The Sacred Valley is the stretch of the Urubamba river north of Cusco, with Inca terraces on its slopes and towns along the water. Ten hours is enough to see three of its main places in one go. This guide is for you if you are deciding which day to give it, whether to come back to Cusco at the end or stay in the valley, and how it fits with Machu Picchu.
Which day of the week, which month
The day of the week matters more here than on most trips. Pisac's craft market runs every day, but Sunday is when it is at its liveliest, with artisans coming down from the highland villages to sell. Chinchero holds its own fair on Sundays too, in the main square, where barter was once the point and textiles now draw visitors. A Sunday gives you both markets in one day. Any other day gives you quieter stalls.
For the month, Cusco's dry season runs from April to October, with mostly sunny days and cold nights. From November to March the rain comes more often, usually in the afternoon and evening. That is worth remembering because this tour spends its afternoon at Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. In the wet months, bring a rain layer for the later stops.
The altitude helps here
Much of the valley floor is lower than Cusco. Medical guidance for travellers notes that people arriving in Cusco can sleep lower than the city for a night or two while they adjust. That is one reason some travellers spend their first nights in the valley rather than in Cusco.
It also explains an option on this tour: we can end the day at a hotel in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo instead of driving you back. Chinchero, the last stop, is the exception. It sits on the high plain and is higher than Cusco, so take its streets slowly.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 and reach Pisac a little over an hour later. The terraces and the ruins on the ridge come first, then the town and its market. The ruins are reached by road from above, and the walk among them has many steps and some narrow, exposed paths. If you do not like heights, stay on the wider terraces. Allow around an hour and a half up there. Going early has another advantage: there are usually fewer people.
Lunch is in Urubamba, in the middle of the valley, and it is not included. You choose between buffets and restaurants.
The afternoon belongs to Ollantaytambo. The town still keeps its Inca street plan, and the descendants of its first inhabitants still live there. Above it rise the steep terraces and the unfinished temple of huge stones. Climbing the terraces is steep work, so take it slowly.
Chinchero comes on the way back across the plain. Its colonial church was finished in 1607 on top of an Inca building, and the town was where Túpac Inca Yupanqui chose to build his residence. The women of Chinchero have passed on spinning and weaving for generations, and you can see wool spun and coloured with natural dyes. You are back at your hotel at about 17:00.
Because the car is yours, you can shift the balance: longer in the market and less in the ruins, or the other way round. Ask your driver in the morning.
On your own or with a driver
The valley towns are linked by road and you can reach them by public transport and taxi. What makes it harder is the joining up. Public buses do not go up to the Pisac ruins, so you need a taxi from the town. Ollantaytambo and Pisac are at opposite ends of the route, and Chinchero is up on the plain, off the valley road. Doing all three on your own in one day means several changes and a late return.
A private car saves that time and lets you end the day wherever you need to be, including the station. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
Machu Picchu: end the day at the station
Machu Picchu is not reached by road. The train leaves from Ollantaytambo, which has more daily departures than any other stop on the line. If your train is the same evening, or the next morning, we can end the tour at the station instead of in Cusco and save you the drive back. Book the train first and tell us its time, so that the afternoon can be planned around it.
Tickets and what to bring
- The tourist ticket. Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray are on the Boleto Turístico's third circuit, which is valid for two days. At Pisac you show it at the checkpoint near the upper entrance. If you are also doing Moray on another day, or the city sites, the full ticket covers all three circuits over ten days. COSITUC is the official seller; buy it before the day and check the current rules with them.
- Cash. Local currency in small notes for the markets, lunch and the bakeries in Pisac.
- Layers. The day runs from a cold early start to the open plain at Chinchero in the late afternoon.
- Sun cream, a hat and good shoes. The terraces at Pisac and Ollantaytambo are long flights of uneven stone steps.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits a first look at the valley before Machu Picchu, and anyone who wants Inca sites and markets in one day. Children manage it if they are fine with long stretches in the car.
Think twice if you have trouble with steps: the terraces at both main sites are steep, though you can see a lot from the lower levels. Think twice too about adding Moray and Maras to the same day. It makes a very long day, and our separate Maras and Moray tour covers them in a shorter one.
Questions people ask
Can you leave us in the valley overnight?
Yes. We can end the day at a hotel in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, or at Ollantaytambo station.
What if we change our plans?
Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Where does this fit with the other days?
Our guide to day trips from Cusco puts the city first, then the valley, and Rainbow Mountain last.
Booking
Pick a Sunday if you want both markets at their fullest, buy the tourist ticket, and decide where the day should end. Stops, times and what is included are on the Sacred Valley private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
