A Complete Guide to Sacred Valley: Peru’s Hidden Gem
I visited the Sacred Valley on a 2 month backpacking trip in South America. If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Cusco or an extended itinerary, Sacred Valley is the perfect destination. Not only is it located near Cusco but it’s also the ideal gateaway to Machu Picchu.
I recommend taking a Sacred Valley tour after hiking Salkantay Trek or the Rainbow Mountain. Since the itinerary involves minimal walking, it’s a perfect 1 day trip from Cusco to learn more about the Incas and local culture.
In this post, I’ll share a guide to Sacred Valley, the main highlights and how we explored the area. This way you can plan your own trip and make the most of your time in Peru.
Guide to Sacred Valley: 1-Day Tour & Itinerary Map
We decided to visit Sacred Valley with a tour, but there are many different ways you can visit this area. A popular option is to combine a Sacred Valley tour with Machu Picchu, including an overnight stay in Ollantaytambo.
A Sacred Valley self guided trip is a great option as well. You can rent a car, use public transport or hire a driver to take you around. Independently of what you choose, this guide to Sacred Valley will help you make the most of your time.
Why Visit the Sacred Valley: History Snapshot
During the time of the Inca Empire, the Sacred Valley was a key agricultural hub. This was especially true for maize, which was a sacred crop. Its fertile soil and mild climate made it ideal for farming, while its location allowed for the movement of goods, such as coca leaves and chili peppers from the tropical lowlands to Cusco. That’s how it earned its name: the Sacred Valley.
Today, the Sacred Valley is a rewarding place to visit for its impressive Inca archeological sites like Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Chinchero. It’s also known for traditional markets and local Quechua culture.
Also, the Sacred Valley is one of the main gateways to Machu Picchu. But even if you’re not continuing on to the famous town, exploring the Sacred Valley without Machu Picchu is still incredibly rewarding. With a mix of history, culture and scenery, the valley makes a memorable stop on any itinerary in Peru, whether it’s just 2 weeks or 3 weeks.
Entrance Fees to Sacred Valley
Although there is no entrance fee to the Sacred Valley itself, there are fees for the archaeological sites within it. This includes the ruins in Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray, as well as attractions like Chinchero and the Maras Salt Mines.
To visit these sites, you’ll need to purchase either the Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket or the Cusco Tourist Ticket. This ticket will grant you access to multiple locations and you can buy them at any of the attractions mentioned above.
How to Visit the Sacred Valley
There are many ways to visit the Sacred Valley, from 1-day tours from Cusco to multi-day stays in the valley. Ultimately, it depends on how much time you have available. A guide to Sacred Valley can help you decide which towns, ruins and markets to prioritize.
1. Day Tours From Cusco
The most popular way to visit Sacred Valley, if you have limited time, is by booking a guided tour from Cusco. These tours typically visit key sites, such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It’s a relaxed way to see the highlights without needing to navigate on your own.
2. Visit the Sacred Valley Self Guided and by Bus
Another way to explore the Sacred Valley is by bus from Cusco. There are two main routes you can take:
- Pisac Route: bus stop at Puputi Street s/n Cusco
- Chinchero Route: bus stop Pavitos Street s/n, Cusco
These buses leave every day from Cusco and stop in each town in the Sacred Valley. This is a very cheap way to visit the Sacred Valley, as each way costs around 5 Sol (USD$ 2).
3. Multi-Day Tours including Machu Picchu
If you don’t want to do the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek to get to Machu Picchu, then an itinerary for Cusco and Sacred Valley might just be the perfect choice for you. These tours combine Cusco, Sacred Valley and even Machu Picchu in one itinerary. Depending on the tour details, you can expect to receive some cultural insights, visit local Inca towns and maybe even explore some hiking trails in the Sacred Valley.
Take the Train to Ollantaytambo and Then Tour Sacred Valley
If you’re really set on taking the IncaRail, which ultimately brings you to Aguas Calientes (gateway to Machu Picchu), there is a way to still visit the Sacred Valley.
The best option would be to visit Machu Picchu first and on the way back stop in Ollantaytambo. Here, then you can hop on an organized tour of the Sacred Valley, bringing you ultimately back to Cusco.
Main Attractions in the Sacred Valley
On our 1-day tour to Sacred Valley we stopped at 5 main attractions. These included Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero and the Maras Salt Mines.
1. Chinchero: Experience Peruvian Weaving
The first stop in the Sacred Valley was just 30 minutes outside of Cusco. Chinchero is home to the Peruvian weaving, where many handcrafts are exported to the neighboring cities, such as Cusco.
To create textiles by hand, weavers in the Sacred Valley use natural dyes sourced from local plants and insects. For example, a parasite that grows on cacti forms a white coating, and when crushed, it produces a vibrant red dye. This natural colorant is not only used for dyeing textiles but is also traditionally used by local women as a natural alternative to makeup.
In Chinchero, we also visited the archeological ruins and the terraces that families once used for farming and agricultural purposes. Because of its rich and fertile soil, the land in Chinchero is perfect for growing potatoes, quinoa and beans.
2. Maras Salt Mines: Visit the Ancient Salt Mines
The Inca saw a great opportunity in the salt mines. It provided an important mineral at the time not only for consumption and livestock purposes, but also for food storage and even human mummification. Today, a local community controls and manages the Maras salt mines.
An underground network of canals brings salt water straight from the mountain to over 3,000 pools.
3. Moray: Inca Agricultural Terraces
Moray’s ruins consist of circular depressions that Inca people once used as plantation terraces to acclimatize plants and crops. The terraces had varying temperatures, depending on how deep they were dug into the ground. Also, a complex irrigation system, which still functions today, brought water to the different levels.
4. Ollantaytambo: Discover the Inca Fortress
Due to its strategic location at the entrance to the path leading to Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo held significant religious and military importance. During the Inca Empire, it served as a fortress, protecting against potential Spanish invasions.
Additionally, it functioned as a ceremonial temple, hosting key religious rituals and ceremonies.
5. Pisac: Explore the Archeological Site
The incredible terraces are carved into the mountain and extend from the bottom of the valley. The ruins were used for farming. But today they display a residential settlement, ceremonial baths and the largest Inca cemetery in South America.
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