It is a fertile area and this circuit is home to a series of Andean towns. It was a very important place for the Incas due to its excellent climatic and geographical qualities. It has a pleasant climate because it is located between 2700 and 2900 meters above sea level. Throughout this valley there are snow-capped mountains, vegetation, representative populations, living cultures, traditions, among others.

This valley allows a series of tourism activities. Without a doubt, it is one of the main destinations for outdoor activities.

Pisaq: The ruins of the citadel of Pisaq was a route that linked the Inca Empire with Paucartambo. According to studies, it was a royal estate of the Inca Pachacuteq. This place includes spaces for domestic and ceremonial use. Currently it is visited not only for the ruins but for the markets and its craft fairs.
Ollantaytambo: It is one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the Inca Empire. It is considered that it constituted a military, agricultural and religious center to control the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Chinchero: It has the archaeological complex and the city of Chinchero, a rich monumental and cultural heritage. The inhabitants of Chinchero still dress in the style of their ancestors, thus preserving their traditions. Its main activity is agriculture.
This is one of the essential tours if you want to go to Cusco, the excursion to visit the Sacred Valley is one day (full day), either through a travel agency or privately.

The Sacred Valley is located near the city of Cusco, this circuit is made up of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras and Moray. Most visitors spend a day getting to know them.

You can also do it a day before your visit to Machupicchu, since at the end of the tour you can stay and spend the night in Urubamba, since the proximity to the Ollanta train station is perfect (15-25 minutes away from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo).

Throughout your visit to the sacred valley you will be able to see natural landscapes, living cultures and archaeological sites that date back to the Inca era.

How to visit the Sacred Valley?

If you do it through a tourism agency, the tour begins in Cusco city; some offer pick-up at the hotel, starting at approximately 8am. Then we leave for the Valley visiting Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, making a stop for lunch in Urubamba (hotel and restaurant area). Being back around 6pm in Cusco.

If you want to get to know Maras and Moray you must take an additional half-day excursion, it is also offered through a shared tour service. Where you can visit the salt mines and the circular platforms of Moray.

Now, if you want to visit the 5 places in a single day, you should ask if this tour is available since it is a one-day visit but it is exhausting, the visit is done quickly to cover all the places before mentioned.

For those independent travelers who wish to visit the Sacred Valley on their own, you must organize your time and budget. Since they must have extra time to make the visit. You have to consider the schedules and bus or car terminals to get to each place. To start, you can do it from Cusco - Pisac, then visit Ollantaytambo and finally Chinchero to return to Cusco city. Maras and Moray are located near Urubamba, consider this as a starting point if you spend the night in Urubamba to visit them.

There is also the possibility of renting a taxi and doing this tour privately and comfortably. To do this you must check the availability of a unit.

Whether on tour or independently, consider that you must acquire a TOURIST TICKET that will allow you access to the tourist sites in the Sacred Valley. There are 2 types of tickets that you can purchase, according to your convenience (Partial and complete).

These tickets are for personal and non-transferable use that give the right to enter tourist and archaeological sites in Cusco.

The BTC allows tourists to enter parks and archaeological sites, such as: SAQSAYHUAMAN, QENQO, PUKA PUKARA, TAMBOMACHAY, PISAQ, OLLANTAYTAMBO, MORAY, CHINCHERO, TIPON, PIKILLAQTA, places such as: POPULAR ART MUSEUM, QORICANCHA SITE MUSEUM , REGIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, MONUMENT OF THE INCA PACHACUTEC, and the QOSQO CENTER OF NATIVE ART.

There are 2 types of tickets: Comprehensive Tourist Ticket and Partial Tourist Ticket to visit the Valley. For more information you can visit: https://cosituc.gob.pe/tarifario/

If you want more information, write to us at reservations@hotelesmabey.com