Chinchero District

Neighborhood Tours

The first stop on this full-day tour from Cusco is the Mirador of Taray for spectacular views of the Andes and the Sacred Valley. Continue to the town of Pisac, the site of a popular market.. Visit the archaeological site and see the agricultural terraces, Inca cemeteries and royal buildings. Continue to Urubamba and enjoy a buffet lunch at a restaurant. Head to Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to Machu Picchu, and to protect the Incas from possible invasions. Visit the picturesque village of Chinchero on the way back to Cusco, and see the remains of the royal estate of Tupac Inca Yupanqui. See also how locals dye alpaca wool with natural plants of the region.

Your tour will start with your group pick-up. From there you will drive for about an hour to Chinchero, making a short stop in this town to visit one of the last traditional families. You will also learn about ancient textiles and the weaving process. After driving 30 minutes more, you will arrive to Moray, the ancient Inka agriculture laboratory located in a rare topographical depression in which the Inkas developed into unique circular terraces. You will learn how this entire area was also watered by a well-engineered irrigation system. After enjoying Moray, you will continue for another hour to the Salineras Salt Mines of Maray, your last destination on your tour. The salt mine is actually a vast collection of terraces born from a water stream high on a mountain. Over many centuries this salt spring has been channeled to 1,000 small pools. People wait for the sunny days to evaporate the water which leaves the pure salt behind, a technique of which has been used since pre-Inka times. You will finally drive approximately 1.5 hours back to Cusco, where your group will be dropped off near the Main Plaza de Armas.

Relax after pickup on a 1-hour trip to the city of Pisac in the Sacred Valley, making some stops along the way at scenic viewpoints. Take a break in a busy, local market, selling handmade crafts and clothes. Enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and explore nearby archeological sites.  Wander through the colonial town of Pisac town and purchase unique, handmade souvenirs and gifts. After visiting the market the bus will bring you to the hills above the town of Pisac to visit the famous archaeological sites. Journey through the Sacred Valley and stop for a buffet lunch in the town of Urubamba Continue along the valley to Ollantaytambo, founded by the Inca Ollantay on the banks of the Urubamba River. Visit the Sun Temple, constructed of large blocks that have remained intact for centuries. Heading on from Ollantaytambo the bus will return via Urubamba and then head up and out of the valley to the highlands above where you will make a final stop in Chinchero town. View the old painted murals and traditional market which is famous for their handmade textiles and weavings.

Your pickup will be from your hotel in Cusco at 8:10AM, at which point you will travel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will begin by visiting the impressive Pisac, which is known as the Inca astronomical observatory. Following that you will enjoy a buffet lunch in Urubamba, where you can enjoy typical Peruvian dishes. Your second point will be the fortress of Ollantaytambo, where you will observe the Temple of the Sun and its impressive monoliths. You'll then continue to the archaeological park of Chinchero, which is an important agrigola site. Whilst at Chinchero you can observe stairs, Inca walls, and the platforms where the locals used to post their llamas and alpacas. You can also observe Andean women who still wear Inca costumes, before you return to Cusco at approximately 7:30PM. Your tour will eventually end near the main square of Cusco.

Depart from Cusco on a 50-minute drive to arrive in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the town of Cruzpata. First thing, hop aboard your quad bike and learn how to handle the vehicle from your instructor. After a few minutes of training head out for an unforgettable experience. Pass through the neighboring landscapes of Cruzpata towards Laguna de Piuray, a vast lake, and hear its many stories and legends. While here check out the seasonal birds and other wildlife. Move to the banks of the lake to the community of the Ocutuan to meet and see locals as they live their day to day lives. Be received with a warm welcome from a host family to the rhythm of Andean music, necklaces of flowers native to the area, and dance the Huayllascha, typical of the Chinchero. After drinking a mate of coca, walk to the edge of the Laguna de Piuray to enjoy the natural beauty of the water resource that supplies water to Cusco.  Return to the community of the Ocotuan and after a short break witness the production of Andean textiles. See the process of dying goods from plants in the area. Have the opportunity to buy crafts made by local families. Go to the cultivation field and participate in a demonstration of traditional tools used in agricultural activities. Afterward, enjoy a delicious Andean lunch and taste the authentic food of the Peruvian Andes. Conclude your experience with a goodbye to the local community and go on a thrilling adventure with stunning views of the surrounding mountains on your quad bike before returning to Cusco.

Start the tour with convenient transfer straight from your hotel, and head through the mountains on the way to Pisac. On the way you will make some stops, where you will be able to take pictures and appreciate the sacred valley of the Incas from a beautiful viewpoint. Once in Pisac, you can visit its archaeological centre and its artisan market, full of terraces and temples. Afterwards, you will proceed through the valley to the town of Urubamba, where you can have some lunch. In the afternoon the tour visits the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo where you can learn about its history, magic, and culture. Then, stop at Chinchero, before heading back to your accomodation in Cusco.

Experience the secrets of the Incan Sacred Valley on this trip from Cusco. Journey to the little town of Chinchero, the Salineras salt mines, Urubamba, the Ollantaytambo fortress, and more on this full day excursion. Be picked up from the comfort of your hotel from between 06:35-6:50 am. Relax as you are transported to the picturesque little town of Chinchero, known as the city of the rainbow. See the Church of Our Lady of Monserrat and the Andenería agricultural terraces. Continue to Maras and the agricultural experimentation platforms of Moray where it is thought that the Incas created their own micro-climate. Head to the Salineras salt mines to see the salt evaporation ponds which have been in use since Incan times. Drive to the town of Urubamba to eat your fill of delicious Peruvian cuisine. After lunch, go to Ollantaytambo fortress which was a strategic military, agricultural and religious center. Visit Pisaq before going back to Cusco at 7:00 pm.

The day begins with pickup from your hotel in Cusco and heads to Pisac, situated on the Vilcanota River. Take a stroll through Pisac’s bustling market, mingle with the locals, and shop for colorful souvenirs. Continue the tour to Ollantaytambo next and climb the steps to the find fascinating Inca ruins. Ollantaytambo is best known for its huge Inca fortress and large stone terraces set into the hillside. The final stop of the tour is Chinchero, located at over 12,000 ft. Visit the Palace of Tupac Yupanqui and admire a panoramic sunset across the ruins. At the end of an unforgettable day, sit back and relax on the return journey to your accommodation in Cusco.