Tour location: cusco. Calca and Urubamba provinces

Tour type: historical and cultural

Recommeded season: all year around

Difficulty: easy but it needs a lot of walking

Recommended age: 5+

Highlights: pisaq, ollantaytambo, salt mine, moray and chinchero.

.ITINERARY

We will pick you up at your hotel at 7:00 am, with our private van and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the first view stop will be at the Mirador of Taray, it is an amazing lookout. This spectacular view of the Urubamba valley is laid out before you, with traditional farming communities in the valley floor and mountain peaks rising along the valley.

Pisac. We drive to the archaeological site of Pisac, where you can see an immense Inca cemetery with many tombs. You will learn about the incredible farming terraces carved into the mountain, having time for exploring the ancient Inca city. These ruins are quite extensive and you will see many examples of original Inca architecture.

Then we head back to the colorful market of Pisac, which we visit for about 20 minutes. Then we drive to Urubamba for lunch where you have the option of a buffet restaurant of delicious Peruvian food, or other  restaurant.

Ollantaytambo. The second inka site to visito n this tour, it is considered a living inka town, exploring the archeological site for about 1 hour. Like Pisac, this is a very extensive site. You will learn about the incredible architecture of the Sun Temple, admire the water fountains, the impressive storehouses and more. 

Salt mine. The Salt Mine (Salineras), close to the colonial town of Maras, are Pre-Inca. Hundreds of saltpans decorate the hillside and have been used for salt extraction since before the Inca era. A natural spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of water heavily laden with salt, which is diverted into saltpans and evaporated to produce a salt that is of very high quality. This is one of the few places in the world where you can find naturally pink salt! This is a shorter walk than Pisac.

Moray. The fascinating Inca site of Moray is also known as “The Greenhouses of the Incas.” Different levels of terraces are carved into a huge bowl, part of which was further excavated by the Incas. The terraces have varied microclimates depending on how deep into the bowl they are placed. It is believed they were used by the Incas to research the optimal conditions for their crops. This is another short stop.

Chinchero: last stop on this tour is chinchero onother living inka town where people are mainly artisans, speak quechua. It also has  pre colonial  archeological site where we will see a catolic church built on the sacred inka templo. After this we keep driving back to cusco city and you will be at your hotel around 6pm.

INCLUDED

• Professional English speaking guide with extensive knowledge of each site

• Private comfortable transportation

NOT INCLUDED

• Entrance tickets to archeological sites: 70 soles (1 day pass)  which can only be purchased in soles and  at the first archeological site.

• Meals

• Salt Mine entrance 15 soles

WHAT TO BRING?

• Warm jacket and rain jacket

• Confortable shoes

• Hat

• Water

• Sun protection

• Money in soles to purchase boleto turístico y entrance to salt mine, lunch and souvenirs

• Original passport

• If you are a student, take your student ID card (only works for the 10 day boleto turístico)