The Best Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco & Why I Think it is Worth it
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Are you planning a trip to Cusco and wondering which Sacred Valley Tour is actually worth your time and money?
After visiting Peru twice and exploring the Sacred Valley on both trips, I’ve learned that not all tours are created equally. The Sacred Valley is the perfect day trip from Cusco to help acclimatise to the altitude whilst seeing some of the most impressive Incan ruins, dramatic Peruvian Andes views, agricultural terraces and colourful local markets. Going with a guide also adds so much more context to what you’re seeing and you’ll learn a lot about the local history and culture.
The first time I went to the Sacred Valley, I only saw a small slice of the region, visiting Ollantaytambo and Chinchero, so when I had the chance to visit Cusco a second time, I knew I wanted a more complete experience.
This time, I booked a full day tour which took me to Chinchero, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo & Pisac and it was amazing to see the contrast in the different places, especially the striking Salt Mines at Maras. Seeing all these places in the Valley made the day feel incredibly well rounded and worth it.
In this guide, I’ll share what I think is the best Sacred Valley tour from Cusco, exactly what to expect throughout the day, and who this tour is best for. I also cover a private Sacred Valley tour option if you prefer to move at your own pace and spend more time at the places that interest you most.
Short on time? You can jump straight to the Sacred Valley tour I recommend below.
Why the Sacred Valley is a Must-See From Cusco
The Sacred Valley is a must-see from Cusco because it shows you the behind the scenes of how the Incan world actually functioned. Cusco was the spiritual and political heart of the empire, but the Sacred Valley was where daily life happened, from farming and food production to trade and experimentation.
It’s also one of the best places to visit early in your Cusco itinerary. The Sacred Valley sits at a lower altitude than Cusco, making it a great way to sightsee while acclimatising. Instead of spending your first couple of days feeling sluggish and stuck in the city, you can be out soaking up the fresh air in the Sacred Valley and letting your body gradually adjust to the altitude.
What makes the Sacred Valley so special is how much variety you can experience in a single day, which is why it’s such a good option if you are short on time in Cusco. This is exactly why we chose to do at as our only day trip the first time I visited Cusco.
The Best Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco (My Full-Day Experience)
Sacred Valley Tour at a glance
Duration: Full day (approximately 12 hours)
Cost: from USD29 per person
Start / End: Early morning pick-up from Cusco (usually around 6:30am), return to Cusco in the evening
Group size: Small group tour (alternative private option)
Stops included: Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines, Ollantaytambo, Pisac
Lunch: Buffet lunch included
Guide: English-speaking local guide
Additional costs to know about:
This tour does not include the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), which is required to enter several Sacred Valley sites, including Chinchero, Moray, and Pisac. You can purchase this ticket online before you go or at the first site on the day of the tour. If you are also visiting Saqsaywaman in Cusco, I recommend the 10-day ticket to get the best deal.
Entrance to the Maras Salt Mines is also paid separately on arrival.
How to book: Check availability and book here
I booked this tour in advance online to secure my spot, especially since places can fill up quickly in peak season.
Choosing my Sacred Valley Tour
The main thing I was looking for when I booked my tour was to visit as many places in the Sacred Valley as possible, especially including the salt mines and to make sure it included lunch. I wanted to book a group tour as we had a group of girls all wanting to go on the tour together. The tour that I ended up picking had all that and more.
What I loved about this tour & why I think it is worth it
My favourite part of the day was definitely the Maras Salt Mines because of how much they stood out against the rest of the tour. The bright white and rust-coloured salt pools cascading down the mountainside were such a contrast to the green valleys and stone ruins we’d seen earlier in the day.
I also loved that we got to try the different types of salts that the locals mine and we even got to try salted chocolate! I brought a few home with me for friends and Dave which made it feel like a meaningful souvenir instead of something generic and touristy.
Another big reason this tour felt worth it was our guide. Rudy was incredibly informative and did a great job of explaining not just what we were seeing, but why it mattered. Having everything planned out for us meant that I could relax and enjoy each stop instead of worrying about timing, transport or logistics, which I know from experience can be super stressful when you’re navigating a new country.
The whole day went smoothly, even when it started to rain (I visited at the beginning of the rainy season in November). There are plenty of locals selling ponchos so if you forget to bring wet weather gear, they have you covered. Just make sure you bring some extra cash.
For a full day tour, I felt like it was a really easy and rewarding way to see a lot of the Sacred Valley and I arrived back in Cusco feeling like I’d gained a much better understanding of the region without feeling exhausted.
Tips for making the most of your Sacred Valley Tour
- Bring cash – for any souvenirs and some toilets charge 1 or 2 Soles.
- Bring water to stay hydrated (our guide also provided bottles of water complementary)
- Bring your own snacks as only lunch is provided.
- Take it slow when hiking up the ruins in Pisac and Ollantaytambo as you will feel more breathless than usual due to the altitude.
- Photography tips – I brought my 16-35 f/2.8 which was perfect for the tour.
- Wear good walking shoes – I just wore my Blundstones which were fine but hiking boots or trail runners would be even better.
- Bring layers to stay warm – even though I was there in Summer, it was pretty chilly in the mountains.
- Bring sun protection – the Andean sun is intense, even when it’s cool or cloudy. There is little shade at some of the locations.
