This post was most recently updated on September 20th, 2019
Seeing the Best of Sacred Valley in one day is easy. All you need to do is book a Sacred Valley Tour. Tucked in-between Cusco and Machu Picchu where the Urubamba river flows lives the green and lush Sacred Valley. An area filled with breathtaking vistas, picturesque communities, beautiful ruins, and ancient agricultural marvels. But most importantly the Sacred Valley and its warm climate and fertile soil continues to provide life to the Andean people helping them grow and flourish.
There is an incredible amount to see and do in the 60 km / 37 mi that stretch from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. You could spend a week here and not see it all. However, if you have only one day to explore, then a sacred valley tour is the way to go. And here is the best of Sacred Valley including some essential experiences that should not be missed.
So many come to Peru with one and only one attraction in mind – Machu Picchu.
Please do not be one of those people. I am not saying Machu Picchu is not worth seeing, because it absolutely is. What I am saying is that the rest of Peru and The Sacred Valley hold exquisite treasures that are worth exploring. The hard part is deciding what to see, especially if you have only one day.
In fact, it is so hard to choose, I admit I enlisted the help from the best local guide in Peru. Juan Carlos with Apurimac Adventures arranged a fantastic private one day tour of Sacred Valley for us. I cannot recommend him enough.
During this Sacred Valley tour we had ample time to explore, shop, eat, and experience the best of Sacred Valley. We did it all while avoiding the crowds that come with the big tour busses. And best of all we had a knowledgeable guide to educate and provide us with invaluable information.
Chinchero – First Stop on The Sacred Valley Tour
The first stop on our Sacred Valley tour was Chinchero. One of my favorite experiences in Chinchero was learning the art of weaving and the traditional way of making and dying wool. The women in the village all dressed in traditional colorful clothing spoke remarkably good English. They served us tea and then explained how the wool is cleaned, spun and dyed using natural resources like plants and berries. A beautiful process that showcases the skill passed down from generation to generation.
The intricate works of art can take up to 3 months to create. These women are master weavers and great sales people as well. It was not difficult for them to convince me to take home some of their masterpieces.
If you are going to pick up a souvenir this is a perfect place for it. You know your money is going directly into the community to support the very people who create the beautiful pieces. It also helps sustain and maintain their traditions and way of life.
Another must in Chinchero is the Market. It is filled with vibrant color which I think is perfect considering Chinchero is known as the birthplace of the rainbow. Friendly local merchants that always call you “amigo(a)” display and sell their goods.
Nearby is the colonial church which was built on the remains of an Incan Palace. And further down are the ruins and terraces that are said to have belonged to the Inca Tupac Yupanqui. Some of these terraces are still in use today as this area has some of the most fertile soil in the Sacred Valley.
This small rustic town of Chinchero and its Quechuan textile market should not be missed on your tour of the best of Sacred Valley.
Ollantaytambo Ruins – Second Stop
The ruins of Ollantaytambo sit at the northern end of the Sacred Valley are the Gateway to Machu Picchu. This is our second stop in the Sacred Valley tour. Ollantaytambo is one of the best preserved Inca Ruins and a remarkable historical fortress carved into the mountain.
I was really impressed with Ollantaytambo. It is a massive site that boggles the mind. With terraces taller than the average man, and stones weighing over 50 tons each. Each of the stones cut with incredible precision and fitting together like perfect lego pieces. It makes you really appreciate how advanced the Inca Civilization was in their architecture. This is one of the best of Sacred Valley and a must for your Sacred Valley itinerary.
Across the valley and high in the mountain you can see the Inca granaries. These storehouses were used to preserve the crops. While you can climb to the top to get a closer look, there are signs that advise against it. It is a steep and narrow path with no rails and loose stones so climb at your own risk.
Ollantaytambo is also one of the last Inca strongholds and as such has an important part in history. It is where the Inca Manco took shelter from the Spanish invasion and the site of a grand battle. From the top you can see how it provided a great strategic viewpoint for the Incas to defend and defeat the Spanish in the famous battle of 1536.
Climbing the more than 200 steep stone steps to the top of Ollantaytambo is not easy. We made a few stops along the way to take pictures but mostly to catch our breath. All in all, the ruins of Ollantaytambo, are some of the best of Sacred Valley and an essential experience that should not be missed.
Maras Salt Mines – Third Stop
To say the Maras Salt Mines are impressive is an understatement. The initial view from above was amazing. So many beautiful differently colored little ponds bellow. I could see white, pink, brown and many shades in between all fitting perfectly on the side of the mountain.
I was fascinated not just by the variation in color, which is due to the different level of salt crystallization, but because they seemed to go on forever, fitting perfectly like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle.
How are salt mines this far from the ocean? How were they formed? And how do they work? These questions and more are answered during your Sacred Valley tour.
We learned this site has been used since before the Incas for about five centuries. It is community based, owned and managed and was built by hand. Each of the small pools in this intricate system is mined by a local Maras family.
The ponds are fed by a local underground stream of incredibly salty water (yes I tasted it and it is extremely salty). And the water flows through channels that run gradually down and fill each pond. It’s a pretty simple yet intricate system. Someone needs to constantly supervise it to make sure nothing is blocking the path of the water.
Once the pond is filled then the channel is blocked and the sun does the rest. Over the next few days the water evaporates and the salt crystalizes and is scraped up. Then the water channel is reopened and the process starts over again.
Besides this being a scenic marvel it is also about tradition and culture and for this the Maras Salt mines are some of the best of Sacred Valley and an essential experience you should not miss.
