Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco
Duration
Full Day
Difficulty
Easy
Language
Español / Ingles
Max. Altitude
4,650 msnm
The Maras and Moray tour from Cusco is the perfect full-day experience for travelers who want to explore the most unique archaeological and cultural sites in the Sacred Valley. This carefully designed Sacred Valley Maras Moray tour takes you beyond the classic route to discover hidden gems and breathtaking Andean landscapes.
Your journey begins in Chinchero, a traditional Andean village known for its textile heritage and panoramic mountain views. This authentic stop introduces you to local culture before continuing deeper into the Sacred Valley.
Next, you visit the fascinating Moray terraces, an impressive circular agricultural complex believed to have been an Inca experimental farming center. During this immersive Moray terraces tour, you learn how the Incas engineered microclimates to grow different crops at varying levels.
The adventure continues to the spectacular Maras Salt Mines. As part of this unforgettable Maras Salt Mines tour Peru travelers search for, you walk alongside thousands of salt pools that have been harvested since pre-Inca times. The contrast between white salt terraces and red Andean mountains creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in the region.
After exploring Maras, you head toward Ollantaytambo, one of the most important Inca towns still inhabited today. This complete Chinchero Maras Moray tour offers a balanced combination of culture, history, and dramatic scenery.
Because many visitors search specifically for a Maras and Moray tour from Cusco that includes authentic stops, this itinerary prioritizes smooth logistics, expert local guidance, and a well-paced experience.
From start to finish, this Sacred Valley Maras Moray tour is professionally organized and delivered with personalized attention by Machulas Journey.
Prices
Your pick-up time will be from your hotel at 7.00 am and driving toward to amazing town of Chinchero. Start the weaving lesson in one of the organizations of traditional textiles where the ladies will show you the process of elaborating it. If you are interested to obtain hand, make textiles this is the recommended point to get it. Then we will explore the archaeological site and the colonial church full of mural paintings. After that will continuing, to the picturesque town of Maras this community is located at an altitude of 3,380 meters above sea level. This is a small community famous for its salt mines which consist of about 3000 small Wells with an average are of about 5m2 from which salt is extracted after a drying process.
This salt mines, better known as “salineras de Maras”, have been exploited since Incas times as a means of economic Exchange. 7 km from Maras, we will visit the archeological of moray. Here in moray, we will see the greatness of the circular terraces of Inca agriculture.
Moray is a group of circular terraces which was used as an agricultural experimental, and adaptation center for wild crops. The Incas used it to study the adaptation of the plants to new ecosystems. The overlapping circular Stone rings widen as they rise and it has a total depth of 150 m. after a guide tour on the way back, we will stop for lunch in Urubamba in one of the tourist restaurants. Once finished the lunch we will have to continue to Ollantaytambo in order to visit the important archeological site, considered as living town by specialist and also of the evidences of original Incan basement. Once finished our tour in Ollantaytambo our guide will take back you to your cusco hotel and drop off you at your hotel.
Overview:
- Tour Location: Cusco Sacred Valley, Peru
- Tour Type: Day tour – Cusco Peru
- Start/End Time: Pickup is at 6.30 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 PM
- Consideration: Please remember to take the necessary things or follow our guide recommendations
Included
- Professional English-Speaking Tour Guide
- Full Day transportation – Professional Driver
- Entrance tickets For Chinchero - Moray – Salt Mine – Ollantaytambo
Not Included
- Lunch.
- Tips for you team.
- Arrive in Cusco at least one day before the tour to acclimatize to the altitude.
- Bring your original passport or a copy for archaeological site entrances.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain and stone paths.
- Dress in layers, as temperatures vary between Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
- Carry a light jacket or rain poncho, especially during the rainy season.
- Use sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat due to strong UV radiation.
- Bring a small backpack for water, camera, and personal items.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Avoid heavy meals and alcohol the night before the tour.
- Carry some cash in Peruvian soles for souvenirs or extra expenses.
- Follow your guide’s instructions at archaeological sites.
- Respect local communities, traditions, and protected heritage areas.
The Sacred Valley Full Day trip usually includes visits to the main highlights such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. Some itineraries may also include Moray and the Maras Salt Mines, depending on the selected route. These sites offer a combination of Inca archaeology, traditional Andean culture, and stunning valley landscapes.
Yes, lunch is usually included and is served as a buffet at a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley. The buffet typically offers a variety of traditional Peruvian dishes and international options. Drinks are generally not included unless specified in the itinerary.
The Sacred Valley can be visited year-round. The best time is during the dry season from April to October, when weather conditions are more stable and skies are clearer. The rainy season runs from November to March, bringing greener landscapes but occasional showers.
Yes, most Sacred Valley archaeological sites require a tourist ticket. Depending on the tour, this ticket may be included or purchased separately. Your tour guide will inform you in advance and assist you to ensure smooth access to all planned attractions.
Prices
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All Included:
Tours with hotel pick-up, transportation, professional guide, and entrance tickets.
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Flexible Cancellation:
Cancel up to 30 days before your tour in case of emergency. (For Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tours, please check specific conditions.)
