A Complete Guide to Sacred Valley: Peru’s Hidden Gem
The Sacred Valley in Peru sits right between Cusco and Machu Picchu. It’s the perfect place to slow down, take a break, and dive into local traditions. I loved wandering through markets in Pisac and climbing the ruins in Ollantaytambo. It’s also a great spot to wind down before heading to Machu Picchu. If you’re into history, culture, or just relaxing, the Sacred Valley is totally worth a visit.
After finishing the Salkantay Trek, we took a 1-day tour to the Sacred Valley from Cusco. It was the perfect way to unwind as it involved minimal walking. The tour gave us a chance to soak up the history and scenery without putting more strain on our legs. And if multi-day hikes like Salkantay aren’t your thing, you can still enjoy the Sacred Valley and continue on to Machu Picchu without ever lacing up your boots.
In this post, I’ll share what we saw and how we explored the Sacred Valley in Peru, so you can plan your own trip and make the most of it too.
Sacred Valley 1-Day Tour & Itinerary Map
There are many ways to explore the Sacred Valley from Cusco. We opted for an organized tour that picked us up from our hostel in the morning. But, some tours even include a stop at Machu Picchu or an overnight stay in the valley. Ours had five stops, giving us a great glimpse of the valley’s highlights.
Why Visiting the Sacred Valley
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 like 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 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 catch the train to Machu Picchu. With a mix of history, culture, and scenery, the valley makes a practical and memorable stop on any trip through Peru.
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, which grant access to multiple locations. You can buy these tickets at any of the attractions mentioned above.
Transportation Options
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.
Day Tours From Cusco
The most popular way of visiting the Sacred Valley, if you have limited time, is booking a guided day tour from Cusco. These tours typically visit key sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It’s a relaxed way to see the highlights without needing to navigate on your own.
Travel Tip: most of the tour agencies in Cusco offer a Sacred Valley tour. So, you’ll have unlimited options to choose from.
Visit the Sacred Valley Independently by Bus
Another way of exploring the Sacred Valley at your own pace is by taking the 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 economical way of visiting the Sacred Valley, as each way costs around 5 Sol (USD$ 2).
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 a multi-day tour from Cusco might just be the perfect choice for you. These tours combine both the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in one immersive experience. Depending on the tour details, you can expect to receive some cultural insights, explore local Inca towns and maybe even include short hikes.
Take the Train to Ollantaytambo and Then Take a Tour of 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 visit the Sacred Valley we stopped at 5 main attractions. These included Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero and the Maras Salt Mines.
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 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.
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 salt mines.
An underground network of canals brings salt water straight from the mountain to over 3,000 pools.
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.
Ollantaytambo: Discover Inca Fortress
Due to its strategic location at the entrance to the path leading to Machu Picchu, this archaeological site 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.
Travel Tip: In case you are thinking on visiting Machu Picchu, you can easily combine the visit with this tour. In fact, you can take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
Pisac: Explore the Archeological Site
The incredible terraces, which were used for farming, are carved into the mountain and extend from the bottom of the valley. The ruins today display a residential settlement, ceremonial baths and the largest Inca cemetery in South America.
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