Best Sacred Valley Tour starting from Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley Tour Starting from Ollantaytambo or Urubamba & Ending in Cusco

Looking for a Sacred Valley tour that starts in Ollantaytambo and ends in Cusco? Our one-day Sacred Valley Tour was designed specifically for travelers sleeping in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba after visiting Machu Picchu or hiking the Inca Trail. We pick you up at 7:30 AM from your hotel in the Sacred Valley and drop you off at your hotel or the airport in Cusco by 5:30 PM, no backtracking required.

You will visit the 4 best sites in the Sacred Valley in one day: Ollantaytambo Fortress, Moray Agricultural Terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and Pisac Ruins, plus a handicraft market and alpaca farm.

Best Places to Visit and Explore on the Sacred Valley Tour starting from Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo (2,792m): The last living Inca town. Explore the fortress, the Temple of the Sun, royal baths, and massive terraces with views of Qollqa storehouses and a distant glacier.
Moray (3,500m): The Inca agricultural laboratory. Three circular, amphitheater-like terraces where Incas experimented with crops like potato, corn, quinoa, and kiwicha using microclimates.
Maras Salt Mines (3,380m): Over 3,000 salt pools still farmed by hand by local families. A pre-Inca tradition that supplied salt to the entire Inca Empire.
Pisac Ruins (2,972m): One of the most intact Inca sites in Peru. Massive hillside terraces, intact irrigation aqueducts, and the Intihuatana ceremonial center.
Authentic Local Experiences: We avoid tourist traps. Includes scenic photo stops where big buses don’t go, authentic non-tourist local markets, and a small alpaca & llama farm for photos.

Itinerary
Inclusions
Prices
Packing List

Full Itinerary for the Sacred Valley Tour starting from Ollantaytambo

We pick you up from your hotel door. Start the day in Ollantaytambo, the only town in Peru where people still live in original Inca houses and walk through original Inca doorways.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex

Explore the royal baths, high terraces, and megalithic Temple of the Sun with your guide. From the top of the fortress, enjoy panoramic views of the Sacred Valley and the Pincuylluna mountain.

Scenic Drive to Moray

Drive through yellow wheat fields, traditional Andean villages, and snow-capped peaks to reach Moray. Your guide will explain how the Incas engineered different temperature levels to acclimatize crops.

Maras Salt Mines

The highlight for most travelers. Walk among thousands of white, pink-tinged salt pools and see how local families still harvest salt by hand exactly as the Incas did.

Lunch Stop in Urubamba (2,871m)
We stop in Urubamba, the heart of the Sacred Valley. Lunch is not included to give you choice. Your guide will recommend a clean, local buffet restaurant with vegetarian/vegan options (S/25 – S/60 soles). Just tell your guide if you prefer another spot.

Pisac Archaeological Site

After lunch, visit Pisac. See the vast agricultural terraces built to feed the Inca Empire year-round, all fed by an ingenious aqueduct system that still works today.

Pisac Market, Taray Viewpoint & Alpaca Farm

Descend to the famous Pisac handicraft market – optional, you can skip it if you prefer more time at the ruins. On the way to Cusco, we stop at the classic Taray Viewpoint for Sacred Valley photos and at a small alpaca and llama farm.

At the end of the day, we will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco or another location of your choice.

What’s Included for Sacred Valley Tour starting from Ollantaytambo ?

Included

Professional licensed local guide – fluent in English & Spanish
Private door-to-door transportation: Ollantaytambo/Urubamba to Cusco
Private van with experienced local driver
All local taxes and personalized service

Not Included

Entrance Tickets: Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket – S/70 for 1-Day Partial or S/130 for 10-Day General + Maras Salt Mines S/20. Payable in cash (Peruvian Soles) at first stop. Our guide helps you purchase them.
Lunch
Tips for guide and driver (optional but appreciated)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Price – Sacred Valley Tour from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Tour Details: From $65 USD per person in small groups (max 10) | Private tours from $197 per group | Door-to-door service: pickup in Ollantaytambo / Urubamba at 7:30 AM, drop-off in Cusco at 5:30 PM | 4 sites in 1 day

Group Prices – Small Groups, More Time at Each Site

2 Persons: $99 pp
- Small group, max 10 persons. Price per person based on final group size (minimum 2 required to start)
3 Persons: $75 pp
- Small group, max 10 persons. More time for photos at Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras, and Pisac
4+ Persons – Best Value: $65 pp
- Small group, max 10 persons. Most popular option for couples and friends traveling together

Private Group Prices – Any Date, 100% Private

1 to 2 Persons – Private: $197 per group
- Private guide, chauffeur, and private van. No others added. Depart any date. Your own schedule
3 to 5 Persons – Private: $240 per group
- Private guide, chauffeur, and private van. No others added. Perfect for families
6+ Persons – Private: $280 per group
- Private guide, chauffeur, and private van. No others added. Best for large families or groups

Key Information

Group Price Note: Price per person is based on the number of people in the group. When the group is finalized, each person pays based on the size of the final group. Minimum 2 people required to start a group. Limit 10 persons per group. Private price is per group, not per person, and is completely private with your own guide, chauffeur, and van

What You Need to Take for Sacred Valley Tour Starting from Ollantaytambo

Tour Details: Essential packing list and items for touring the Sacred Valley from Ollantaytambo

