Sacred Valley Classic tour from Cusco: Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero
The route most first-time visitors take, at the gentler rhythm: a photo stop above the valley at Taray, a full hour and a half in Pisac, lunch in Urubamba, an hour at Ollantaytambo and Chinchero to close the day at 16:45, once you have had the whole day to get used to the altitude. It does not go to the Maras salt mines or Moray; for those, the VIP route (US$32) adds them and starts an hour earlier.
Itinerary, hour by hour
Your pickup time arrives on WhatsApp the evening before. Traffic or weather can reorder a stop.
- 07:20Pickup in central CuscoHotel or meeting point in the historic centre
- 40 min on the road
- 08:20Taray viewpoint15-min
- 50 min on the road
- 09:30Pisac archaeological site1 h at the site + 30 min in town · 3,300 m
- 1 h on the road
- 12:00Buffet lunch in Urubamba50 min · 2,871 m
- 1 h 10 on the road
- 14:15Ollantaytambo1 h visit · 2,790 m
- 1 h 30 on the road
- 16:45Chincherohighest point1 h visit · 3,762 m
- 45 min on the road
- 18:30Back in CuscoTour ends in the city centre
What the US$30 covers, and what it doesn't
Included
- Pickup at your hotel in central Cusco; the tour ends in the city centre
- Tourist transport for the whole route
- Certified guide, English and Spanish
- Buffet lunch at Rustica, Urubamba
- Transfers between all the sites
- First-aid kit on board
Not included
- Tourist Ticket for the Inca sites of the route (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero)
- Your own travel insurance
- Anything you drink or snack on along the way
- Tipping, at your discretion
- What you buy at the markets
Entrance tickets on this route
| Tourist Ticket | Valid at the Inca sites of this route: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero |
|---|---|
| Maras salt mines | Not visited on this route, so no Maras ticket |
| How to pay | In soles, in cash, on the day — or add them when you book |
Who this tour is not for
If Maras and Moray are the reason you are coming, this is not your tour: book the VIP (US$32). If you take a train from Ollantaytambo this afternoon, the Classic ending in Ollantaytambo (US$29) follows the same route without Chinchero and finishes at 15:30.
Before you book the Classic
Short answers to what we get asked most. If your question is different, write to us.
What time is the pickup?
From about 07:20 in central Cusco, an hour later than the VIP. You get the exact time for your hotel or Airbnb on WhatsApp the evening before.
Which tickets do I need?
The Tourist Ticket, which on this route is valid at Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. There is no Maras ticket because the Classic does not visit the salt mines.
How long is the stop in Pisac?
An hour at the archaeological site with the guide, then 30 minutes in the town for the market. It is the longest stop of the day.
Is this tour easier at altitude than the VIP?
It starts lower. Taray and Pisac come first, and Chinchero, the highest point at 3,762 m, is the last visit of the afternoon. Both tours spend most of the day below Cusco.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a buffet at Rustica in Urubamba around 12:00. You can switch to 14 Inkas (US$34 total), Don Ángel (US$45) or Tunupa (US$50) when you book.
What time are we back in Cusco?
Around 18:30, after 45 minutes on the road from Chinchero. Dinner plans from 19:30 are safe.
Can I cancel or change the date?
Date changes with reasonable notice and available seats. Cancellations: 70% refund with 30 days or more, 50% under 72 hours, 30% under 48 hours, none under 24 hours.
