Sacred Valley Full Day Tour from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (Flexible Ending Options)

Exploring the Salt Mines from Ollantaytambo

Duration: Half-day (approx. 4 to 5 hours)
Starting Times:
Recommended: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Alternative: 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
(This tour is fully flexible and can start at any time that fits your schedule).

The tour offers flexible departure times, although we recommend leaving at 8:00 a.m. to make the most of the morning and avoid the crowds arriving from Cusco. However, if you prefer a more relaxed morning, you can also start the tour at 1:00 p.m.

Begin a private half-day journey through the breathtaking Sacred Valley, departing from the charming town of Ollantaytambo. This carefully designed route allows you to explore some of the most fascinating sites in just a few hours, ideal for travelers with limited time wanting to experience the essence of the Sacred Valley before heading to Cusco.

Your adventure begins with a visit to the Maras salt mines, a stunning site with over 5,000 salt ponds cascading down the mountainside. By visiting the Maras salt ponds first, you will enjoy a peaceful atmosphere before most group tours arrive. Here, you will stop at a local family’s home for an optional tasting of chicha, the traditional corn beer of the Incas, and to sample different types of salts. The family will explain their traditional methods of salt production, which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Next, you will continue to the circular terraces of Moray, an Inca agricultural laboratory where ancient engineers experimented with different microclimates to improve their crops. Stroll through this extraordinary site as your private English-speaking guide explains its historical and agricultural significance.

Note: If you wish, you can end the tour in Cusco instead of Ollantaytambo, arriving comfortably at your hotel in the early afternoon for lunch.

Pricing & Notes

Prices start at US$95 per person (based on two travelers).
Final rates may vary depending on the group size, chosen route, and whether you prefer to end your tour in Cusco or return to Ollantaytambo.

For an exact quote and personalized itinerary, please contact us directly — our team will be happy to design the perfect Sacred Valley experience for you.

Includes:
✔ Private transportation throughout the tour
✔ Professional English-speaking local guide
✔ Hotel pick-up in Ollantaytambo
✔ Drop-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco (your choice)
✔ Local taxes

Not included:
✘ Entrance fees to Maras and Moray (purchased separately)
✘ Meals
✘ Tips

Exploring the Ruins of Ollantaytambo

Begin your unforgettable tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with an early pick-up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo, at around 8:00 a.m. Traveling in a comfortable private vehicle, you will explore some of the region’s most iconic sites, accompanied by an expert English-speaking guide to bring Inca history and culture to life.

We start at the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, one of the most remarkable examples of Inca architecture. Discover with your guide, the ancient terraces, the Temple of the Sun, and the Temple of Water, and learn about the strategic importance of this site during the Inca Empire. Take your time to admire the panoramic views of the city and the valley from the top of the fortress.

Next, we will continue to the Maras salt mines, a breathtaking landscape of more than 5,000 salt ponds cascading down the hillside. Here, you will witness the ancestral method of salt extraction still used by local families today in the village of Maras. During the visit, we will stop to taste the salt and try chicha, a traditional corn beer deeply rooted in Andean culture.

The final stop is at the circular terraces of Moray, one of the most fascinating agricultural laboratories of the Inca civilization. Explore the concentric terraces that were once used to experiment with crops and microclimates, demonstrating the Incas’ advanced knowledge of agriculture and the environment.

Enjoy scenic stops along the way back to Cusco, we stop at a local alpaca and llama farm (optional), where we will also learn about the textile process using ancestral techniques (this stop is optional if you are interested in buying or seeing the process; coordinate with your guide for more information).

Pricing & Notes

Prices start at US$105 per person (based on two travelers).
Final rates may vary depending on the group size and whether you prefer to end your tour in Cusco or return to Ollantaytambo.

For an exact quote and personalized itinerary, please contact us directly — our team will be happy to design the perfect Sacred Valley experience for you.

Includes:
✔ Private transportation throughout the tour
✔ Professional English-speaking local guide
✔ Hotel pick-up in Ollantaytambo
✔ Drop-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco (your choice)
✔ Local taxes

Not included:
✘ Entrance fees to Maras and Moray (purchased separately)
✘ Meals
✘ Tips

Pisac Sacred Valley of the Incas

Commence your full-day adventure with an early pickup from your hotel in Ollantaytambo. Accompanied by your knowledgeable English-speaking local guide, explore the impressive archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, one of the most important Inca sites in Peru. Stroll through its ancient stone terraces, admire the intricate Inca engineering, and learn about the site’s pivotal role during the final resistance against the Spanish conquest.

From Ollantaytambo, we continue your journey to the impressive salt mines of Maras, a captivating landscape of over 5,000 terraced salt ponds that glisten under the Andean sun. Here you will discover how local families have harvested salt using traditional methods passed down for centuries.

Along the way we stop at a local family home in Maras to taste chicha and attend a demonstration on salt, where you will sample different types of Maras salt and learn about its culinary and medicinal uses. Savor the unique flavor of chicha de jora, a fermented corn beer deeply rooted in Andean heritage and local festivities.