Clothing, Footwear, and Weather Protection

Clothing
- Weather in the Sacred Valley changes quickly, so bring lots of layers
- Pack t-shirts and add warmth with long-sleeve clothing and a fleece jacket
- Lightweight pants for walking around the archaeological sites
Footwear
- Comfortable hiking shoes or athletic sneakers with good traction are perfect for walking around the Inca complexes
- For multi-day hikes you will want boots for ankle support
Sun Protection
- Do not forget your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock
- Sun is very strong in the Andes even on cloudy days
Rainy Season
- During rainy season (November to March) pack a waterproof jacket, travel-size umbrella, or plastic poncho
- Ponchos are also available to buy cheap in Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Hydration, Snacks, and Personal Items

Bottled Water
- Do not drink tap water in Peru
- Staying hydrated is important for preventing altitude sickness (bring at least 1 liter)
Money
- Bring small bills and coins in Peruvian Soles (market vendors and small stores may not have change for large bills)
- Needed for entrance tickets, lunch, and souvenirs
Snacks
- Energy bars, candies, cookies, etc.
- You can also buy fresh fruits at one of the village markets along the way
Insect Repellent
- There are mosquitoes in the Sacred Valley, especially in lower areas like Ollantaytambo and Urubamba (bring repellent)

Gear and Electronics

Daypack
- Bring a small daypack with snug straps to carry your water, camera, snacks, and personal belongings when traveling outside Cusco for the day
Portable Charger
- Bring a portable charger as phone batteries run out quickly when taking photos and videos at high altitude and in the cold

FAQS

This full day cultural tour visits 4 top sites in one days. You will explore Ollantaytambo archaeological site and the last living Inca town, the circular argricultural laboratory of Moray, the 3,000 salt pool of Maras Salt Mines farmed by hand, and Pisac Inca ruins with massive terraces and intact aqueducts. We also include a stop at Pisac handicraft market optional and an alpaca and llama farm on the way to Cusco for photos. Private van and professional licensed local guide inclusded.

The tour stars frm your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba at 7:30am and ends in Cusco around 5:30pm with drop off at your hotel or the airport. It was specifically designed for travelers staying overnight in the Sacred Valley after Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail who need to return to Cusco. Private door to door service, no need to return to Ollantaytambo.

This is an easy cultural tour with no trekking. It is suitable foor all ages and fitness levels including families with children and older travelers. You will walk short distances as each archaeological site on mostly flat or stepped paths. Our private van waits for you at each stop. Ollantaytambo is at 2,792m, Urubamba at 2,871m, Pisac at 2,972m and Cusco at 3,399m, so altitude is much lower than Humantay or Rainbow Mountain.

You need two tickets. First is the Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket Boleto Turistico. S/70 soles for a 1 day partial pass valid for Pisac and Ollantaytambo or S/130 soles for a 10 day general pass. You can buy it in cash at your first stop. Second is Maras Salt Mines entrance S/20 soles per person separate, paid in cash on site. Our guide will help you purchase both. Entrance tickets are not included in the tour price to give you flexibility.

Lunch is not included but we stop in Urubamba, the gastronomic capital of the Sacred Valley, around 12:30pm. Your guide will recommend good local restaurants with buffet options from S/25 to S/60 soles with vegetarian and vegan options available. If you prefer another location, just tell your guide. We are a local operator and we support local restaurants, not tourist traps.

Group tour price is per person and based on final group size. Maximum 10 persons, average 5. Prices from $55 to $99 per person. Minimum 2 people required to start a group. Private tour price is per group not per person, from $197 for 1 to 2 persons, $240 for 3 to 5 persons and $280 for 6+ persons. Private tour is completely private with your own guide, chauffeur and van, no others added, available any date. Perfect if you want more time at each site and photo stops where other groups do not go.

Small daypack, passport copy, cash in Peruvian Soles in small bills for entrance tickets, lunch, market and tips, sun protection as UV is strong in the Andes, sunglasses, hat, light rain jacket especially November to March, comfortable walking shoes, water 1 liter, camera. Layers are recommended as it can be sunny in the valley and cooler in the afternoon. No need for hiking boots or trekking gear.

Yes, Pisac Market is optional and you can skip it if you prefer more time at the ruins. The market is one of the most colorful handicraft markets in Peru, with ceramics, textiles, jewelry, Andean instruments and alpaca products. Prices are negotiable and quality varies, your guide can help you find authentic local products and avoid overpaying. We also visit authentic non tourist local markets and farms along the route.

The Sacred Valley can be visited all year round as a licensed tour operator based in Cusco we run this tour daily. Dry season April to October has sunny days and clear views of snowcapped mountains and is peak season. Rainy season November to March is greener, less crowded and fields are more colorful, but afternoons can be cloudy with short rain showers. Morning tours from Ollantaytambo are best for photography. The salt mines are most white and beautiful in dry season.

Yes, this tour is very suitable for children, families and older adults as there is no strenuous hiking and the van is always nearby.

Is it worth is after Machu Picchu?

Absolutely. Ollantaytambo, Moray and Maras are not visited on the way to Machu Picchu and are completely different from Machu Picchu. You will understand how the Incas lived, farmed and engineered their empire. Many travelers say Moray and Maras were highlights of their trip to Peru. It is also the perfect way to return to Cusco without backtracking.

Sacred Valley Tour from Ollantaytambo to Cusco 4 Sites in 1 Day