SACRED VALLEY

OF THE INCAS

The sacred valley is a region in the Andean highlands of Peru, together with the nearby city of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu, it formed the heart of the Inca empire. The sacred valley has mysteries, Inca history, a countless number of ruins and stone terraces, all located in the beautiful natural settings of the valley carved out by the Urubamba River. The sacred valley takes its name from the great river that the Incas called willcamayu, which means sacred river.

This tour will take you to three main places, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. A buffet lunch is included in this tour.

 
 

ITINERARY:

  • The tour starts at 8.30 am with the pick up from your hotel. The first stop is in the small town of Ccorao, the gateway to the sacred valley. Here we will see some artisans and their traditional Peruvian handicrafts offered by the locals. Then we move to the Taray viewpoint, this viewpoint is one of the best panoramic views you have of the sacred valley below.

    The next stop is the town of Pisac, known for its lively craft market in the main square. A path winds from the main plaza past agricultural terraces to the Pisac Archaeological Park, an Inca citadel with ancient temples, a plaza, and the Intilhuatana. We will also visit the Inca cemetery of Tantana Marca. We stop for lunch in the riverside town of Urubamba.

    After lunch we travel to Ollantayambo which is known for its impressive ruins of an Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside, highlights include the Temple of the Sun and the source of the Baths of the Princess. We'll spend an hour here before moving on.

    Our last stop is Chinchero, where we will visit the church that is located in the main square, this church was built around 1607 by the Spanish. This colonial church is built on the remains of an Inca palace, believed to be that of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui. The church is impressive with ornate painted ceilings.

    After this, we return to the city of Cusco at approximately 7 pm, where you will be transferred back to your hotel.