation and getting the right fuel on an active holiday is crucial… We include 1 lunch box during this tour of course, we cater to all dietary restrictions Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free and others just let us know.
What Is Not Included?
Entrance Fees
All participant need the boleto turistico BTC, which allows you to visit the archaeological sites, also S/ 20 soles for the Salt Mines. This can be purchase at the entrance of the first destination to visit.
Ollantaytambo, Moray & Chinchero: 70 soles ($20 USD aprox.)
Salt Mines: 20 soles ($6 USD)Breakfast
We do not provide breakfast on the day of your departure. However, most hotel offers breakfast during your stay there. In case your hotel does not provide breakfast, we will stop at a restaurant at the beginning of our tour, where you will be available to purchase a breakfast.
Sacred Valley Brewing
During this tour you have option to stop at the most famous craft brewery in the Sacred Valley is Cervecería del Valle Sagrado (also known as Sacred Valley Brewing Co.) (from 70 to 100 peruvian soles)
Travel Insurance
We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen along your visit to Peru.
Tips for our team
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.
SACRED VALLEY TOUR PACKING LIST
At Vidal Expeditions we focus to make your trip an unforgettable experience and we want to provide all details which you need to know before to leave your country and start your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack? Important- Passport
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking pant
- Trekking poles
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:
Daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger try to bring it as lighter as possible.
- Sunhat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (iPhone)
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Earplugs
- Snacks (Chocolate, energizing bars, caramels, etc.)
SACRED VALLEY TOUR FROM OLLANTAYTAMBO FAQs
The tour departs from your accommodation or a central meeting point in Ollantaytambo and ends with a drop-off at your hotel in Cusco city center. It's a one-way journey through the Sacred Valley, no backtracking required.
The classic Sacred Valley tour from Cusco visits Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. This tour starts where that one ends. Ollantaytambo, and instead takes you to Maras Salt Mines, Moray terraces, and Chinchero, finishing in Cusco. Different sites, different starting point, completely different experience.
Yes. Entry to Moray and Chinchero requires the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which costs between $20–$40 USD depending on the circuit you choose. Your guide will help you purchase it if you don't already have one.
Pickup in Ollantaytambo is between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. You can expect to arrive in Cusco between 5:00 and 6:00 PM depending on time spent at each site and traffic conditions.
Absolutely, this is one of the best ways to use your return day from Machu Picchu. Catch the early train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, meet your guide at the station, explore the valley, and arrive in Cusco that evening refreshed and without any extra transfers..
Each site involves 20–40 minutes of easy to moderate walking on well-maintained paths. Moray includes a short descent and ascent on stone steps. The highest point is Chinchero at 3,765 m, so drink plenty of water and take your time if you've recently arrived in the Andes.
Bring a light daypack with sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a rain jacket (especially May–October), comfortable walking shoes, a refillable water bottle, snacks, extra cash for souvenirs and tips, and your Boleto Turístico or money to purchase it on arrival.
Yes, a buffet lunch is included at a local restaurant in the valley. You'll find a generous spread of traditional Peruvian dishes including soups, roasted meats, quinoa, fresh salads, and chicha morada. Vegetarian options are usually available.
Yes — solo travelers are very welcome. You'll join a small group of up to 8 people. If you'd prefer a fully private experience with just your own guide and vehicle, contact us and we can arrange a private departure for a supplementary fee..
From: USD 60.00 per person
Private Tour USD 90.00 per person
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Vidal Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. Vidal Expeditions will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Feel free to reach us via email at vidalexpeditions@gmail.com or by calling us directly at +51 951 359 694
Monday - Friday:
09:00 to 18:00 Hrs.
Saturday:
09:00 to 13:00 Hrs.
Prolongacion Av. Grau L-8, Santiago - Cusco
Full Day
Sacred Valley Tour from Ollantaytambo
What's it like
Ollantaytambo Sacred Valley Tour
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT TOUR OPERATOR IN OUR CUSCO DAY TOURS?
At Vidal Expeditions we are focus in offer the best service for all our customers and here is what makes us different than others during our different Cusco Day Tours.
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Small Groups: Along our different day tours from Cusco, our group size is a capped at 12 people. This guarantees that you will enjoy every step and provide you safety.
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All included: Vidal Expeditions provides an exclusive service during our day tours, from pick up to the drop off, entrance fee, guides, transportation, and meals, to make you not be worry about anything. .
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Safety: Safety is our priority during each of our Cusco tours, we gurantee our departure when you book the tour with us. Our minimum size of group to operate this tour is 3 people.
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Local Certificate Guides: Our team consists of 100% local certificate guides, who have expert knowledge and experience in different cultural tours around Cusco.
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Best Meals: During the day tours from Cusco, we offer a variety of foods which is prepared by our professional chef who use local ingredientes and take care about your dietary.
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Best team: At Vidal Expeditions we focus to create the best experience during our excursions. Our team that consists of tour guides and drivers are handpicked. We train our team to offer you the best service. We take care of our team by providing them with good equipment and paying them fairly.
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