Best Private Sacred Valley Tours & Trips For 2023/2024

The Pisac archaeological site is located at the beginning of the Sacred Valley. It is considered one of the region's most important Incan sites, mainly known for its impressive agricultural terraces and beautiful hilltop views.

The site is believed to have been constructed during the Incan Empire (1438-1532) and served as a strategic military and religious center for the Incas. The ruins at Pisac include a temple complex, a residential area, and several administrative and military buildings.

One of the most impressive features of Pisac is its agricultural terraces, built into the steep mountainside and used for farming crops such as corn, potatoes, and quinoa. The terraces were designed to maximize irrigation and prevent erosion, and they are still used by local farmers today.

Pisac Market is a vibrant outdoor market located in the town of Pisac. It is famous for its colorful displays of handicrafts, textiles, and traditional Peruvian foods.

The market is open daily, but it is especially lively on Sundays when vendors from the surrounding villages come to sell their goods. Visitors to Pisac Market can browse various products, including alpaca wool clothing, ceramics, jewelry, and musical instruments.

One of the market's highlights is its selection of traditional Peruvian foods. Vendors sell freshly prepared dishes such as roasted guinea pig, ceviche, empanadas, and various fruits, vegetables, and spices. Visitors can also sample traditional Peruvian drinks such as chicha, a fermented corn drink, and pisco, a grape brandy that is the national drink of Peru.

Ollantaytambo is a small town located approximately 38 miles (61 km) from Cusco. It is known for its well-preserved Incan ruins and its role as a transportation hub for travelers to Machu Picchu.

Ollantaytambo was named one of the world's best tourist villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The town was recognized for its well-preserved Incan architecture, rich cultural heritage, and role as a gateway to Machu Picchu.
The UNWTO's "Best Tourism Villages" initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism in rural areas and to recognize the vital role that small villages can play in the tourism industry.

The selection criteria for the initiative include the preservation of cultural heritage, the promotion of local products and services, and the implementation of sustainable tourism practices.

Moray is an archaeological site located in the upper part of the Sacred Valley, approximately 31 miles (50 km) from Cusco. It is known for its impressive circular terraces that the Incas used for agricultural experiments.

The terraces at Moray were built into a natural depression in the earth, and they are arranged in concentric circles that decrease in size as they descend. The Incas used these terraces to test different agricultural techniques and grow crops, including corn, potatoes, and quinoa.

One of the most exciting features of Moray is its microclimates. The temperature at the center of the circular terraces is several degrees warmer than at the edges, creating a range of growing conditions that allowed the Incas to test the adaptability of different crops to different climates.

They are also known as the "Ciudad de las Portadas," a nickname given to the town of Maras due to its numerous colonial-era doorways and arches, known as "portadas" in Spanish. These doorways are a distinctive feature of the town's architecture and are highly valued for their historical and cultural significance.

Many of the "portadas" in Maras are made of carved stone and feature intricate designs and motifs. They were built by Spanish colonizers in the 16th and 17th centuries and were used to mark the entrances to important buildings and homes.

The "portadas" is an important part of Maras' cultural heritage, and the town takes great pride in preserving them. The local government has implemented measures to protect and restore the doorways. Visitors to Maras can take guided tours to learn about the history and significance of these unique architectural features.

The Salt Ponds of Maras, also known as Salineras de Maras, is a series of salt evaporation ponds in the Sacred Valley at 3200 m (10498 ft). The salt ponds have been used since pre-Columbian times and are still operated using traditional methods today.

The salt ponds are situated on a steep hillside just outside the town of Maras and cover an area of several hectares. They consist of thousands of small terraced pools that are filled with salty water from a natural underground stream. The water is left to evaporate in the sun, leaving behind salt crystals that local families harvest.

The salt from the Salineras de Maras is highly valued for its purity and unique flavor. It is used for cooking and preserving food, as well as for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. The salt is also an important source of income for local families, who work together to maintain the ponds and harvest the salt.

Chinchero is a small Andean town located at 3,762 m (12,343 ft). It is known as the "Land of Great Weavers" due to the town's rich textile traditions, passed down through generations. The local people are skilled in weaving intricate patterns and designs into textiles using traditional techniques and natural dyes.

Chinchero is also home to a beautiful archaeological site with a large colonial church built on top of an Inca palace. The church, known as the Church of Our Lady of Monserrat, was built by the Spanish in the early 17th century using stones taken from the nearby Inca site.

The Inca palace, located underneath the church, is believed to have been built by the Inca ruler Tupac Yupanqui. The palace featured impressive stonework and a large central courtyard and was likely used for ceremonial and administrative purposes.

In addition to its cultural and historical significance, Chinchero is known for its stunning views of the Andes Mountains and its vibrant local markets, where visitors can purchase handcrafted textiles and other artisanal goods.

Mirador Taray is a scenic viewpoint located in the Sacred Valley. It is known for its stunning panoramic mountains, valleys, and farmland views.

The viewpoint is approximately 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) above sea level. It offers visitors a breathtaking view of the region's natural beauty. From Mirador Taray, you can see the Urubamba River winding its way through the valley below and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains in the distance.