Next, you visit the impressive agricultural terraces of Moray, a circular system of concentric platforms that once served as an Inca agricultural laboratory. Your guide will explain how each terrace reproduced a different microclimate, allowing the Incas to experiment with crops and altitude. This site is one of the most impressive examples of the Incas’ deep understanding of nature and science.

Your exploration continues after lunch in Urubamba (optional) with a visit to the archaeological site of Pisac, one of the largest and most impressive ruins in the Sacred Valley. Walk through the ceremonial and agricultural sectors, enjoy panoramic views of the valley, and visit the local market in Pisac, famous for its colorful textiles, silver jewelry, and handmade crafts.

On the way to Cusco, make one last stop at a charming alpaca and llama farm. Interact with these docile animals and discover the art of traditional Andean weaving with natural dyes and soft alpaca wool.

Your unforgettable journey through the Sacred Valley concludes with a comfortable transfer to your hotel in Cusco around 5:30 p.m.

Important Information

Please note that all archaeological sites and the alpaca farm close at 5:00 p.m. so we strongly recommend that you start the tour as early as possible to enjoy each place without rushing.

Visits to local markets or craft shops in Pisac are entirely optional. At Come See Peru Tours, we prefer to focus on exploring and discovering more of the region rather than spending time shopping. However, if you are interested in shopping, your guide will be happy to make time for you.

We would also like to clarify that we do not work with any shops or workshops nor do we receive commissions from them.

Pricing & Notes

Prices start at US$130 per person (based on two travelers).
Final rates may vary depending on the group size, chosen route, and whether you prefer to end your tour in Cusco or return to Ollantaytambo.

For an exact quote and personalized itinerary, please contact us directly — our team will be happy to design the perfect Sacred Valley experience for you.

Includes:
✔ Private transportation throughout the tour
✔ Professional English-speaking local guide
✔ Hotel pick-up in Ollantaytambo
✔ Drop-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco (your choice)
✔ Local taxes

Not included:
✘ Entrance fees to Maras and Moray (purchased separately)
✘ Meals
✘ Tips

Chinchero Ruins – Sacred Valley

Our adventure begins with a pickup at 7:30 a.m. at your hotel in Ollantaytambo, followed by a visit to the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. Explore this ancient Inca fortress, famous for its enormous terraces, ceremonial temples, and breathtaking views.

After we visit Ollantaytambo, we will head to the fascinating salt mines of Maras, where you will discover the traditional salt extraction process that has been practiced for centuries. Marvel at more than 5,000 terraced ponds, glistening in shades of white and pink. Your guide will provide interesting information about the history, geology, and local significance of this site.

Next, you will enjoy an authentic cultural experience with a chicha tasting: savor this traditional Andean drink made from fermented corn. You will also have the opportunity to taste different types of local salts, such as “flor de sal,” “pink salt,” and “medicinal salt,” a sensory experience not to be missed! (Optional stops).

Next, we will continue on to the ruins of Moray, an extraordinary archaeological site with concentric circular terraces. It is believed that the Incas used these terraces as an agricultural laboratory to experiment with different crops in various microclimates, demonstrating their advanced knowledge of agriculture and science.

Our next stop is Chinchero, a charming Andean village and the highest point of our trip. Here you will explore the ancient Inca ruins and enjoy breathtaking views of the Andes, and discover why Chinchero was once an important ceremonial site during the Inca Empire.

Afterwards, you will attend a traditional weaving demonstration, where local women will show you the intricate process of dyeing and weaving alpaca wool using natural colors and ancestral techniques, a beautiful expression of Andean heritage.

Finally, we will visit a local alpaca farm, where you can get up close to these docile animals and learn about the different native breeds of the Andes.

Our tour concludes around 5:30 p.m., with transportation available to Cusco or Ollantaytambo, depending on your travel plans.

Important Information

The alpaca farm in Chinchero is small and locally run, offering a brief but authentic visit. If you would like to see more alpacas, we recommend taking Route 3 with Pisac, which includes a larger farm.

In Chinchero, you will also visit a local weaving center, where artisans demonstrate traditional techniques. Shopping is optional, and Come See Peru Tours has no commercial ties to these vendors. Prices are set directly by the artisans and may vary. To guarantee prices, we suggest shopping at authorized stores in Cusco.

Pricing & Notes

Prices start at US$125 per person (based on two travelers).
Final rates may vary depending on the group size, chosen route, and whether you prefer to end your tour in Cusco or return to Ollantaytambo.

For an exact quote and personalized itinerary, please contact us directly — our team will be happy to design the perfect Sacred Valley experience for you.

Includes:
✔ Private transportation throughout the tour
✔ Professional English-speaking local guide
✔ Hotel pick-up in Ollantaytambo
✔ Drop-off in Ollantaytambo or Cusco (your choice)
✔ Local taxes

Not included:
✘ Entrance fees to Maras and Moray (purchased separately)
✘ Meals
✘ Tips