Moray – Forth and Final Stop
The final stop on the Sacred Valley Tour was Moray. When I first laid eyes of the archeological site of Moray I thought I had landed on an different planet. Or maybe that aliens had invaded our planet and left these mysterious circles behind. However, it was the Incas who created the archeological site of Moray and not aliens.
Moray may look like a mysterious amphitheater, but it is one of the best examples of science and technology in the Sacred Valley. These terraced circular depressions were used as experiments. Like an agricultural laboratory of sorts. Each terrace with its own micro climates, temperature and soil. And each is used to grow different crops with different techniques.
Because Moray is a sophisticated agricultural wonder it is an essential experience you should not miss. And the Best of Sacred Valley would not be complete without seeing it.
If you are looking for other Day Tours out of cusco I can highly recommend The Alternative Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo. Additionally another great day trip and fabulous trek is Lake Humantay.
Pin Now – The Best of Sacred Valley an Essential One Day Itinerary
I hope I have convinced you to take a day tour of Sacred Valley. You may also want to keep in mind that Sacred Valley is perfect to acclimatize to high altitude.
Cusco is, on average, around 11,000 feet above sea level. Sacred Valley is in the sweet spot between 7,000 and 9,000 feet. This makes it ideal for acclimatization as you are less likely to feel the effects of altitude sickness.
20 comments
Absolutely stunning! It’s incredible that this small area has so much to explore that not even a week is enough! I love to hear that this area provides such an ideal place that allows the Andean people to grow and flourish. What an incredible experience it would be to learn the art of weaving when in Chinchero – those colors are just amazing! And the Maras Salt Mines is just mesmerising! I am also fascinated by all the different colors. It reminds me of Pamukale in Turkey.
The are is filled with color and culture and has so much to offer. You are so right the Salt mines are mesmerizing and a must for anyone visiting the area. I have yet to visit Turkey properly but I bet it has paces just like this – filled with color.
So many place to go and things to see there. I worked for Apsa for 2 years and never heard of the Sacred Valley!
It was an amazing trip. We learned so much about life there and the culture. People are so welcoming and friendly. I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit. Maybe you will get a chance to return one day.
Thanks for encouraging people to go beyond Machu Picchu! Peru looks so amazing and Sacred Valley has so much to it. Those salt mines are stunning, I had no idea that is what a salt mine looked like. The weavings done by the local women are gorgeous as well. What a great place to explore.
Peru was full of wonderful surprises. Hope you get to visit and see its wonder
Well you’ve definitely convinced me! You’re so right – there is more to see than Machu Picchu! I’d definitely be drawn to the markets, I could spend hours wandering around. Visiting the salt mines looks awesome too, those views wow!
The markets are fantastic! Hope you get a chance to visit and explore the wonders of Peru
The Sacred Valley is a cant miss destination in Peru. A private guide who is familiar with the culture and area plus knows the best itinerary to avoid the crowds? Sign me up! The terraces are magical and the salt mine beautiful. Good tip on buying a pass for the length of the stay!
The guide can acquire the entrance fee for you but I found the pass so valuable to have in visiting many of the places on my list. Time and money savings.
I get drawn to every post which is about South America. We have been gearing up for our travels by picking up the language too. And getting these amazing ideas for Peru, apart from Manchu Picchu is a treasure 🙂 Sacred Valley is now added on our list. The heritage, history and its culture makes it even more special. Lucky you could got on a private tour to avoid the crowds. Moray does look like a different planet. This definitely is best of Sacred Valley and perfect guide for us to refer to for our future trip!
Good luck in planning your trip it is almost as fun as going on it. I am sure you will enjoy South America and especially Peru. Glad I could inspire you to add Sacred Valley to your list. I know you will not be disappointed in visiting it.
I always knew Peru because of Machu Picchu but it has much more unique places. The sacred valley looks heavenly and people here are having great artistic talents. Before reading your whole post in detail and from the first glimpse I thought it was snow all over, but then realized they are salt mines. Wow, it must be great to see salt mines on stepped mountains as I have always seen near the sea. Thanks for sharing many hidden secret gems from Peru.
Machu Picchu will always draw in the crowds. It is one of the new wonders of the world for good reason and I do not expect people to not see it. It is worth seeings. I just hope that people also take the time to explore the other areas around Cusco and get to appreciate the magnificent culture, landscapes, art, etc that Peru has to offer.
I just visited the underground salt mines outside Krakow, and they look completely different from these salt mines. I’m so fascinated by how they formed and could see myself exploring around there for hours. Sadly, I’ve still never made it to South America, but when I go to Peru I’ll definitely check out Sacred Valley (in addition to Macchu Pichu, but like you said, that’s not ALL there is to Peru).
It is interesting how the mines can be so different in other places of the world. And we learn so much from each location. This was my first country I explored in South America aside from Venezuela where I grew up. It was a wonderful experience and I really hope to see more of it and that you get to visit as well.
What a great post and a destination I am keen on visiting. I must say like you stated on your post a lot of people can only think of Machu Pichu when planning a visit to this destination but there is so much more . I have learned a lot from this post of what else to expect and see. Indeed the best of Sacred Valley and some essential experiences that should not be missed are very well covered by you and one I would love to cover
Glad you enjoyed the post and that you learned from it. Hope you get to visit and see the beauty of this place for your self.
Awesome post! Ollantaytambo Looks familiar. I might have visited here as well. Is this where you can see the face of a sage man in the mountain where the grain stores are? I swear it’s this place but I can’t see the face in your picture.
I cant recall seeing a face or the guide telling us about the face. Maybe I can message him to find out for you. It is a popular place as the trains to Machu Picchu go out of this town.