- Boleto Turístico reminder – If you haven’t already purchased the Cusco Tourist Ticket, make sure you have cash and your passport handy. You’ll need it for several stops in the Sacred Valley, and if also for the ruins above Cusco if you plan on visiting another day.
- Bring toilet paper – many of the bathrooms do not provide toilet paper so it’s best to BYO.
Who this tour is best for
This tour is perfect if you don’t have much time in Cusco and are trying to pick just one day trip. If I only had a couple of days in the city, I’d choose this tour over a hiking option, especially because of the altitude.
It’s also ideal for first-time visitors to Peru, as your guide provides so much context about the history, culture, and way of life in the Sacred Valley.
This isn’t the best option if you want long, unhurried time at each site or if photography is your main priority and you prefer to linger. In that case, a private tour or spreading the valley over multiple days would be a better fit.
Alternative Private Sacred Valley Tour
If you want more of a flexible schedule and control over your day, a private Sacred Valley tour is the way to go. With a private guide, you can set your own pace, linger longer at the sites that interest you the most and rush through the parts that don’t.
This is perfect if you want extra time for photography and soaking up the views or want to explore the villages and markets in more depth.
If I were booking a private tour, this is the one I would choose. It combines a knowledgeable local guide, a great itinerary to all of the top sites and enough flexibility to make the day your own.
My Sacred Valley Tour Itinerary
Pickup in the morning from Cusco
Your Sacred Valley tour day is going to be a big day and pick up from your hotel is usually around 6:30am but check your booking for the exact time. You might also get a Whatsapp message from the tour guide the night before to reconfirm your pick up location and time so if you don’t currently have Whatsapp, I recommend downloading it for Peru. Many of the hotels and tour companies use it to contact you.
Chinchero
The first stop is Chinero which is a small village where we visited the local woman’s coop to see the Textile Interpretation Center. Here we learned how the alpaca wool is coloured using natural ingredients such as berries.
Tip – I think I might have made this mistake on BOTH of my trips 😐
At the textile coop, there is a shop which sells some gorgeous alpaca wool sweaters, blankets gloves and so much more. As this was the first place I visited on each of my trips, I didn’t buy anything but later on realised that the items here were more beautiful than many of the other markets I came across. They were also cheaper!
Moray Terraces
Next, we stopped at Moray Archaeological Site to see some pretty incredible terraces which at first you would think was a giant amphitheatre. Our tour guide gave us a guided walking tour around the terraces and we learned all about what the Incas used them for. The ground was pretty muddy here on a bit of a rainy day in November, so I recommend wearing walking shoes or hiking boots.
Maras Salt Mines
This was my favourite stop and one that I missed out on the first time I visited the Sacred Valley because I didn’t do the full tour. Here we were able to taste the salt and try salted Peruvian chocolate and visit the actual mines which were a vibrant orange/brown and cream.
It was a short walk down to the lookout point above the salt mines. We stayed here for a pretty good amount of time which was enough to get some photos and videos before walking back up to the bus.
Buffet lunch
The day was broken up with a delicious buffet lunch of different Peruvian cuisines in this amazing restaurants with huge ceilings and windows.
Ollantaytambo Fortress
I remembered Ollantaytambo from the time I was there with Dave back in 2017 and took a photo at the same place as last time. It brought back good memories of our first overseas trip together. 🥰
Ollantaytambo is a really well-preserved Incan town and archaeological site in the Sacred Valley, known for its massive stone terraces and temples built into the mountainside. To get up to the ruins, you have to climb some steep stairs which is a little brutal so I recommend to just take them slow.
Ollantaytambo is super impressive and there are markets below the ruins if you want to purchase anything. I found that I had enough time in the ruins but not really enough time for the markets so if you want to shop you might want to walk back down a bit earlier.
Pisac Ruins
The last stop of the trip is Pisac. These are the most impressive ruins of the entire day and are so large that they rival even Machu Picchu! The Pisac ruins sit high above the Sacred Valley and it is once again, a bit of a climb to get up there but it’s so worth it! They are incredible and really show the full scale of the Incan engineering. The views over the valley here were some of my favourite of the entire day!
We also saw some alpacas and llamas which was exciting because they were the first of our trip!
frequently asked questions
My thoughts
I loved the Sacred Valley both of the times I visited but the second time really blew me away because of how much we saw. If you are staying in Cusco and on the fence about whether or not you should visit the Sacred Valley, I’m going to help you out and just say do it!
Don’t plan your trip to Peru without reading these:
- How to Spend a Magical 3 Days in Cusco
- Best Day Trips From Cusco, Peru
- Things to do in Cusco for First-Timers
- Unique Places to Stay in Cusco
- An Incredible Lima 1 Day Itinerary
- Best Things to do in Lima Peru
- Where to Stay in Lima (I found the best place ever)!
- Is Lima Worth Visiting: My Honest Review
- Is Cusco Worth Visiting?
- Bucket List Things to Do in Peru
- Is Huacachina Worth Visiting: My Honest Option
- Where to Stay in Huacachina
- How to Get to Huacachina from Lima
- Is Rainbow Mountain Worth It? What I’d Do Differently After Visiting
- My Experience Hiking the Inca Trail
- My Experience Hiking the Salkantay Trek
- Inca Trail vs Salkantay Trek (From someone who’s done both)
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