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Posted on Tripadvisor MelanieVerified Spectacular Inca Trail Experience The Inca Trail has been on my bucket list for 20 years, and to say I am grateful for this experience is a massive understatement. The Peruvian people are incredibly kind and selfless, and this team truly made the journey unforgettable. Our crew was nothing short of spectacular, and they deserve every bit of recognition: Our Guide, Sara (aka Sarita): Words cannot do justice to how incredible Sara is. She is knowledgeable, encouraging, and a beautiful soul: she is officially my Peruvian soul sister! Her passion and leadership kept us inspired every step of the way. Chefs Nicolas & Enrique: They performed actual culinary magic at every single camp. We are still dreaming about the food, and Nicolas - we still need that quinoa soup recipe! :) Rosalio, Maxwell (& so many others!): You attentiveness, warmth, and impeccable service elevated the entire "luxury" aspect of this trek. We loved seeing you peak over the corner of the tent to bring our next treat. The entire crew was incredible and the porters are absolute trail superheroes. Cannot thank our Sarita for such an experience of a lifetime. This will be a trip that we will never forget. Sulpayki!!!!Posted on Tripadvisor Hunter WVerified The Best Guide and Tour This tour was more than I could’ve hoped for. My guide David was incredible. So knowledgeable and kind. He truly made the experience unforgettable. When researching tours, I felt overwhelmed with options. I booked with Machulas, about two months in advance of my trip, not realizing how far in advance people usually look into planning trips to Machu Picchu. The Team reached out to me on What’s App, explained all my options and worked with me to not only get me a last minute ticket to Machu Picchu, but suggested a route that was in line with my experience as a hiker. In short, there is no way I could’ve done this without Machulas and David. If you’re like me and looking for a supportive, knowledgeable, kind Team to help you plan an unforgettable adventure, I could not recommend them more.Posted on Tripadvisor Patrick RVerified Je reviendrai Pays magnifique accompagné par un guide aux petits soins, je recommandePosted on Tripadvisor alwaysmoreoceanVerified Aaamazing We spent two days in late April with Sara, hiking the Short Inca Trail, visiting Machu Picchu, and climbing Machu Picchu mountain. I can't imagine how it could have been better. Sara is everything you would want in a guide... knowledgable, supportive, encouraging, responsive. She kept an eye on how we were doing during the strenuous parts and stopped for breaks when needed. But she also kept us going so we got to the various trail points at a reasonable time. Sara is insightful, listens well, and has a good sense of humor. She's been a guide on the trail many, many times, so she knows her stuff and can communicate it well at the right moment. We learned so much about the history, language, culture, plants, and animals of the area. In addition to being a great guide, we felt like we were in good hands throughout the trip and during out overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. For example, we left one of our phones on the bus, which can be a bit of a panic situation when you're far from home and so much of your life is stored on your phone, but Sara jumped through hoops to help track down the phone. All in all, Sara is a great trek leader and a pleasure to be around. It was an exceptional experience for us, and we would highly recommend Sara to anyone.Posted on Tripadvisor Tourist25487439531Verified Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour David, our staff, gives us wonderful experiences. He knows and explains the story so well and interesting. Inca civilization is the story I fall in love now. David also knows good restaurants and gave me best experiences with Peruvian foodPosted on Tripadvisor korkijVerified Peru trip with Machula’s journey Very good experience. My tour guide David, not only very attentive and informative. He also arranged everything from foods and and stay so I just traveled with breeze. Now next time in Peru I know who I want to contact and be having tour guide service. 5 stars.Posted on Tripadvisor Manya KVerified Excellent trip with Machulas team! Traveler from the USA here! Sarita, Cesar, Victor and Juan made an excellent team and gave me a memorable, once in a lifetime experience in Peru. The tour was easy to organize with WhatsApp and the communication was excellent. Although this trek was hard, I felt comfortable going at the pace I needed and Sara was able to adjust the plan if we needed. The team was prepared for any scenarios and the scenery was really breathtaking! The food was ALWAYS excellent and Victor even carried my bag when the summit got too hard. Thank you Machulas journey, I will never forget this experience and the exceptions you made for me!! Don’t be afraid to communicate with the team when you book. Thank you my friends!Posted on Tripadvisor alejo cVerified Camino inca 4 días 3 noches Junto con 5 amigos hicimos la experiencia del camino del inca. La misma fue excelente, la comida estuvo muy bien admistrada y el guía 10 puntosPosted on Tripadvisor Valentin GVerified Increible experiencia! Realizamos el camino del Inca con David y fue una experiencia excelente! Mostró gran predisposición hacia nosotros e hizo que el recorrido sea muy placentero.Posted on Tripadvisor Matheo SVerified Excelente experiencia! Excelente la experiencia a lo largo de todo el viaje! David es un guía super atento, informado y empático
Posted on Google Michael STrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was a pleasure having David as our guide through Machu Picchu. He was very attentive and funny. There was a lot we learned from this once and a life time trip, and we were very fortunate to have David lead us.Posted on Google Logan HartrumTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The tour guide made this trip. I would say that Aydee is the best guide in all of Peru. Truly an incredible experience because of her and the poters. Machu Picchu would not have been the same. Ayden really gave us the energy to wake up everyday exited for the new journeys .Posted on Google Kainoa HartrumTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Aydee was the best!! Best tour guide EVER! I not only had a great time on the hike, but I learned a lot as well. Aydee was kind, helpful, and externally knowledgeable about everything along the trail. 1000% recommend.Posted on Google Aaron SpringerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Beste tour wij ooit hebben gedaan dankzij Aydee!Posted on Google Jessica CalvanoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. If you are looking for a custom trip then look no further! We went with Machulas Journey for a truly customized trip and it was Epic! I will return soon to enjoy so much more of Peru!Posted on Google Diana PervanTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. David and his staff were AMAZING!!!Posted on Google Matt MTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. AMAZING. Thank you David for the best trip of my life. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see this great place.Posted on Google Joey DeeganTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. David was an amazing guide! We had a great time.