The Sacred Valley tour spends most of the day between 2,790 m and 3,300 m, below Cusco's 3,350 m. The one exception is Chinchero, at 3,762 m, where the group stays for about an hour.
The day’s profile
Altitude hour by hour. Green: below Cusco. Orange: above.
The eight altitudes you pass through
| Chinchero highest point of the day | 3,762 m |
| Moray | 3,500 m |
| Maras salt mines | 3,385 m |
| Cusco where you start | 3,350 m |
| Pisac, Inca site | 3,300 m |
| Pisac, town | 2,972 m |
| Urubamba lunch | 2,871 m |
| Ollantaytambo lowest point | 2,790 m |
How much walking, and how many stairs
The two sites with real stairs are Pisac and Ollantaytambo. At Pisac the guided hour covers terraces and the religious sector with the Intihuatana; at Ollantaytambo the walk climbs the terraces to the Temple of the Sun and its six monoliths, then comes back down the same way. Both can be done slowly, and the guide waits at the top.
Chinchero is flat: the weaving demonstration happens seated, and the walk to the church and terraces is short. Moray is a viewpoint with an optional descent into the terraces. The Maras salt mines are a gentle downhill path along the ponds, with the climb back at the end.
Effort, stop by stop
Flat. Weaving demo seated, short walk to the church.
Gentle downhill path; the climb comes at the end.
A viewpoint. Going down to the terraces is optional.
Stairs up to the Sun Temple and back the same way.
Terraces and the religious sector; the guide waits at the top.
What helps on the day
Drink water throughout, eat lightly at the buffet, and skip alcohol the night before. Coca tea at the hotel is fine. If you already take medication for altitude, follow your doctor's instructions; our guides carry a first-aid kit but do not supply medicines.
Who should think twice
If you arrived in Cusco today by plane from sea level and already feel short of breath or have a headache, give yourself one night before any tour. If your doctor has advised against altitudes over 3,500 m, Chinchero and Moray are both above that line, on the Classic and the VIP alike. In that case the private tour can skip those two stops.
This page describes the tour; it is not medical advice.
Updated 2 October 2026.
